We all know that writers fall into one of two groups: the Plotters, who lay their entire story out methodically in advance, often using a formal outline; and the Pantsers, who fly by the seat of their pants, letting the story unfold as they write, perhaps with the aid of a few notes. Neither method is better than the other. It depends on the personality of the writer — some people are orderly and want to be in control. Others are more spontaneous, willing to be surprised. I would like to suggest that if you’re stymied for how to proceed with your novel or even how to start into it, you may be forcing yourself against type to be a Plotter when you’re really a Pantser, or vice versa. I’ve been there and done that.
Put on Your Big Girl (or Boy) Pants and Fly
Writing my first novel, I tried to do what books tell you. Set up an outline. Have the first plot point occur 25% of the way through the book. Have a second plot point at the 50% milestone, etc., etc. It was so fruitless and agonizing that I felt like I had no imagination and could never be a writer. But on the second book, I abandoned a complete outline from the get-go and just jotted down the basic plot points, embroidering those with more detail as I got into the story.
Today I hardly do anything in advance except get the idea and a few scenes I want to happen. If I have an idea as I write, I jot it down. Even writing mysteries, which have to be tightly plotted, this method works. But it all depends on listening to where the characters take you. (Admittedly, as a writer of historical fiction, I always have a few real events to help structure things.) Sounds corny, perhaps, but you know Character X would act a certain way in a certain circumstance, so follow his lead. Warning: you’ll have to read your manuscript over and over to see the threads of where things are leading. For me, it works, and perhaps it does for you too.
Plotting Along
On the other hand, if pantsing it sounds dangerous and self-indulgent, you’re probably a Plotter. Your creativity flows out methodically into an outline that holds the flower bulb, so to speak, of your entire book. Your desk is probably neatly arranged too. That’s really the ideal, according to the books —t o be the master of your novel from beginning to end. Don’t force yourself to fly blind into what will become a nightmare of confusion and discouragement: plot.
To Plot or Not to Plot?
The bottom line is, neither way of working is better than the other. Find the work habit that is best for you and don’t feel constrained to follow anyone’s advice. Try one way and then the other. It should become clear pretty fast whether you’re a Pantser or a Plotter. Maybe writer’s block is really nothing other than trying to shoehorn your imagination into a work habit that doesn’t fit.
Larry Martin
Niki,
Interesting post, and I agree each person must find his/her own method that works best. However, I am firmly in the “Pantser” fold, and this is the method I advocate to new novelists. I wrote a blog advocating this approach, posted on Medium.com at
https://medium.com/@drlarry437/pour-out-your-words-then-revise-rewrite-aeebcf584618
Danielle Cook
Very interesting post. I had struggled to determine what style suits me best when I switched from successful short story writing (I was definitely “panster” here) to trying to write a novel where “panstering” got me hopelessly tied in knots. Since I am a visual person (mixed media art is a passion), I regrouped and decided to employ elements of BOTH, creating a GRAPH that incorporates plot and scene elements from Larry Brooks excellent book “Story Engineering” with blank spaces to add/subtract/embellish changes written on colored post-it papers. These I can “pantse” while working within a semi-structured plotting format. A blend of both techniques has freed me from the rigidity of a complete plotting structure and allowed my creative impulses room to roam wild and free. Thanks for your article. I see you sometimes live in rural France. One of my most memorable vacations was when I rented a farmhouse in Southwestern France and spent a month writing, creating art and bicycling! (and eating of course)
Niki Kantzios
Happy to hear people with their own stories about finding a writing identity! The graph idea is great for those so inclined.
Shutta Crum
I’m generally a pantser. The only time I got into real trouble was for NaNoWriMo . I decided to just start on day one without ANY forethought. 45,000 words later, I was lost! Yikes… That partial novel sat for 5 years until I was able to sit down and think it through. I still didn’t outline, but at least I had some direction. Whatever works, works . . . obviously, though, a little forethought is helpful!
Danielle Cook
Excellent post. Following years of writing short stories (definitely “Panster style”), I decided to tackle a novel. After wandering in the word wasteland of incoherent plotting and stagnant prose, I realized that the Panster style that had previously served me so well had failed me. I regrouped and tried a strict “Plotter” format and found it far too restrictive. What I discovered is that a hybrid Plot-Pants format offered me a framework for my work (keeps me on track) but also the flexibility to be spontaneous.
Think about building a house. No builder starts by pouring a foundation and framing out walls before architectural design input. The architect lays out the proper dimensions for the lot, determines what the house will look like based upon builders’ specifications, advises where load-bearing walls need to be, and makes sure the design will pass local code. For a writer, load-bearing walls are plot points, and “passing the code” refers to you meeting the readers’ expectations for your genre. The builder has the freedom to choose what style to build (genre) what materials to use, create sizzle with decor, and even tweak the design when necessary or desired.
To create my hybrid, I took elements of Larry Brooks’ excellent book “Story Engineering” and rendered it into a GRAPHIC. This is because I am an artist (mixed media) and am very visual. I have a graph for the main plot and one for subplot and leave room to track action/reaction from antagonists VS protagonist which can change as the plot and characters develop. These I do on colored post-it papers. The graphs are hanging where I can see them. Since trying this hybrid method, I am more productive and less anxious. Where it used to take me days or even a week to complete a chapter in rough draft, I am doing so in one day. This doesn’t guarantee me I will write the Great American Novel but at least I now feel I can meet my year-end deadline for the first draft!
Thanks again for your article -I do agree that each person has to find their own approach.
Niki Kantzios
Shutta has made an important point: pantsing doesn’t mean aimlessness. There still has to be some forethought.