How Much Planning & Research is Enough?

This week, I have been thinking a lot about the research and planning of my novel. Before, I’ve not always bothered with it as much as I maybe should have done. It actually scares me a little. It all seems overwhelming. I’ll have a vague idea of the plot and who the main characters are but will then find that names will change half way through.

I continuously ask myself ‘how much is enough’ before it stops being helpful and starts becoming procrastination and a distraction from the actual writing of the novel.

The idea of planning also has me wondering, if I know too much about my characters and my story, what surprises are left for me to find let alone the eventual reader? The answer…probably more than I think.

Now it’s October, I am thinking about my novel idea for National Novel Writing Month next month and again, I am wondering how much planning and research to do.

Some published authors plan down to the very last detail, some only have an outline of the plot and a brief bio on the characters. Some authors go on research trips whilst others don’t bother unless they can find it on Google.  

I have got half way through a Nano novel and got stuck because I don’t know where I want to story to go and it’s then that I wished I had planned it a little.

My plan for this month is to at least give myself an outline rather than rely on what I have in my head. I know it’s time consuming now but I know future Laura will thank me.

Being able to write with nothing but an idea will maybe come in time but I’m learning, for this first book that planning and research is everything.

I’m off to write two outlines, one for The Back-up Plan and one for the Nano novel.

How much planning do you do before writing a novel? Do you have any tips for other writers?

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.