Why planning is so important in the writing process

[John Dean]

I have been working steadily throughout lockdown, both on producing the latest DCI Jack Harris novel for those excellent people at The Book Folks (41,000 words written since you ask) but also running a lot of online writing courses to help inspire and guide inexperienced writers during these tough times.

The courses have dealt with crime fiction and other genres but all have started with a look at planning. I know that many writers do not plan, just start writing, and that it has become a hot topic in writing circles but I do plan.

However, my initial plot tends to be very sketchy and is filled in during the writing process. Sometimes, the finished novel bears little or no resemblance to the initial plot I had jotted down but I find that thinking is a crucial part of the writing process (writers are very good at thinking, rather than writing – novels can be measured in cups of tea made and dogs walked!)

So, I thought some musings on plot might interest. To make a plot work, you need a strong story. An interesting story comes from watching characters overcome obstacles through their own skills and abilities so set them a challenge – a murder, a mystery etc.

You must also keep the story moving so you need to devise plenty of things to happen - pile as many problems as you can on a character then have them do things to do to get out of the situation.

A good idea is to write a synopsis at the beginning of the writing process – jot down what happens in each chapter. It is worth having sub plots – yes, a character is solving a murder but there also may be a series of baffling seemingly unconnected burglaries, or perhaps something is happening in  their private life. These keep things fresh for the reader. Also, some can be red herrings to throw the reader off the scent.

However, the key thing is to keep the main story going so, as you build the story, you should have peaks of drama, an arrest, another murder etc and build up to the final climax, always creating and protecting the narrative’s momentum.

There’s a lot more to it than these few musings, of course, but it makes for a good start to focus the mind – now it may be time to go and make another cup of tea!