As a writer, do you plan your novel/stories or write as you go along?

I start with a plan--it's far easier to correct a plan than a novel. But often, some character or other develops in a way that I didn't anticipate, and I have to stop mid-way and plan again with those changes in mind. I use an excel chart with columns that make sense to me.

Along with other benefits mentioned already, it helps me avoid writer's block. (or what people call that.) You don't always get up and feel raring' to go over your novel. But I open up my excel document, I look at the next scene, and I can get down to writing much easier. It functions as a sort of to-do list. I might feel less than enthused on those days, but following that list helps me to write anyway, and I get my 1500 or 2000 word in, and the novel gets done on time.

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I like to have a plan so that I don't get too sidetracked, I know the general plot of the story before I start, but most of the actual scenes I write as I go. I usually end up with a lot of editing at the end though.

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I always plan before I write. My novel outlines are usually between 20 - 35 pages long and detail everything that is going to happen in the book, kind of like a step-by-step guide. That way I can spot any unnecessary scenes or characters, or where pacing is sagging, or things are happening to fast, and remedy it before I even start writing. I find it saves a huge amount of time when it comes to editing but a lot of writers don't like to plan. They feel it stifles their creativity.

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I write as I go along and come up with future story plots as I go along and plan ahead a bit for when certain things happen and sometimes make changes to things I've already written.

So simply I guess both.

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Well, I may not count as I am not published yet, but I find it easier to think about the scenes and play them out in my head, then have a general idea of where they are going to go in the story. I much prefer writing out scenes rather than writing out a plot line, so it works to just have a general idea of where the scenes are going and I pretty much write as I go.

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Oops, I seem to be the few that don't really plan. The thing is; writing for me can go in any direction and planning makes it set in stone for me, and I don't like that.

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Both, we I write I always have the main idea for the plot but the will always be things that will come up to you as you are writing.

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It plays out like a movie in my head. I just write what I see and hear and then I edit it later. If I edit it as I go I loose steam.

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Both... I amend as the characters develop,
and re - think the turns of sub - plotplot as they do so
while keeping the main plot in mind. <