I'm searching for a balance of spontaneity and planning to write my novel, and I want to writing my protagonist in a journey of some kind. Is there a format or plan for a journey?

I’ve got two practical suggestions for you to help you write your book.

1. Balance plotting and pants-ing.

It sounds like you want to do a little plotting and a little pants-ing, as we call the two popular book writing styles. Both are valid methods, and you can do both for your story. In fact, I recommend balancing both writing styles until you find what works best for you.

If this is your first story, start with some basic plotting in a simple outline. Using the three-act structure or a similar outline, sketch out the five major plot points in your story, including the setup, inciting incident, midpoint, climax and resolution. You can get more detailed than this with your outline, if you’d like, but at least nail down these first five plot points before drafting.

As you’re drafting, go ahead and “pants” your way through the scenes between each plot points. Remember, the purpose of your first draft is just to get to the end, so don’t edit your writing at this stage. Simply let the story and the characters and your intuition lead you. If you get stuck, head back to your outline to plan out possible next steps, then choose one and get back to writing.

2. Explore existing plot structures.

The three-act structure is a great basic structure that I recommend to all my writers regardless of genre. If you need a little more guidance in fleshing out your outline, check out the Hero’s Journey, SAVE THE CAT, and some romance novel beat sheets. If you’re writing a quest or journey, the Hero’s Journey might be a great resource for you as it helps writers map out each key scene and turning point in the story. Leaning on an existing plot structure can help you write a faster outline with a proven storytelling method.

Happy writing!