To plot, definitely, always, without a doubt. I know this is a subject of some debate, should you plot or just let the story take you where it will, but I can honestly say, for me, I cannot write a book without a plot.
I’m just coming to the end of the plotting course with Writer’s HQ, and it has made me see where the holes and weak spots are in my book (I’ve already written 60k words), and given me the confidence to now go on and actually get the book finished. Which is what I hoped I would get from the course.
Plots, themes, inciting incidents, conflict, resolution, story arcs, all the things you hear people saying when talking about writing a book have suddenly come into focus and all has become clear! I have re-read a couple of first chapters of my favourite books and I can now see that I was not just reading a good story, I am getting a masterclass in storytelling. And that is why they are so successful.
If you’re a pantser, I take my hat off to you, because your brain at some level must be able to contain all the info needed to write a book, without having to type it out, plot it out and have it laid before you like a roadmap.
But for me roadmap it is, and now I’m ready to start the journey.
Janet Stock 