I stopped using detailed character sheets after 15 years

I used to write 10 page character profiles before starting any story, thinking it made my writing stronger. But about 3 years ago, I tried a prompt that required me to just start writing with no prep at all. The result was way more natural dialogue and unexpected plot turns that felt alive. Now I think all that planning was actually killing my creativity by locking me into rigid ideas. Has anyone else found that less prep gives you better stories?

3 comments

3 Comments

allen.kai7d ago

Planning gives you control so your story doesn't fall apart halfway through.

elliot_gibson277d ago

Did you read that Stephen King quote about how stories are like fossils he just digs up? I feel like @allen.kai is more on the discovery side with that planning thing. I heard a writer say once that the whole "pantsing" vs planning debate is fake anyway because even discovery writers have an internal map after a while. It's more like you're hiking without a GPS but you still know which way the sun sets.

gracec1612h ago

Oh wow, that's really interesting... I actually think the issue might not be about prep vs no prep at all. The real problem is when people use character sheets to fill in boxes instead of to ask questions. Like, I used to write down "blonde hair, blue eyes, likes coffee" and call it done. But when I stopped doing that and just started writing, I realized I was filling in details as they mattered to the story. My main character's habit of cracking his knuckles only came out in chapter 5 when he was nervous during a confrontation. No sheet would have told me that. So maybe it's not about less prep, but about doing prep that actually helps you discover stuff instead of just listing traits.