Do you need to know every plot point before you even start writing? Or can you just jump in and figure it out as you go?
It’s one of the hottest debates in the writing community.
Plotters love planning and creating detailed outlines. Pantsers find outlining a chore. Both methods can work spectacularly.
But here’s the problem…
If you have zero book plan in place, you’re making the writing process much harder than it has to be. Studies show that writers are 52% more likely to finish their book when they create a book plan.
That’s no small difference.
In this guide, I’m going to give you the real truth about book planning. You’ll know exactly how much planning you need, how to do it, and the resources that can help you.
No fluff. Just hard, practical advice that will save you months of frustration and wasted time.
Let’s get into it.
Here’s what you’ll discover
- The real scoop on plotters vs pantsers
- How much planning will actually help you finish
- The ridiculously simple planning method that works
- Tools to make planning as easy as pie
The Plotter vs Pantser Debate
Plotters map out their story in detail before they write a word. Pantsers just jump in and start writing, seeing where the story takes them along the way.
Pantsers hate plotters. Plotters hate pantsers. Both are convinced they’re right.
Stephen King is a pantser. He never outlines a book. J.K. Rowling made spreadsheets and diagrams for Harry Potter.
So what’s the right way? Who’s right?
Here’s the truth – it depends on you, your process, and what you want to create. But most successful writers actually fall somewhere in the middle.
Why Planning Actually Matters
Here’s something most writing advice will try to deny…
Planning doesn’t stifle creativity. The right amount of planning makes your creativity flow better. When you have a basic roadmap in place, you’ll spend less time staring at a blank page, going “what happens next?”
Think about it like this:
Do you want to spend 20 hours creating a book plan? Or 200 hours re-writing a messy first draft that doesn’t go anywhere? Because that’s what’s really at stake.
If you try to write a book with zero plan in place, you’ll write yourself into corners. Plot holes will plague your story. Characters will do things that don’t make sense. You’ll abandon the entire project.
Planning will help you avoid all of this.
The Sweet Spot For Book Planning
The real question is – how much planning should you do?
Most authors have the most success with what I call “The Three Point Plan”. Before starting a book, they know:
- Your beginning – How does your story start? What is the inciting incident that sets the story in motion?
- Your middle turning point – What is the major twist or revelation in the middle of the story? What moment changes everything?
- Your ending – How does the story end? You don’t need every detail but you should know where you’re going
THAT’S IT. Three points.
Everything else? You can work that out as you write. You have enough direction to stay on track while still leaving room for creativity and discovery.
Neat, right?
Using A Plot Generator Tool To Speed Things Up
I have some more good news for you…
Modern writing tools make planning your book way faster and easier. A plot generator tool helps you rapidly create story structures using frameworks that work.
Plot generator tools don’t write your book for you. Instead, they give you story elements and structures that help you logically think through your story. You answer questions about your characters, your conflict, and your themes. The tool then organizes all that into an actual story outline.
It’s like having a writing coach to walk you through the planning process. But without the wasted time of staring at a blank outline document trying to think of where to start.
The best part? It’s easy to adjust and move things around. Use these tools as a starting point and then make the plan your own.
Signs You Need More Planning
Not sure if you’ve planned enough before writing?
Pay attention to these warning signs. If you find yourself constantly deleting entire chapters because they “don’t fit” yet you have no idea how to fix them, it’s time to plan more. If your characters keep doing things that are contrary to what you said they would do earlier, you need more planning.
If you can’t figure out what should happen next, stop writing and plan.
Here’s the thing…
All of these issues are solvable with just a few hours of planning. You don’t need an outline that is fifty pages long. You just need clarity on the overall story you are telling.
The Minimum Viable Plan
What is the absolute bare minimum you need to plan before starting a book?
You need to answer these five questions:
- What does your main character want?
- What is stopping them from getting it?
- What will they do to overcome that obstacle?
- What is at stake if they fail?
- How does the story end?
That’s it. Five questions.
If you can answer these clearly, you can start writing your book. Everything else is extra planning that may make your life easier but is not required.
Planning Tools That Actually Work
Beyond the plot generator tools, there are a few other tools that can make planning easier.
Bullet point lists work great for a lot of writers. Just open a blank word document and list out scene ideas, character notes, and plot points as they come to you. No special software needed.
Index cards are also a classic method. Write one scene per card and then lay them all out on a table. Move them around until the story flows in the way you want.
Mind mapping software allows you to visually see connections between different story elements. It’s especially good if your plot has multiple threads that have to intersect in specific ways.
But honestly? The tool doesn’t matter nearly as much as just doing some planning. If all you have is a napkin with a few scribbled notes, that’s better than no planning at all.
When To Stop Planning And Start Writing
Don’t plan too much, either.
You can fall into the trap of over-planning. Some writers spend years “planning” a book and never actually write it. Planning becomes procrastination in disguise.
So when do you stop planning and start writing?
When you start feeling like you’re excited to write and not anxious. When you have clarity on what your first scene will be. When you’re sitting at your desk thinking to yourself “I should probably just start writing this thing.”
That’s the feeling you want.
Your plan doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be good enough to get you writing. You can always edit your plan as you go.
Wrapping This Up
Book planning doesn’t need to be difficult or complicated. You don’t need a perfect outline. You just need enough direction to keep moving forward.
Writers who finish their books know the right amount of planning to do. That might be a 30-page outline, or it might be a few bullet points with the main story beats. But having a plan makes everything so much easier.
Start small. Know your beginning, middle turning point, and ending. Use tools like plot generators to help you structure your thinking. And then just start writing.
The best book plan is the one that actually gets you writing instead of getting stuck in preparation mode for months or years at a time.
