What First-Time Writers Get Wrong About Creative Freedom

How one course participant’s question revealed a common myth that holds writers back.

Every week, I hear from new writers inside my course - Kick Start Your Book With Karen - and their questions about fiction writing often reflect the very same doubts and mindset blocks I’ve seen in countless first time authors.

This week, one message really struck me. It came from a writer who’s halfway through the course and loving it (which makes my day, every time), but they were wrestling with something a lot of new writers struggle with—without even realizing it:

“Karen, I’m wondering… do I really need to do aaaaaalll this planning for my book before writing? Or can I just wing it? I feel like the planning is impacting my creative process and I don’t want to lose my creative flow.”

It’s a great question —but it also taps into a big misconception about a creative life I see all the time:

That planning and creative freedom are somehow opposites.

Let’s talk about why that’s not true—and how believing this myth can impact your writing process and keep your first book from ever getting written.

🚫 The Myth: “Planning kills creativity.”

A lot of new authors feel like structure will box them in. That if they know too much about their story ahead of time, they’ll get bored—or worse, the writing will feel forced.

A lot of authors writing novels for the first time also tend to have lots of creative ideas, are highly motivated, and can't wait to get started with their writing practice but don't understand the foundations of their story first.

But when you don’t know where you’re going, your brain spends more energy spinning in circles than creating meaningful scenes. 

That blank page you wanted to feel “freeing” starts to feel overwhelming.

Writing without a plan might feel fun… until it doesn’t.

But here’s the truth I’ve learned (and teach inside the course):

Planning doesn’t kill creative expression. It protects it.

Sure, you can start writing your first draft without a plan. But here’s what usually happens - you’ll write a few fun chapters, then get stuck.

You’ll second-guess your characters, your plot, and your entire idea of your first novel. And that’s when so many great stories, of all different genres, are abandoned.

💡 The Reality: Structure frees your imagination.

Inside Kick Start Your Book With Karen, I guide writers through a flexible, creative writing planning process that helps you to:

• Get clear on your main character’s new world and goal

• Understand your story’s central conflict

• Sketch out a rough beginning, middle, and end

• Build a loose outline you can shift as you write

This isn’t about rigid chapter-by-chapter planning. It’s about giving your creativity a direction—so you don’t stall or lose steam halfway through.

Writing an entire book is hard work and should be approached as a marathon not a sprint. 

That’s why I created my course in the first place—to give first-time writers the tools and confidence to finish what they start and give themselves the best possible chance of creating a good novel.

I want to emphasize that this article is directed at first-time fiction writers rather than experienced authors. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the artistic process and the more books you write the more you'll start to develop your own approach.

Some writers do thrive with a “pantsing” (write by the seat of your pants) approach, while others need a structured roadmap to follow. 

But here’s what I’ve seen time and again—especially with first-time authors:

Writing without a plan often leads to burnout, self-doubt, and an unfinished manuscript.

Here’s what I recommend (and what we cover inside the course):

1. Create a loose story arc outline.

You don’t need to know every scene. But you do need a clear beginning, middle, and end—so you’re not wandering aimlessly by chapter five.

2. Define your main character’s goal and conflict.

When you know what your protagonist wants—and what’s in their way—your story will naturally move forward with purpose.

3. Use structure as scaffolding, not a straitjacket.

I walk you through simple story beats that give your book shape, while still allowing space for surprises and creativity.

4. Revisit and revise your plan as you go.

Your outline isn’t set in stone. Think of it as a map—not a prison cell.

Most aspiring writers I work with don’t struggle because they lack talent or have bad ideas—they struggle because they don’t have a clear direction. 

Both my 8-step online course as well as my 5-day novel planning blueprint help you build a foundation before you dive in offering practical tips so you don’t hit that mid-draft slump where you feel lost and ready to quit your creative project.

If you're already in the course and asking this question—you're right on track. The tools you're learning are designed to support your creativity, not limit it.

And if you’re not in the course and not quite ready to invest, check out this cost-effective 5-day novel-writing blueprint to help you get the foundation blocks in place.

Let’s build your book—one clear, confident step at a time.

💬 Got a question about writing your book? The publishing industry? Getting on the bestseller list? Finding great agents?

 I’d love to hear it at: Hello@Karenosman.com

Whether you're inside the course or just exploring your story idea, send me your question. I might even feature it in a future article.

For more blog posts on planning as a first-time author, I recommend starting with this post: From Idea to First Chapter: A Simple 5-Day Plan.