# Planning a deck

> Scope and outline before you write a single card.

## What & why

The decks that go well are the ones with a decision made before the first card: _who is
this for, and what will they be able to do when they finish?_ Five minutes of scoping
saves an afternoon of writing cards you'll later cut. Planning isn't bureaucracy — it's
how you avoid a sprawling deck that never quite finishes.

## The rule

> Before writing cards, decide three things: the **learner**, the **outcome**, and the
> **scope**. Write cards only for that outcome.

1. **The learner.** Who's studying — a total beginner, someone brushing up? What do
   they already know? This sets your wording and how much you can assume.
2. **The outcome.** Finish the sentence "After this deck, the learner can \_\_\_." Recall
   the 100 most common irregular verbs. Name every country's flag. A concrete outcome
   tells you what belongs and what doesn't.
3. **The scope.** Roughly how many cards — aiming for a
   [deck that finishes](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/deck-craft/small-decks/) (20–100 for a first
   one). If the outcome needs far more, split it into a series.

## Bad → good

**Don’t**

"I'll make a deck about **Spanish**." Open-ended — no learner, no finish line, so it
grows forever and never ships.

**Do**

"**~300 everyday Spanish words for a total beginner's first weeks** — greetings,
food, family, numbers." Clear learner, outcome, and scope.

## When it applies

Every new deck, even a small one — the bigger the subject, the more planning pays off.
Once the three decisions are set, a quick outline (the groups of cards you'll write)
turns writing into filling in blanks instead of staring at a blank deck. It also makes
the [title and description](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/building/title-and-description/) almost
write themselves — you've already said who it's for and what they'll gain.

## Related

- [Small decks that finish](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/deck-craft/small-decks/)
- [Title & description](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/building/title-and-description/)
- [Editor tour](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/workflow/editor-tour/)

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[Read this guide on Deckberry](https://www.deckberry.com/creators/guide/building/planning/)