Stop trying to copy other authors’ writing habits. Learn how to identify your natural writing style, whether you’re a planner or improviser, and build a sustainable creative process that actually works for you.

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The Dangerous Myth That’s Sabotaging Your Writing

You’ve read the interviews. You’ve absorbed the advice. You know Stephen King writes 2,000 words every single morning. You’ve learned that Brandon Sanderson outlines meticulously before drafting. You’re aware that some literary giants write longhand in notebooks while others need specialized software.

So you’ve tried to replicate these habits, forcing yourself into writing routines that successful authors swear by.

The result? You feel like a failure because you can’t maintain King’s daily discipline. You feel constrained when outlining like Sanderson. You hate writing longhand but feel guilty using a laptop.

The problem isn’t your dedication or talent. The problem is trying to force yourself into someone else’s creative process.

The Liberating Truth About Writing Process

After years of studying successful authors—from observing their daily routines to analyzing their composition methods—one truth emerges with startling clarity:

There is no universal writing process that works for everyone.

The only thing successful writers share: they eventually get words on the page. How they accomplish this varies so wildly that trying to find common patterns is like trying to identify the “correct” way to breathe.

The Writing Process Spectrum

Writers exist on a continuum between two extremes, with most falling somewhere in the middle:

The Architect (Planner) ←————— The Hybrid ————→ The Gardener (Improviser)

Neither end is superior. Both produce published novels. Both require skill, dedication, and revision. The question isn’t which approach is better—it’s which approach aligns with your natural cognitive style.

Understanding the Planner Personality

Core characteristics:

• Needs structural clarity before drafting
• Feels anxious writing without roadmap
• Enjoys problem-solving at the outline stage
• Writes more slowly but with greater initial precision
• Prefers resolving plot issues before encountering them
• Finds comfort in having the journey mapped

The planner’s process:

1. Extensive pre-writing: Character profiles, world-building documents, detailed outlines
2. Structured drafting: Following the outline with intentional prose
3. Moderate revision: Focusing on prose refinement rather than structural overhaul
4. Iterative polishing: Multiple passes improving word-level choices

Famous planner examples:

• J.K. Rowling (detailed spreadsheets and outlines before writing Harry Potter)
• Brandon Sanderson (extensive outlining and world-building documentation)
• John Irving (knows his last sentence before writing the first)

Planner strengths:

• Fewer major structural revisions required
• Stronger plot coherence in first drafts
• Less likely to write into narrative dead ends
• More efficient use of total writing time (less rewriting)

Planner challenges:

• Risk of over-planning instead of drafting
• May feel constrained by predetermined structure
• Slower initial page count accumulation
• Outline can become procrastination tool

Are You a Planner?

You might be a planner if:

• The idea of writing without knowing your ending causes anxiety
• You create character questionnaires before drafting
• You need to understand plot logic before writing scenes
• You prefer solving story problems on paper/whiteboard
• You feel accomplished when your outline is detailed
• The phrase “just start writing and see what happens” sounds terrifying

Understanding the Improviser Personality

Core characteristics:

• Discovers story through the writing process
• Feels stifled by predetermined structure
• Writes in energetic bursts of creation
• Produces high page counts quickly
• Trusts instincts over planning
• Finds creativity emerges from exploration

The improviser’s process:

1. Minimal pre-writing: Basic premise and character concepts
2. Discovery drafting: Writing to find out what happens
3. Extensive revision: Major structural overhaul and reorganization
4. Multiple rewrites: Sometimes completely redrafting sections
5. Final polishing: Prose refinement after structure is solid

Famous improviser examples:

• Stephen King (famously writes to discover his stories)
• Margaret Atwood (follows characters where they lead)
• George R.R. Martin (self-described “gardener” who plants seeds and sees what grows)

Improviser strengths:

• High page count productivity during drafting
• Organic character development and authentic surprises
• Maintains creative excitement throughout drafting
• Characters feel authentic because they drove plot choices

Improviser challenges:

• Significant time investment in revision/restructuring
• Risk of writing large sections that don’t serve final story
• May write into plot corners requiring backtracking
• Higher likelihood of abandoning manuscripts that don’t work

Are You an Improviser?

You might be an improviser if:

• Outlining feels like it drains creative energy
• You discover your characters by writing them
• You’re excited by not knowing what happens next
• Detailed planning makes writing feel like transcription
• Your best ideas emerge during drafting
• The phrase “just start writing and see what happens” sounds exciting

The Hybrid Approach (Where Most Writers Actually Live)

The reality: Pure planners and pure improvisers are rare. Most writers blend both approaches, adapting based on project needs.

