Question: How much structure does a writer need?

Answer: Just enough to get the writing done.

Okay, that may be a bit flippant, but the point is that writing is a creative activity and some writers will require a lot of structure in their life and projects and others will require just a little structure. First, when we talk about structure let’s break that down into two distinct components and look at them one at a time. These components are:

1. How and when you write.

2. Your method of writing.

How and when you write is essentially your daily (hopefully it’s daily) practice of writing. It is easy to get distracted by the mundane issues of life: email, work, kids, an important NCIS or CSI episode… so establishing a routine is essential. Writers have to be self-motivated and self-structured, so if what you are doing now is not working for you, impose some structure. If you really want your writing life to take off, have a set time to write and make yourself sit down in a position to write whether or not you know what you are going to write. Keep showing up and be harsh with yourself when the thought arises, Oh, I will just check my email for a second… or, A cup of tea sure would be nice…

Your method of writing is also key and the amount of structure you require will depend on what you are working on and also on your specific temperament as a writer. Believe me, the best judge of what you need is you, and you already know if what you are doing is working. Some writers love detailed and full outlines. Whether they are using Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake method or the outline they learned in Miss Willouby’s fifth grade class, these writers would panic if facing a blank page without a roadmap of where to go.

Then, there are other writers, Michael Chabon and myself come to mind (although Michael has apparently cracked the code better than I), who find outlines stifling. But, even us “seat of the pants” writers have an idea of where we are heading and benefit from a some structure even if the structure is just notes or musings in a journal or a free-flowing mindmap. The key here is to seek to understand what you as a writer need for structure, and if something is not working then try and impose more structure until you are getting the results that you want.

I am a big believer in adapting to the situation. If something isn’t working for you as a writer then try something else. In the end, do what works for you but a good rule is that if you seem stagnant or lost in your writing and are not getting the results you want then impose a little more structure. Keep imposing structure until you achieve the perfect balance for you.

Oh, and stop reading email and wait until you have a page written before you get the tea. You are really not that thirsty.