Abe F. March

“People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.” I don’t know the author of that statement, but it has been repeated often in training seminars. 

I have yet to make a plan that was completed as planned, and yet planning is important.  It defines a starting point with an objective - a goal.  How to reach that goal begins with a plan. 

Unfortunately there is seldom ever a straight line to reach the goal.  An analogy might be in driving across country with a road map.  There are detours along the way that interrupt the trip. A pilot makes adjustments to his flight plan caused by wind currents and/or diversions dictated by air traffic control.  Having no plan could be compared to taking a trip in a rudderless boat.

I cannot imagine writing a book without some destination in mind nor can I imagine sticking to a pre-planned format. Non-fiction requires some organization that follows sequence of historical events; however with fiction the characters often dictate the direction the book will take.  The ending may even surprise the writer. 

In general, I think planning is important, but to stick to a plan without deviation or flexibility in my view is foolhardy.