Should You Plan Your Novel or Write As You Go?

Many aspiring authors spend months or even years building the backstory of their novel before ever writing a single scene. They sketch out intricate worlds, invent languages, design economies, and draw maps. This is worldbuilding, and it's fun.

But here’s the problem: if your goal is to actually write a novel, excessive planning can backfire.

The more worldbuilding you do up front, the more constraints you create for yourself. You may find that you "can’t do it that way" later because it conflicts with the lore you built months ago. And the truth is: no matter how detailed your prewriting is, you’ll still need to change things once the story hits the page.

In fact, it's almost always easier to write the story first—and shape the world around it—than to fit a story inside a prebuilt world. This dilemma points to an age-old question:

Should You Plot Your Novel Ahead of Time—or Discover It As You Write?

In writing circles, this is often framed as plotting vs. pantsing. (The latter meaning writing “by the seat of your pants,” without a plan.)

Should you lay out a full three-act structure before you begin? Or start with a character, a voice, or a situation—and see where the story leads?

As with most things in writing, the answer is: it depends.

But if you’re a first-time novelist, we do have a suggestion:
Start with a loose outline. Below, we’ll explain why—and walk you through the pros and cons of each approach so you can make the choice that fits you best.

Pros of Discovery Writing (aka Pantsing)

• It makes writing feel organic.
  Many seasoned writers start with a compelling character—a person with a motivation, a flaw, and a situation. They don’t worry (yet) about the plot. Instead, they explore what the character would do next. If the character is well-built, the plot unfolds naturally.

• It’s exciting and immersive.
  Discovery writing can make the writing process feel like reading—you don’t know what’s going to happen next. This energy often carries authors through the first draft with momentum and joy.

Cons of Discovery Writing

• It’s easy to go off the rails.
  Especially for new writers, writing without a roadmap can lead to long tangents, abandoned subplots, and chapters that go nowhere. You might end up with a bloated manuscript where not much actually happens.

• It usually requires heavy editing.
  Without a plan, your first draft may need serious structural work—cutting entire scenes, rearranging chapters, or rewriting arcs from scratch. That can turn a 6-month project into a multi-year one.

Pros of Plotting

• You know where you’re going.
  With a rough outline in place, you can guide your characters through a structured journey. A well-thought-out outline acts like a guardrail—it keeps the story on track without boxing you in.

• It saves time in the long run.
  Plotting helps reduce rework. You can foreshadow early events, build tension intentionally, and avoid writing scenes that don’t ultimately serve the story.

Cons of Plotting

• You might prioritize the world over the characters.
  Many over-planners get caught up in magic systems, economies, or maps—and forget that what makes a story memorable is character. A compelling protagonist with relatable flaws will always resonate more than a detailed trade route.

• Over-plotting can trap you.
  Stories often change in the writing. But if you’ve mapped out every chapter, you might feel stuck when a planned twist no longer fits your character’s arc. Worse, you may start forcing the plot forward in ways that don’t feel emotionally honest—and readers will notice.

It’s Not Either-Or—It’s a Spectrum

Most writers fall somewhere in between pure plotters and pure pantsers. Some start with a skeletal structure and fill in the rest as they go. Others write freely, then reverse-engineer structure in later drafts.

Think of it like sculpture.

Some writers chip away at stone, discovering the shape within. Others begin with a sketch on paper, guiding each strike of the chisel toward a clear vision.

Both methods can lead to a finished piece. The question is: which process keeps you writing?

Our Suggestion: Try a Hybrid Approach

If you’re writing your first novel, try this:

Plan the first few chapters and outline the major beats of the story.

That gives you enough structure to stay focused, while still leaving room for discovery. Here’s why it works:

• You’ll avoid blank-page paralysis.
  After finishing Chapter 1, you’ll know what happens in Chapter 2. That momentum is crucial in the early stages—especially when doubt creeps in.

• You’ll retain creative freedom.
  You still get to invent characters and scenes on the fly. But you’re working within a loose framework, so you know where it’s all heading.

• You’ll reduce editing time later.
  By knowing roughly whether your story is a redemption arc, a tragedy, or a hero’s journey, you can weave in foreshadowing and avoid massive rewrites in later drafts.

• You’ll learn what works for you.
  Writing your first book is as much about building a process as it is about telling a story. A hybrid method gives you experience with both approaches—so you can refine your workflow for the next one.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one “correct” way to write a novel. Some writers meticulously plan every beat. Others dive in and find their story as they go. Most hover somewhere in between.

But if you’re just starting out, a hybrid approach offers the best of both worlds: freedom and focus, discovery and direction.

Whatever method you choose, remember:
Your most important job is to finish the book.
Everything else can be revised. But you can’t revise a blank page.

Good luck—and keep writing.