Today I wanted to discuss some writing technique. I recently spoke with a developmental editor about getting my book edited and ready to publish. We discussed my book and my writing process. While we were talking, I started to think back about how this journey started and how it was completely different by the time it ended.
When I first started writing Reborn, I tried to pants it. For those of you that do not know what a pantser is, it means I tried to write the book by the seat of my pants. I had a general idea in my head of how I wanted the book to go, but I didn’t have any written plans, no outline. I found myself getting stuck at times and running into writer’s block frequently.
I stopped writing for a while and during that time I did a lot of research on writing. I found several YouTube videos on the importance of plotting. One of the challenges offered at the end of one of the videos was that if you have never plotted, just give it a try. I found a basic chapter by chapter outline form on Evernote and used it to start my outline. If you want to see several great Evernote templates for outlining, click here.
The Pantser
If you’re a pantser, that is fine. There is nothing wrong with being a pantser. You do whatever works for you. There are many successful authors that are pantsers. Stephen King is a pantser. I read once that he focuses more on character development and allows them to adapt and tell the story based on the situations that they are put in. It has obviously worked well for him. For me, not so much. I tried. It sounded fun. I just couldn’t do it.
The Plotter
I didn’t always want to be a plotter. I spent months trying to pants my first novel only to end up staring at a cursor blinking on the page. Once I tried plotting, I finished the 93,000 word first draft in just under six months. If you are a plotter, you can count yourself in good company; such as J.K. Rowling and Brandon Sanderson. I find that once I know what is going to happen in each chapter, I can put word to paper rather quickly. It helps as I’m writing, especially if I feel stuck, to look back at the outline. It gets me back on track.
The Plottser
So, this is a combination of the two. I like to have a good solid outline when I start writing. I want to know where the characters begin, what conflict they are supposed to encounter, and where does the story ultimately end. This also helps with pacing, which we’ll discuss during a later post. Having a detailed outline doesn’t mean that every word of the book is planned out in advance. There were several times during Reborn that, when Tamm was introduced to a situation, the story would change. As his character developed, his reaction to a situation may have been completely different than what I had planned for in the beginning.
That is the beauty about writing. Your characters develop a personality of their own and before long, your idea of how the story should go, is not how they want it to go. You can’t force it. You want your characters to feel real and relatable. They are not you and will not always make the same choices as you. Allow them to adapt and change, allow them to tell the story. You will end up with a more enjoyable book.
Wrapping It Up
There is no right and wrong answer to whether you should be a plotter or a pantser. It is all up to your writing style and what works for you. If you can imagine a story idea and, when you sit down to your computer, it flows out of you like flood water over a bridge, then by all means, pants that story and own it.
But, if you’re like me and you tend to stare at the screen, waiting for the words to come, give plotting a chance. I linked some outline material in the introduction above. It is a good place to start. These are templates for the Evernote app. If you have never used it, I would recommend it. It is a good note taking app and has several templates, not just for writing. I still use the novel chapter outline to plot out my novels and I will continue to use it until I find one that I like better.
So, are you a plotter or a pantser or a combination of the two? Leave a comment below and let me know which fits your writing style more. Also, if you have recommendations on apps or books that have helped you on your plotting or pantsing journey, then feel free to comment below. I look forward to hearing from you.
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