Generally speaking, writers tend to fall into one of two camps: plotters or pantsers.
Plotters tend to have a very organised approach to their writing, and spend a lot of time writing up outlines of how the story is going to go. Outlines can vary from being a one or two page document with the main storyline written in, to multi-page manuals on how the story will be written, chapter by chapter, from beginning to end.
Pantsers are different. They literally write by the seat of their pants. They have a nugget of an idea, and just sit down and start writing from there. The plot forms as they write, they invent it as they go.
There are pluses and minuses to both. Those who plot and outline generally have less rewriting to do. Pantsers may find that their story takes a turn half way through that means entire chapters have to be consigned to the waste-paper basket. But they can also allow their characters to set the pace, and make decisions on plot as they evolve. Plotters work can be more rigid.
So which is better? Honestly, whatever works for you. Personally, I tend to write the first half of a novel without a roadmap. Half way through, my momentum starts to give out and I need some structure. I sit down with a paper and pen and sketch out a plan for the remainder of the book and continue from there.
When you research the whole novel-writing process, you'll find a lot of 'rules'. The only ones I found that I think should be set in stone are 'make time for your writing', 'write regularly', and 'edit, edit, edit'. Everything else you have to try out and see whether or not it works for you.
What about you guys? Are you plotters or pantsers?
I'm a definite plotter. But my plot tends to be twisted and changed a lot along the way- letting a creative pantsing vibe run free. I guess I need a little of both;)
ReplyDeleteplotter. Not a really strict plotter, but i need a rough outline (typically just a list of main scenes) to keep my momentum going. The outline usually contains gems such as "Something important needs to happen here". And then, the pantser side of me figures it out by the time i reach that scene
ReplyDeletePlotter. I tried writing a story several months ago without a roadmap, and it died out around chapter 4. My characters refused to talk to me anymore. And I had no idea of the ending. I still don't. And they have no plans on telling me the secret ending any time soon, so it would seem. Little buggers! Anyway, they've been relegated to the pantry while other things simmer on the front and back burners. At least THOSE characters want to give me a heads-up on what's going on.
ReplyDelete"The only ones I found that I think should be set in stone are 'make time for your writing', 'write regularly', and 'edit, edit, edit'."
ReplyDeleteI love your rules... words to write by!
I plot the main turning points and a few bits in between and then I fill in the rest as I write.
ReplyDeleteI tried the panster method with my first wip and it turned into a year and a half of rewrites and going back. I can't do that again, I am a plotter now for sure, though I don't write book for the plot just to write the book later:)
ReplyDeleteI'm a pantser XD What can I say? The times that I've tried to be a plotter, it either takes months for me to actually start writing, or my MC gets tired and chucks everything I've written away.
ReplyDeletePants are evil! Down with pants! You know though... I am more of a timeliner than an outliner. Sort of what Sarah said--big main things I plan for the whole book so I don't get lost, and then about 3-6 chapters at a time I do a list of bullets of what goes there... and then I ignore about half of it... I can't help it. it's the way I roll.
ReplyDeleteUm, is Pantsaplotter an option? Yep, just made that one up there, I did.
ReplyDeleteI'm 90% pantser, for sure, but that still leaves 10% for my plotter tendencies. I start with just an idea and run, run, run until my fingers come to a stand still. Then, I conjure up a million ways the story could go, write them all down, and determine the best journey for my characters.
From there, I'll sketch out rough ideas that I want to make sure I include, based on what I've already written.
This seems to work out great for me. There's simply no way I could outline something first, then remotely try to stick to it. Would never happen.
Us pantsers know what's up. Just sayin'. :)
I secretly wish I were a plotter! Instead, I start writing when I have a beginning, a handful of middle scenes, and an end.
ReplyDeleteI tried plotting and never turned back. My plotting allows for a lot of wiggle room, so my inner pantser is happy still, though.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a panster. Tried once to sit down and "plot out" my wip but nothing came out. I wish I could be a plotter though!
ReplyDeleteI use both techniques, but I pantsed through my novel more and ended up discarding so much. So I guess it's good that I could see it needed to go, but ended up feeling like it wasn't very efficient.
ReplyDeleteI'm a pantser who is trying to incorporate more plotting. I kind of follow the same trajectory you described. Pantsing through the first section is a breeze, and then I start to panic because I realize I don't really know where things are going. On the other hand, I don't like pre-plotting too much because I feel like that takes the fun out of writing the story a little bit.
ReplyDeleteSo I think striking the right combo of the two things is the best way to go.
I like to have a general roadmap of where I'm going, but I don't outline intensively at all. In fact, usually the road map is just in my head, never committed to paper. When I write, I keep those places I need to hit in mind, but I just explore and see where things go along the way.
ReplyDelete"The only ones I found that I think should be set in stone are 'make time for your writing', 'write regularly', and 'edit, edit, edit'. Everything else you have to try out and see whether or not it works for you."
ReplyDelete*claps* *bows to your wisdom*
Your explanation was so eloquent! And I agree that though I start out pantsing, at a certain point I need to stop and ask for directions. :)
Pantser all the way! I start writing and see where it takes me. This does mean I frequently read my own work and have no memory of actually writing it... should I be worried? ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm a little of both. And that's working for me.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much variation out there, but it's true - you have to do what works for you and your story. Great post!
The second half is definitely when I tend to have the most detailed outlines--everything's all starting to come together and it gets confusing!
ReplyDeleteI like your last rule : )
ReplyDeleteI like those rules!
ReplyDeleteI plot for the first draft. At least that's what I do so far, because historical fiction requires so much accuracy that an outline really, really helps.
ReplyDeleteWhen I revise, I pants it. Totally :)
I really like this outlining halfway through idea...if outlining would ever work for me, that would be how.
ReplyDelete