Grow your novel organically or plot it out first? If you're published let me know.

[QueenoftheNights]

I'm keen to know how published writers have done this.

There are two schools of thought. Some say just write and the plot will develop, others say have a plan.

I'm already a published author of two non fiction books. I've got 2 novels on the back burner but have run out of steam because the plot has gone AWOL! In fact there wasn't a clear plot anyway.

I know writers of novels (in real life- friends and colleagues) and they have two different ways of working too!

I feel I have to know what's going to happen at the beginning and end even if not the middle.

I started a novel yesterday but am not sure of the whole plot and feel I can't proceed until I do, yet my writing coach/mentor says' just write'.

You?

I'm a published author and I also teach Creative Writing, and can confirm there is no rule on this - there's only what works for you. If going with the flow isn't working for you, then try plotting in advance and see if that's better. Although do remember your plot line isn't some sort of holy writ - you can and will change it as your novel evolves.

It also sounds as if you've hit a very common roadblock of getting about 20k words in, then found everything gets hard. This doesn't mean your novel is crap and you should abandon it! It means you've kept writing long enough to get to the tough part.

Stick with one project and see it through to the bitter end. You'll learn way more from finishing one bad or indifferent novel than starting and abandoning a dozen brilliant ones. Good luck and stick with it.