Goodreads asked Peter Caulfield:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Peter Caulfield Work in the way that suits you best. Author forums are great for getting advice but much of it can be very conflicting. For example, many authors plan out their novels in finite detail, they not only know the story in advance, but every plotline and plot twist are mapped out in advance. Others are more organic. They know the story they want to write, but the plot comes to life as they put pen to paper. That's how I prefer to work. I believe that if you plan out everything in advance, it doesn't allow you to surprise yourself.# - and I like to be surprised. When writing my first novel (Legitimate Targets - as Peter Facer) I had a police inspector character - trustworthy and reliable, suddenly murder an old lady witness. In that split second I created a 'gasp out loud' moment that even I hadn;t seen coming.
All I can advise you to do is try out both methods and see which one works for you.

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