Common hybrid patterns:

The “Milestone Mapper”

• Outlines 5-10 major plot points
• Improvises everything between milestones
• Adjusts outline when drafting reveals better paths

The “Character-First Hybrid”

• Develops detailed character profiles (planned)
• Lets character choices drive plot (improvised)
• Trusts that understanding characters will generate plot

The “Act-Based Planner”

• Outlines first act in detail
• Drafts Act One
• Outlines second act based on what emerged
• Continues this iterative cycle

The “Reverse Outliner”

• Writes first draft completely improvised
• Creates outline from draft
• Revises using outline to improve structure

The “Scene List Improviser”

• Lists scenes they know will happen
• Writes scenes in any order as inspiration strikes
• Stitches together later, filling gaps

Beyond Planning vs. Improvising: Other Writing Style Variables

Your planning preference is just one dimension of your writing identity. Consider these additional factors:

Timing and Schedule

The Daily Ritualist:

• Writes same time every day
• Requires consistency for productivity
• Benefits from routine and habit formation

The Burst Writer:

• Writes intensively in concentrated periods
• May go days/weeks without writing, then produces prolifically
• Thrives on momentum and immersion

The Opportunistic Writer:

• Writes whenever time/energy allows
• Adapts to irregular schedules
• Requires flexibility due to life constraints

None of these is superior. Success depends on matching your approach to your life circumstances and cognitive patterns.

Environment and Atmosphere

The Isolation Artist:

• Needs complete solitude and silence
• Distracted by any human presence
• Most productive alone in dedicated space

The Ambient Seeker:

• Writes best with background noise (coffee shops, libraries)
• Energized by presence of other people working
• Finds white noise or music helpful

The Boundary Blurrer:

• Writes anywhere, anytime, any conditions
• Equally productive on laptop in bed or phone on subway
• Environment doesn’t significantly impact output

Draft Philosophy

The Slow Perfectionist:

• Crafts each sentence carefully during drafting
• Produces cleaner first drafts
• Slower page count but less revision

The Fast Drafter:

• Prioritizes getting story down quickly
• Accepts rough prose in first draft
• Higher page count but extensive revision ahead

The Iterative Reviser:

• Revises each chapter before moving forward
• Cannot progress until current section feels solid
• Slower overall progress but cleaner ongoing draft

Tools and Technology

The Analog Writer:

• Longhand in notebooks
• Typewriter drafts
• Physical connection to words on page

The Digital Native:

• Word processor or specialized software (Scrivener, Ulysses)
• Appreciates editing flexibility
• Values searchability and organization features

The Hybrid Tool User:

• Might outline digitally but draft longhand
• Or draft on computer but revise on printed pages
• Uses different tools for different stages

How to Discover Your Natural Writing Style

The Self-Assessment Approach

Experiment systematically:

1. Try pure planning for one project:
   • Create detailed outline
   • Draft following outline precisely
   • Note: How did this feel? Energy level? Success?
2. Try pure improvising for another project:
   • Start with premise only
   • Write discovery style
   • Note: How did this feel? Energy level? Success?
3. Compare experiences:
   • Which felt more natural?
   • Which produced better results?
   • Which sustained your motivation?

Red flags you’re fighting your natural style:

• Constant procrastination despite loving your story
• Feeling constrained or anxious during process
• Abandoning projects at same stage repeatedly
• Comparing yourself negatively to writers with different styles

Green flags you’ve found your style:

• Process feels challenging but not torturous
• You maintain motivation across projects
• You complete drafts (even imperfect ones)
• The work is hard but sustainable

The Observation Method

Study your successful past projects:

When you’ve completed writing projects (even non-fiction, even short), what conditions allowed that success?

• Did you plan beforehand or discover while writing?
• What environment were you in?
• What time of day?
• What emotional state facilitated best work?
• What tools did you use?

Your past successes reveal your natural process.

Permission to Evolve

Your writing process isn’t fixed permanently. You might:

• Start as improviser, gradually incorporate more planning
• Begin as planner, learn to trust improvisation
• Use different approaches for different genres
• Adapt process as life circumstances change

The goal isn’t finding your eternal writing identity. It’s discovering what works for your current project and life situation.

The Dangerous Comparison Trap

Why Other Writers’ Habits Don’t Matter

The seductive logic: “Brandon Sanderson writes X words per day and publishes Y books per year. If I replicate his process, I’ll achieve similar success.”

The flawed assumption: Success stems from specific habits rather than the combination of: talent, work ethic, life circumstances, market timing, publishing connections, genre choice, natural cognitive style, and yes—habit.

The toxic result: You force yourself into incompatible work patterns, then feel inadequate when you can’t maintain them.

