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I do a little pre-planning.

I'm the procrastinating type, and my writing is best when it's solely for fun with a long or non-existant deadline. But I can do just as well with a short deadline (and in the case of 50,000 words in 30 days, I'd consider that a short deadline) as long as I plan the major stuff. So I have my main characters outlined -- their names, appearances, and general personalities and purposes. I have a few minor characters that I know will serve a purpose. And, of course, I have the major events planned a bit. Other than that, I figure since I have my main points figured out, I'll just let the rest go wherever it wants.

I'm not doing any pre-planning, simply winging it. I'm afraid if I start pre-planning, I won't stop, and I'll have too detailed an outline that'll restrict me. Then I may get to the "end" and only have 40k words.

I'd rather not have to go back and add anything. I want to hit 50k naturally. 3nodding

I have my two antagonist/protagonist characters, a beginning, and an end. Everything else, I will come up with along the way.

You really should read Chris Baty's book, No Plot? No Problem!

Uhm, I have characters and a premise and basic setting. Zombie chickens? Yup.

I have a beginning in mind. And a genre, but other than that I don't have anything planned...mostly, my preplanning is looking up words and whatnot for place/character names ^^ blaugh domokun

I've got the names of my characters, the setting, and that's about it. sweatdrop I think I'll start bringing a few flaws and advantages of my characters [the main ones] and start working on general appearance tomorrow, and by the end of the weekend the plot should be coming along.


I'm a bit of a planning freak, but I believe most of my actual writing won't be too bound by my outlining.

The rules say it's fine to plan. You can do as much brainstorming, outlining, etc. as you want. I'd say it's even okay to say "This is going to be my first line" or "Someone in my novel is going to say this smart-a** line." You just can't write out paragraphs or pages and dump them straight into your novel.

I've been trying to do quite a bit of planning, because without it, I tend to get lost. I bought a big white board and have been sketching out character connections and motivations. I have "Want + Obsticle = Conflict!" at the top, since it's that kind of plot-moving stuff that I have the hardest time with. I have lists of scenes I want to write. Ideas for interesting little exchanges. I know I still have to write out a family tree, since the main (non-romantic) relationship in my novel is between a brother and sister.