Writing Lessons
1/26/26
Should you plan or just write?
Should you plan a book? In my view, there is only one answer: yes. If you want to publish, writing with intent matters.
In non-fiction, planning is especially critical. You will know exactly what belongs in your book, how the chapters build, and what material sits where. That outline becomes your proposal and, later, your compass for the entire manuscript.
Many writers assume novels are different. They aren’t. In fiction, your plan becomes your plot.
Written By
Why aren't crazy people content to take over, like, one town? It always has to be the whole world - James Patterson, Angel
There is only one answer to this question (in my view). YES of course you should plan a book! I believe in writing with intent if you want to get published. If you are writing non-fiction, you are going to be 100% clear about what is going to go into your book. You will have a clear list of your chapters and the material covered in each. Your planning will become your book proposal and it will guide your entire book. But is a novel different? No. In a novel, your plan is your plot. In so many conversations with writers, they tell me they 'just want to write'. And of course, I tell them to just do it. Just start. And to a degree I do recommend this ‘write while the muse strikes’ approach. But I am a book editor so I don’t really believe this. If you just go at it without a plan I do know that you will get around 20,000 words down and then you will have told your whole story. There is a huge value in finding your story first. I use the words plot, story and structure interchangeably. They are essentially the same thing - a guiding light that will make your book a journey rather than a rambling walk. An article or a short discussion piece has a structure. Any good piece of writing does. A speech (even a blog / vlog or a TED talk) is a carefully crafted piece. So you don’t want to start a BOOK – which is a massive undertaking – without a roadmap. You need to know where to put all the information in a logical way. In fact a book requires MORE planning than short-form writing. SO HOW DO YOU PLAN A BOOK? Your first big step in planning is when you chose your GENRE. That is the beginning of structure. Please find your novel genre here on my list. Then...,. On its most basic level, all books – all stories - have a beginning, a middle and an end. What do they have in common:
A plot How do you STRUCTURE a non-fiction book?
No matter what structure you chose, you are going to find that most of the story is still going to be told chronologically. Why? Because the story is about a journey. You are taking the reader on your journey, and that almost always requires a start point and an end point. |
You have to want it so hard that it hurts
‘I want to be an author’
‘I want to write a book’
These are conversations I have on a daily basis. Truthfully I am a bit tired of this messaging. Of course this is NOT what I should be saying. I should be encouraging you to write a book, right? This is my business – coaching and supporting authors.
So why am I saying this? Because you don’t know how LONG and HARD it is. I see all these ‘coaches' who tell you that you should write a book, that it will ‘build your brand.’ Hmmmmm.
What are publishers looking for this year?
Once again, we turn our attention to the publishing market and the trends shaping the upcoming cycle. For authors, understanding what readers are buying is invaluable—particularly in non-fiction, which must tap into the mood of the times. That said, a book can also spark a global trend, unleashing a new concept and capturing imaginations in unexpected ways. The “Let Them Theory,” for example, demonstrates the power of fresh ideas, amplified by podcasters, social media, and celebrity influence.
