A beginner-friendly illustration explaining What Is Show vs Tell in Writing?? in story writing.

Should I Plan or Just Start Writing?

If you are thinking “Should I plan or just start writing?”, you are not alone, it is one of the most common questions that beginner writers ask. This is a problem that nearly every beginner has when starting their writing journey. The simple answer is to do both in a light and flexible manner. Planning provides direction and action for a beginning provides momentum. If you intend just to plan, never you may begin. If you just write you may get lost.

If you manage to overthink, be more focused on writing first. If you are the type of person who often gets lost in the middle, take a little more time to plan. Adjust according to what is slowing you down.

Many beginners have problems figuring out how to begin writing, especially if they have no idea whether they should plan or just start writing. The best way that a beginner should do this is to start a rough outline and then just jump right into writing. This helps to keep things balanced and helps you to stay focused and not overthink anything.

If you have a story idea and are asking yourself “Is my story idea good?”, check out our article How Do I Know If My Story Idea Is Good? and Planning allows you to develop the famous three-act structure for your story.

What does it mean by that?

The difference between planning and just getting started in the writing process is like structure vs action,

Planning means making a rough outline of your story/topic and simple notes/sketches of how you want to present it.
Writing means throwing yourself in and not thinking about it too much, letting your ideas flow and not stopping to edit your mistakes, since editing comes later.

For beginners, there are both sides to overplanning as well as not planning anything at all. Overplanning may leave you stuck and no planning at all may cause confusion. Instead of deciding on one or the other, try this, Plan lightly, write freely. This takes away pressure without taking away direction. Think of planning like a map and writing like the actual journey.

Writers typically fall into one of two categories, planners and discovery writers (otherwise known as “pantsers”). Planners such as structure before they begin, while discovery writer figure things out as they go. Most beginners do best in the middle ground somewhere. And now that you know what a balance is and let’s see how to actually do it-simply step by step.

How to Plan and Just Start Writing (Step by Step).

If you are searching or looking for an easy step by step way of getting started writing as a beginner, this method will assist. Here’s a simple and easy method that you can follow as a beginner.

Step 1: Figuring Your Topic (1-2 minutes)

Don’t overthink, just ask,

What type of story do I want to write?
Who is the main character?
What problem or goal will they have?

Example: A shy and afraid girl discovers a mysterious key that will open any door.

Step 2: Prepare a Quick Outline (5 minutes)

Don’t complicate, just keep it simple, just 3-5 points for your story.

Example:

Beginning—A shy and and afraid girl finds a key in her grandma’s trunk box.

Problem— She discovers the key can open any door.

Conflict— She opens a dangerous doors.

Climax— She decide to destroy the key.

Ending— She gains confidence.

That’s enough. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

A simple rule, spend 5-10 minutes planning then at least 20-30 minutes writing. This keeps you from getting stuck in the planning mode. If you want a more in-depth guide on outlining, you can read How to Plan a Story from Beginning to End.

Step 3: Get Writing Started Immediately

So now begin to write your first draft. Remember this important rule, don’t stop to edit in First Draft. Just keep moving. This helps you to avoid overthinking, very common by beginners. Focus only on the story,

What the character wants
What stands in their way
How they change by the end

Step 4: Follow Your Outline (Loosely)

Your outline is just a guide. If new ideas arise, merge them in and change direction if necessary. This is where creativity comes in. If you are stuck, don’t stop writing all together. Either jump ahead to the next scene or quickly make some changes to your outline. The goal is to keep moving.

Step 5: Edit After You Finish

Only after you have written the entire first draft,

Fix grammar
Improve clarity
Remove unnecessary parts

Editing while writing is a slow process.

Step 6: Repeat and Improve

The more you practice the easier it gets. Over time,

Your planning becomes quicker
Your writing becomes more flowing

This is one of the easiest things for beginners to do to improve their writing. This approach is especially effective for beginning writers who are stuck or overwhelmed.

Examples/Mini Tips

Let’s see two simple examples to understand this in an easier way.

Example 1: Writing Without Planning

You sit down and begin writing: “She looked at the key…”

After a few lines, you are at a loss. You don’t know what to say next. This is a sign that you need a quick outline.

Example 2: Over-Planning

You spend 30 minutes in choosing the scene and organising every detail by

thinking too much. But you never start writing. If you are stuck for planning, then limit this to 5-10 minutes.

Mini Tips for Beginners

Start with a rough draft and concentrate on getting it done

Done is better than perfect
Write first, fix later
Keep your outline simple

These little habits make a big difference in your writing journey.

Common Mistakes Made By Beginners

Here are a few common mistakes that beginners should try to avoid,

Don’t wait for the perfect idea you don’t need one to get started.
Your outline is only a guide so don’t try to make it perfect.
Focus on writing first before editing, editing early interrupts your flow.
Each writer has a different starting point, so don’t worry about others.
Many beginners do not finish writing, finishing builds more confidence than starting
Another common mistake is to compare yourself too soon, be consistent, not perfect.

Should You Plan or Just Get Started Writing? (Quick Answer)

If you are a beginner, the best thing is to do both.

Start with a basic outline to work with and then dive right in to writing without thinking too much about things. Planning helps you be clear and writing helps you to make progress.

The thing is to stay both light and flexible.

FAQ

1Should the beginning writer plan before writing?

Yes, but keep it simple. A quick outline helps you to stay focused without slowing you down.

2Is it better to just get started writing?

Yes, that starting is important but it is also great to have a rough idea so that you are not stuck halfway.

3How do beginners get started in writing step by step?

Start small, write a simple outline, write without editing and improve after finishing.

4What’s the best way to get past writer’s block?

Lower your expectations, write anything, focus on progress not perfection.

5How much planning should I do before I write?

Just enough to not get stuck — a simple beginning, middle and end is more than enough.

Final Thoughts

So, do you plan or do you simply start to write?

The best answer is to do a little bit of planning and then start writing. You don’t have to have a perfect system, you just have to start.

Start small. Write often. Improve step by step.

It’s total normal to not know the answer at first. Every writer experiences this, it’s important that you don’t give up. The more that you keep going, the easier and even more enjoyable your writing becomes.

The truth is, there’s no perfect way to start writing, only the way that helps you to keep going. So don’t wait for the perfect plan, start small and write something today and you can get better as you go.

And if you are ready to make the next step, My How to Start Writing a Book.

What Is Show vs Tell in Writing? Easy Guide

What Is Pacing in a Story?