Unlock Your Writing Potential: Plotter, Pantser, or Plantser?

It’s Prep-tober! In a few weeks, authors all over the globe will sit down and attempt to write 50,000 during November. If you are looking to get ready to try to tackle the beast yourself, there is one thing you need to figure out. Are you a Plotter, Pantser, or Plantser?

What is a Plotter? 

The first camp you could fall into is that of the Plotter. This is a writer who plans out every detail of their story before beginning the writing process. They use outlines, storyboards, mind maps, and many other organizational tools to ensure they know every twist and turn their story will take. 

There are benefits to plotting out your story:

• You have a clear road map. You know exactly where the story is going. If there will be multiple books in your series, foreshadowing will be much easier. 
• Fewer plot holes/inconsistencies. Your beta readers won’t find large groups of missing information or find it hard to follow your magic system (something I am working through).
• Structure Abound! You know where you are in your story and if the story arc is rising, falling, or at the dreaded cliffhanger. Your pacing will be on-point and characters will develop beautifully. 

If you cannot start without knowing exactly where you are going, you are a Plotter. You fall into the company of authors like James Patterson, Gillian Flynn, Agatha Christie, and J. K. Rowling. 

What is a Pantser? 

On the other end of the spectrum, we have the Pantser. A writer who discovers the story as they go. They have few guiding notes and documents and let the characters lead them to the story’s conclusion. It’s just them, the faint notion of a story, and a blank page.  

However, the freedom Pantsing provides does have its advantages. 

• Exploring ideas as they pop up. No matter where you are in your story, you can pivot your thinking and take a road you never would have thought of if you planned it out. 
• Organic development. Much like the reader, you get to experience the story as you write it. Allowing it to grow and breathe on its own. 
• Abundance of flexibility. If you do not like where a story is going, you can change it in the moment without rewriting pages and pages before. 

Between you and me, this idea makes me anxious, but if it is appealing to you, you are in good company. Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, and Diana Gabaldon all fall into the pantser camp. 

What the heck is a Plantser? 

Now this is where my bread and butter lay. A plantser is smack dab in the middle of plotting and pantsing. When I started writing, I outlined everything. I took meticulous notes of every step my characters took and carefully thought out the plot twists. Writing turned into work and something I no longer enjoyed. 

So then I jumped on the Panster train. This resulted in blank page paralysis and lots of wasted time staring at the page, waiting for my characters to talk to me. Needless to say, they never did. I ended up back at square one, trying to make other writing processes work for me. 

After taking a break from writing, I decided to start listening to myself and tried the hybrid method. I outlined the major points in my story and when things were going to happen. But chapters are no longer structured, scenes spill across several pages, and the only word count I worry about is hitting my overall goal for the day. It has been a more enjoyable experience. 

Find the style that fits you!

It took me way longer than I would have liked to figure out a process that worked for me. Now I am a proud Plantser. Experiment with your writing to see where you fall and embrace it. Understanding your writing style helps improve productivity and keeps the words flowing. 

Plotters, don’t be afraid to steer from your plan. There may be a twist in there you didn’t even see coming. Pantsers, use structure in your revision process to make sure everything wraps up with a nice little bow. 

There is no wrong way to write. If someone says they found the “best way to write for everyone”, run. Run fast in the opposite direction. Find your grove and don’t deviate for the new shiny method. As long as you are writing words and having fun, you are doing it right.