Preston Smith
Writing helps us all, whether we write cathartically, create vast fictional realms, or write technically or journalistically as a career. However, when writing, there are many different approaches one can take. More specifically, these typically fall into two categories: planning and spontaneity.
Writers who plan range from planning basic outlines to planning extensive details and maps for stories, articles, or whatever they are concocting. On the other side, writers who craft spontaneously typically leap directly into their pieces with little to no planning.
Neither of these practices are worse than its counterpart, and typically one practice works better for someone when compared to the other. Regardless of which one you subscribe to, your work will have to be edited – and because the editing process is ever-present and ever-required, you should take solace in your style. Writing is inherently about its creator, after all, so take pride in your process.
Having said this, we can take a closer to look into these practices, shedding a light on the pros and cons of each.
The Pros and Cons of Planning
Planning is interesting in writing. If you’re drafting articles for a publication, you might lay out all of the facts and how you want them to flow through your pieces. If you’re writing fiction, you might plan out each character’s traits, the realm in which the story occurs, and even a general or strict timeline that the story will follow. For a lot of people, planning helps them sit down to write because they know exactly how their story or article is going to progress, and it helps maintain motivation. However, it can also deter creativity if you feel stuck by the confines of your outline. It can also take a lot of time to plan, though that same amount of time will arguably be spent editing if you don’t plan.
The Pros and Cons of Spontaneity
Spontaneity is fun because it’s, well, spontaneous. Delving into a piece, regardless of its genre or intended audience, without planning is fun because of the developments that can accrue along the way. If you’ve planning extensively, you can often leave little room for growth and expansion outside of what you’ve already declared in your outline/map. However, writing spontaneously can mean a lot of extra editing and revision time is necessary – though this isn’t a huge issue, because the time will most likely even out with planning as the same amount of time will be utilized planning as is done with spontaneity’s extra editing.
Now that we’ve discussed both styles, it’s imperative that you always remember to stay true to yourself. If you feel stuck, though, you can always try the option you’re unfamiliar with. Try jumping straight into a piece, or try planning a piece before jumping into it.
Most importantly, regardless of the type of writing you do, have fun it. Create your stories/documents/article, and be proud of your creations.
Which writing tips do you live by? Comment below and tweet us @Fuzzable with all of your tips and writing styles!
