From the Fiction Desk

To plot or to free write? This is a question that has been asked by writers for generations and the answer is as personal to the author as identity and fingerprints can be to anyone. Before a writer decides to plot or to free write a story, there are many things to consider.

1. What genre are you writing in?
Some genres, such as mysteries, require a tightly woven story. To do this, the author usually needs a plot. How in depth the plot is depends on the author and what he or she wishes to say in their story. Other genres lend themselves to less detailed of a plot.

2. What are you, the author most comfortable with?
Some authors find it more comfortable to have a well written plot and others prefer to write in a loose universe where their characters can define the story more. When you try to write out of your comfort zone, in regards to plotting or free writing, this can feel as awkward as trying to walk in too tight of shoes or move in pants that you fear will split if you step incorrectly.

3. Some stories demand to be plotted and others free written.
Works of fiction have a life of their own. They develop as a living organism may develop, defining who they are. They become the author’s child in many ways and, like a living child, often demonstrate how strict the parent needs to be. Some stories need rules and tight supervision. Others need to be free to become what they are intended to be. Learn which your story is wanting to be as you work on it.

4. Is the plot getting in the way of the character?
Another way to ask this question is to ask yourself if your character is a living three dimensional character or if they are simply moving like an automaton. If the character is moving like an automaton, then the character is nothing more than a plot device and can become unbelievable to the reader. Even if it doesn’t, this can be a sign to the author that they should not plot as tightly as they have and let the character explore their world.

There is no easy answer to which is better for an author to follow, for the answer is one of discovery. Like a painter, a sculptor, or other artist, the writer discovers what technique works best for them –and a lot about themselves as they write.

Thank you for reading and please visit www.davidalanlucas.com for articles, blogs, poems, and stories that I write.