Writing a novel is an exciting and rewarding endeavor, but it can be a daunting one too. If you immediately jump into writing, you may run into a variety of challenges such as plot holes, underdeveloped characters, and poor pacing. This can lead to more frequent writer‘s block and rework, and could ultimately prevent you from completing a first draft. Having a plan before you start writing, whether you're a seasoned author or aspiring to publish your first novel, can be the difference between success and failure.
What is a Novel Plan?
A novel plan is a knowledge repository that guides the progression of a novel from conception to first draft. It typically includes a story outline, character and setting profiles, plots, themes, and research. The aim of a novel plan is to help authors to capture, develop, and organize their ideas for a novel and, ultimately, write a better story, faster.
10 Reasons to Use a Novel Plan
1. A Vision and Roadmap for Your Story
A novel plan acts as a roadmap, giving your story direction and helping you move smoothly from one scene to the next. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to get lost in the middle of your novel, unsure of where to take the plot or how to resolve conflicts. A well-thought-out plan ensures that you always know where your story is heading, helping to prevent writer’s block and keeping you motivated. By outlining your novel’s narrative structure, event sequence, and character arcs in advance, you can keep the momentum going and avoid getting stuck.
2. Consistent Story Elements
Your novel likely includes multiple characters, locations, subplots, and themes. Managing all of these elements without a plan can quickly lead to inconsistencies—characters may behave in ways that contradict their development, or themes might get lost or muddled as the story progresses. With a plan, you can clearly define each character’s journey, motivations, and relationships, ensuring they develop naturally and in alignment with the plot. A plan also allows you to tie themes together throughout the story, making them more impactful and cohesive.
3. Faster Writing
Having a plan doesn’t just help you write better—it helps you write faster. By always knowing what happens next, you eliminate the time spent wondering how to move the story forward. This means less second-guessing and fewer delays in your writing process. A well-organized plan breaks the novel down into manageable sections, so even on days when you feel uninspired, you know exactly what to work on next. The clarity a novel plan provides can significantly speed up your first draft.
4. Less Rework
Revisions are a natural part of the writing process, and having a plan makes it much easier to revise your novel. For instance, when making a change to character’s personality, instead of finding and making the necessary adjustments throughout the entire draft, you can simply update the character’s personality profile and scan through the event list to identify the affected events. With a plan, you can both see the big picture and dive into the details, enabling you to identify exactly where and how changes need to be made without derailing the entire story.
5. Deep, Relatable Characters
Characters are the heart of any story. Planning your novel gives you the opportunity to develop rich, multi-dimensional characters with clear attributes, motivations and arcs. You can delve into their backstories, understand their desires and fears, and determine how they will grow throughout the story. Well-developed characters resonate with readers, making your novel more engaging and memorable.
6. Comprehensive World-building
If your novel contains a rich, detailed world that plays a major role in the story, a novel plan is crucial. To achieve believability and consistency, many aspects of the world most be considered, including key locations, geography, culture, politics, and history. Trying to keep all of these details in your head or scattered across different documents can lead to confusion. A plan lets you organize your world-building in one place, ensuring that every element of your world is cohesive and consistent. This not only makes your world more believable but also helps you stay true to the rules and limitations of your created universe.
7. Avoiding Overwhelm
Writing a novel involves juggling many moving parts, from character development to subplots to thematic elements. Without a plan, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. A novel plan helps you stay organized by keeping all of your thoughts, ideas, and research in one place. This reduces the mental load of trying to remember every detail and frees up mental space for creative thinking. By structuring the knowledge abut your novel, you can focus on writing rather than managing all the pieces of your story.
8. Preventing Writer’s Block
Writer’s block often stems from not knowing what happens next in the story or not having a complete understanding of characters and settings. A novel plan helps eliminate this uncertainty by enabling you to think through all of the details before you write the first word. When you know the next plot point, conflict, or character development, it’s easier to keep writing even when motivation is low. Instead of staring at a blank page, you can use your plan to guide you through challenging sections, keeping the writing process moving forward.
9. Confidence in Your Story
One of the biggest advantages of having a novel plan is the confidence it gives you in your story. Knowing that you’ve carefully thought through the plot, character arcs, and themes allows you to write with purpose. You won’t need to worry about whether your story makes sense or if your characters are developing in the right way—your plan provides the foundation for a strong, cohesive narrative. This confidence helps you maintain momentum and stay motivated throughout the writing process.
10. Creative Freedom
Contrary to the belief that planning stifles creativity, having a novel plan can actually enhance creativity. With the structure and elements of your novel in place, you can focus on the creative aspects of writing, such as crafting vivid descriptions, composing compelling dialogue, and bringing each scene to life. Planning provides a framework within which your creativity can flourish, allowing you to experiment and take risks without losing sight of your story’s core.
If you've been thinking about writing a novel, whether you're or an experienced, published author or just starting out, having a comprehensive plan can make the writing process smoother and more enjoyable. Our Novel Plan for Notion template is designed to help you organize every aspect of your novel, from characters to plotlines, giving you the tools to bring your story to life. Take a closer look.
