Writing Tips - The Set Up

 When it comes to planning your story, take your time to get it right. Most people like to jump straight in and start writing, and while that can be fun, it is very easy to end up writing yourself into a corner.
You do not have to plot out every little detail, but you should have a basic structure in place. A beginning, middle and end that you can refer back to if you get stuck. There is nothing worse than writing a story and then finding a major plot hole that requires a lot of rewriting. Why cause yourself that much stress?
Having a timeline for your story can help to pin key moments down for your characters. It can keep you on track and make sure that your character doesn't go from point A to point B in the blink of an eye, with no reasonable way of getting there.
An easy way to do it is to open a new document or fresh blank page in a notebook, and make a note of where your characters start out. How does the story begin? What is your character facing and what is going to happen to them?
The middle is where the characters try to solve their dilemma. They often fail, making a mistake or are unable to help themselves because they are missing something - information, an object, help etc.
The ending is where they face the ‘big battle’, whether literal or metaphorical, and their story reaches a conclusion. This is followed by a short wrap up - a ‘where to now’ for the characters.
You want your characters to have an arc. To go on a journey and change over the course of the book. This is a good way to check this too. If your character is exactly the same person on page 1 as the final page, then something has gone wrong.
So even if you are a pantser, do make an outline for yourself, however rough. You will be glad you did.