This week’s post comes to you from our Australian contingent, Greg Burke, who wrote this then was stricken by a nasty respiratory virus. since he can barely life his head, He passed this blog on to the MiB Admin to post for him. we wish him a swift recovery and return to his creative journey! –Admin

Are you a planned writer or an under pressure performance writer? Or something in between or completely different?

In my personal journey as an author, I have mostly come across two types of writers, those that plan out and those that prefer to perform under pressure. The planners have a varying degree of what they deem enough planning. From simply how many words they will write a day to a full-on plan that incorporates the overarching main plot, the theme, multiple character arcs and even specific plot points all laid out in advance, waiting to be written. Then there are the pressure performers. These writers have a deadline and put off the writing until it is almost too late to even contemplate completing on time before rushing in and writing, editing and submitting their story, usually within an hour of the deadline.

The best way to write is a much talked about topic amongst authors, critics and ‘those in the know’. But what is the best way to go about this mammoth and personal task? Is either way better than the other? What do most people recommend? Should you copy the style of a successful and well-regarded author? Or should you just put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and forget any style, template or process, and create in your own way?

Which method do you gravitate toward?

Personally, I am a bit of a mix. I will come up with an idea for a story, then percolate that for a while. Once I have a firm idea of the protagonist and antagonist I will flesh out the support characters then start to write. My story changes as I go and has no preset plot except for how I want the story to end. The journey to that end evolves as I write, similar to how the characters themselves do. As for how much I write, it is very much a pressure performance style. As a self-published author I know how long it takes, to print and ship a book, design and create a cover, edit etc, and that then dictates my deadline. I have no formula, but I just seem to know how much time, or more to the point, how quickly, I can turn out the finished piece, and usually finish just in time. Despite that being my style, I do see the benefits of writing daily, which many authors promote.

Getting into the writing groove can be difficult, especially when you have multiple commitments on your time, and the habit of writing daily can help to keep those creative juices flowing. Also by committing to daily writing, it can also help to lock in some time for those with a busy schedule. By following a carefully laid out plan, it can help to keep your plot focused and on target, avoiding non-essential add-ons that can impinge on the flow of a story. And for some people, without a good plan, the thought of stating at a blank page or screen is simply scary. There is nothing wrong with that! On the flip side, pressure performance can help to focus the mind and keep you on track with your story. By nature, not allowing you time to dawdle off on a tangent. It can force you to make the time for your writing with greater stakes at play if you do not.

Then there are the potential pitfalls of both processes. Does an over planned story hinder the potential natural growth of character and subsequently story? By locking in a lot of details does it stymie your ability to be open to new and unexpected plot points? Does pressure writing force you to simply finish the job rather than produce the best piece of writing you can? Does it require you to potentially push those that might be aiding you to also rush? Your editor, cover designer, printer etc. Does the lack of available time limit the growth of your story because you don’t have the luxury to allow it?

All of these things are possible positives and negatives for each style. For me, if I try to write and I am not in the correct mindset, then my writing will be subpar. For me, when I am ready to write I find that I can output many thousands of words in one sitting. This works for me. And I firmly believe that you must follow whatever process works for you individually. It is great to read and know what works for others, but we are all different and unique, and finding your own style is imperative to producing your best work.

These are my opinions, and I consider myself to be a simple, everyday person and author. I don’t believe that there is any right or wrong process, only the way that works best for the individual.

I would love to know what others feel about this? Are there any other processes you’ve found that work well for you? What setbacks have you come across following your prescribed plans? Let me know in the comments. –Greg Burke