Writing.Com General Discussion

It can be important, but it is not vital in fiction. Writing to a theme can often see this dominate the actual story-telling.

I am not a plotter, more a pantser. I just let the story happen. That's why I don't bother.

But even some plotters I know don't utilise a premise construct until they have finished a first draft. Then they often go back and when they rewrite they know what they have to think about by using the premise.

Having said all of that, a premise is very important when writing non-fiction. In fact, I would go so far as to say that you need a premise as soon as you know the topic you are going to write about. Even if it is a personal essay style. Fiction/non-fiction... very different!