There’s so much advice in the writing world. Much of the time, that advice wants you to make a choice:
Fiction or non-fiction?
Plot-driven or character-driven?
Plotting or pantsing?
How are you supposed to know what’s best?
Honestly? What’s best depends entirely on who you. Instead of trying to figure out the ‘best way to write’, why not start with what kind of writer you are? If you’re a character-driven writer, then why on earth would you want to start with plot? If you take delight in writing by the seat of your pants, then why try to cram your story into an outline first?
Step out with your strengths; start with the things that come naturally, the things you do well. While it would nice to be a character and plot driven writer or a plotting pantser, most of us are better at one or the other. So you can concentrate on your deficits if you want to, but wouldn’t you rather think, ‘Hey — that means I’ve got strengths’?
I thought so.
Me too.
Just be the kind of writer that you are.