What's better in fiction writing, a plot outline or free flow writing?

This is a question that definitely gets asked more than you'd think. When writers get together, whether face-to-face or virtually, the question of working methods always seems to come up.

Freeform vs structured writing is really a mirage. They are essentially the same thing when you step back far enough. It is the author working out the story so that the end product is something that's not only readable, but entertaining. Fact of the matter is that they are both part of the process of good writing. The question then should be one of proportion.

The Balance Between Freeform and Structure

Both methods have their pitfalls that are mitigated by the other. Do too much freeform and your writing can easily come off as aimless. Do too much structure and the end result can be bland and lifeless. From having talked to a lot of acclaimed authors about this, I think a balance is easy for any writer to find. It will be what works for them, but it increases the chances of a successful outcome.

The goal is to have a coherent story which unfolds in an organic way. In the beginning, I think you can start with either method. Use freeform when you have something in mind; side more with a structured method when you are having some difficulty getting your imagination started or if you just happen to like structured methodology.

Starting Freeform

If you start with freeform, don't get too invested in weaving together the complete story on a whim. Write out the scenes that you like. Free-associate characters. Speculate on possible plot developments. As long as you don't think this is the end-all of the process, you can avoid letting your enthusiasm get the better of you. Once you have between 10-20% (or so) written of what you think your final length should be, stop. What you will end up with is, essentially, a rough outline with significant scenes and major characters in play.

At this point I don't think it hurts to step back and take a look at what you have. Ask yourself if the pacing makes sense, if the characters are rich and complex in their own sort of way. Often the freeform method has allowed you to develop plot in favor of character. Take this chance to flesh out your characters a bit. By now you have a sense of who they are and can work them into really interesting beings. If it's actually more character then plot, then take this opportunity to flesh out your plot.

Starting with Structure

Unlike freeform, structure seems to work best as a character-development process. You work out your characters so that they are distinct. This often requires reasonable biographies of your major characters along with at least snippets for your minor characters. While character necessity will eventually force you into plotting choices, you use the information at hand of your characters to inform your initial choices of plot and significant turning points.

The Balance

Now we come to the merging of the two methods, where freeform becomes more structured and structure becomes more freeform: the writing of the first draft.

The freeformist had to stop and massage their meanderings to get a road map for the story. At this stage, it's important to keep in mind the goal and a few of the stops along the way. Stick to them for this first draft. Between those points you can wander pretty far afield wherever your imagination takes you. But you always know where you are going.

The structurist needs to trust in their characters and that their understanding of the way-points will get them where they need to be. Between the plot points, the writer needs to just let events carry them along. Go down the road less travelled sometimes--what's there is sometimes better than anything you could have planned.

And then there is the single most important thing to remember: no matter what, you are going to be rewriting it...so relax.

From My Files

For the most part, I have evolved into a more structured writer. There was a time when I wasn't, but as I read drafts of works from other writers wanting a critique, I soon noticed a trend that unrewarding endings or meandering middles often came from the stream-of-consciousness methods. So I modified my own methods until I found the balance that worked for me.

Because I write science fiction (mostly) and have to create worlds and stuff that are internally consistent, I'm somewhat forced into a fair amount of preliminaries in constructing a setting no matter which of the above methods I use. I then work on character biographies...the closer to the main characters, the more detailed. But I don't try to create every single character at the start. As needs arise I will create new ones on the fly (see...freeform creeping in already).

For me, plot doesn't merit a ton of attention. I decide on the final scene. If I don't have a final scene, then I don't start writing the narrative. I mark the 3-act structure plot points. I do the same for any character arcs or sub-plots I think are important. For a novel, I then write down a title for every chapter. This might be overkill at this point, but it helps me stay on track...sort of.

When I start writing the draft, the only thing I pay attention to are the chapter titles, and then only when I start a new chapter. After about every eight chapters I re-evaluate my choices based on what I've written and modify them as needs be. You see, at this point I'm pretty much freeform. As long as the major plot points are hit, I go wherever the story takes me. I feel I can do that with confidence as the characters do whatever is in their own nature. Frankly, I don't have a lot of work to do on that score.

Sometimes the process can be surprising. In my most recent novel, I spent a lot of time developing a character. Lots of biographical stuff. Then, about four chapters in, it was obvious that that character had to die. Not later in the story, but right then. I was stunned, quite frankly. It also forced me to stop and more fully develop the bios of what had been minor characters to fill the void. The end result was a better story than I had first envisioned.

As you can see, there is definitely a balance there. I know I'm not the only one to have found it. The key is to let go of dogma and your own hangups. Both styles, when allowed to work together, give the best stories. Not too aimless, not too flat. Just right.