Habits to Ignore From Other Writers

“Write every day”

• Some successful authors do
• Many successful authors don’t
• Consistency matters more than daily practice
• Weekly or bi-weekly can work fine

“You must outline” or “Never outline”

• Both camps have bestselling authors
• Choose based on YOUR cognitive style
• Feel free to switch approaches between projects

“Real writers wake up at 5am”

• Some do, many don’t
• Productivity depends on your chronotype
• Night owls aren’t less legitimate than morning people

“You need X hours of uninterrupted time”

• Some writers produce novels in 15-minute increments
• Others need 4-hour blocks
• Both can work—know your optimal session length

“You must reach [specific word count] daily”

• Different writers sustain different rates
• 200 words daily beats 2,000 words sporadically
• Consistency beats volume

Building Your Sustainable Writing Rhythm

Once you understand your natural style, create supporting structures:

For Planners

Optimize your planning:

• Set planning time limits (prevents endless pre-writing)
• Create outline template you reuse across projects
• Know when outline is “good enough” to start drafting
• Build flexibility into your plan (allow deviations)

Your permission slip:

• It’s okay to write slowly if prose is cleaner
• You’re not “wasting time” by planning
• Detailed preparation is legitimate work
• Your revision will be lighter than improvisers’—this balances out

For Improvisers

Optimize your discovery:

• Accept first draft will require heavy revision
• Build revision time into project timeline
• Don’t judge rough first draft harshly
• Track what works to develop pattern recognition

Your permission slip:

• It’s okay not to know your ending
• You’re not “doing it wrong” by discovering plot
• Extensive revision is part of your process, not failure
• Your authentic character voices compensate for structural work

For Hybrids

Optimize your blend:

• Identify which elements benefit from planning (plot structure)
• Identify which elements benefit from improvising (dialogue, character reactions)
• Create flexible frameworks that guide without constraining
• Adjust balance based on project needs

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Process

Q: What if I’ve tried everything and still can’t find what works?

A: You might be judging too quickly. Give each approach at least 10,000-20,000 words before evaluating. Also consider: are you fighting your process, or is the story itself not working?

Q: Can I be a planner for some genres and improviser for others?

A: Absolutely. Many writers plan complex mysteries (intricate plots) but improvise character-driven literary fiction. Match process to project.

Q: What if my process is too slow? I’ll never finish at this rate.

A: Slow but sustainable beats fast but burnout-prone. Also, “slow” varies wildly. Some authors take 5 years per book and have successful careers.

Q: Should I change my process if it’s not producing sales?

A: Process affects completion, not necessarily publishability. Poor sales stem from story/craft/market issues, not whether you outlined. Focus on the writing quality, not the method.

Q: What if I start with one approach and need to switch mid-project?

A: Common and completely fine. Maybe your outline isn’t working—go improvise. Maybe improvising led to plot tangles—pause and outline remaining sections. Adapt as needed.

The Only Writing Rule That Actually Matters

Strip away all the advice about outlining, word counts, daily practice, and tools.

The only rule: Find a sustainable way to complete your writing projects.

“Sustainable” means:

• You can maintain this approach across multiple projects
• It doesn’t destroy your mental health or life balance
• You actually finish drafts (however rough)
• The process challenges you without crushing you

“Complete” means:

• First drafts that reach “The End” (even if terrible)
• Revision that improves those drafts
• Final manuscripts you’re willing to share/publish

That’s it.

However you get there—in 15-minute morning sessions or 8-hour weekend binges, with 50-page outlines or zero planning, using fountain pens or speech-to-text software—is legitimate.

Your Process Discovery Action Plan

Week 1: Self-assessment

• Review past writing projects: what conditions enabled completion?
• Identify patterns in your successful creative work
• List what energizes vs. drains you about writing

Week 2: Experiment with planning

• Outline a short story or novel chapter in detail
• Draft following your outline
• Note feelings and productivity

Week 3: Experiment with improvising

• Draft a short story or chapter with minimal planning
• Follow where the story leads
• Note feelings and productivity

Week 4: Reflection and synthesis

• Compare both experiences
• Identify hybrid approach that felt best
• Design your personalized process

Ongoing: Iterate and refine

• Your process evolves with experience
• What works for novel one might not work for novel three
• Stay flexible and self-aware

The Freedom of Process Acceptance

The moment you stop trying to write like Stephen King or J.K. Rowling or whoever you’re unconsciously emulating, you unlock tremendous creative energy.

That energy previously spent:

• Fighting your natural rhythms
• Feeling guilty about your approach
• Comparing yourself to incompatible models

Can now be directed toward:

• Actually writing your stories
• Improving your craft
• Building sustainable career

You’re not a failed planner or a lazy improviser. You’re a writer discovering your unique creative process—one that might resemble no other author’s approach, and that’s exactly as it should be.

Stop trying to write the “right way.” Start writing YOUR way.

The world doesn’t need another writer imitating established processes. It needs your stories, written in whatever weird, wonderful, idiosyncratic way actually gets them onto the page.

Now close this article and go write—however that works for you.

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