One of us! LOL I too have historically been a pantser but recently have realized that having a light outline actually helps me break through those moments when I get stuck. If I know the next scene I need to get to, I'm less likely to find myself staring at the screen wondering Now What??
I am definitely a pantser with some plantser tendencies. I write but when I get stuck I tend to plan a bit, just enough to get me going again. This cycle tends to repeat itself often leading to a number of stories that are in stages of completion. There they remain until the right turn of events pushes them on towards completion.
That seems like a good approach! I think it's extremely important not to try and force creativity because that can lead to burnout. Sometimes, you just have to let the story simmer until inspiration comes knocking.
Thanks for checking out the article and sharing your thoughts, Bill!
"Sometimes, you just have to let the story simmer until inspiration comes knocking."
That has always been my philosophy about writing. Every so often I go back and read some of the unfinished pieces until something says, "I know how to finish this," and I complete it. Other times it just needs a nights sleep, a good walk, a conversation, or a place where I can focus for the next bit to pop up so I can continue and finish a piece.
It depends on the situation. When I wrote "The Sound Empress" I planned out the characters and some of the elements I wanted to include before I delved into the story (plantsing it). However most of my writing is spur of the moment; there is no planning involved apart from what my muse thinks up. This is the strategy I am using for the "Dates for Donuts" idea that I'm working on.
Rarely if ever do I go in depth with everything like a planner, which seems counterintuitive as in real life I tend to prefer order.
It's funny how the way we approach our daily lives differs from how we express our creativity, haha. I like to stay organized as well, but I often find that creativity thrives in some level of controlled chaos, so your approach makes a lot of sense.
Fellow plantser here! But I am the sort of plantser who will quite often have a fairly detailed plan or outline, but as I start writing, I let my characters take the lead and often they go completelyyyyy off track. Sometimes I’ll adjust my plan as I go along, but it’ll keep going off track and eventually things will work out in a completely unexpected way!
I researched each of the writers highlighted in the graphic. When I looked into it, I read the Poe was known to meticulously plan elements of his stories.
You could argue that he was more of a “plantser” since he didn’t plan everything, but I leaned towards plotter based on my research. 😁
I am a Panster with short pieces but then I rewrite them over and over. I am a Plotter with longer pieces, especially Science Fiction or Fantasy. I am both with poetry.
Well, at a creative writing course this year, I discover that I am a "plantser" (the spell checker keeps changing it ...) because I have the plot in my head. I just need some notes (very general): for example, a map, the genealogy of the people I am writing about and a just ideas that come to my head so I don't forget them...
I want the characters to develop the way they actually want. That makes them much more alive and makes me much more attentive to their actual development.
This is a really great point, Mercedes! I agree that characters should have the freedom to develop as you write the story. It makes them feel much more real that way. Also, I struggled with autocorrect because it kept changing "plantser" to "panther," haha, so I also understand that challenge.
About the characters, specially in stories as long as The Legend of Sinardia, that are not based in any other story or history, that is really necessary.
Thanks to you for writing it. Have a great week-end!
Lol not sure which one I am, sometimes I'm a plotter other times a plantser and still other times none and all at once. I write mythological epics and fantasy-epics with the hope of writing LOTR or Silmarillionish or other such epics. The journey though is my favourite part.
Absolutely! Switching between the three is a totally valid approach, especially based on what’s best for the project you’re working on. Love that you’re doing epic tales, and with those, the journey is absolutely the best part.
I have always identified as a pantser, but lately, and as my work has gotten more complex, I have found that some planning is almost always necessary. Case in point, my WIP (that I will be reigniting for the Spring Novel Writing Marathon) which also happens to be my debut, is written in First person, present tense, from multiple POV's (I mean, go big or go home, right?). So even though I started the project as a pantser, the complex storyline (did I mention the narrative rewind?) I've been forced to make some notes, but I'm still refusing to do a complete outline. Organization be damned!
And I am so glad you mentioned On Writing. I can't recall a day since I made the crazy decision to become an author, that I have not referred back to that book. One of my favorite quotes, being the pantser that I am, is "I let my characters tell me the story." That is so me.
Thanks again for this discussion, and for the opportunity for us closet plantsers to reveal our true identities. :)
Haha, you’re quite welcome as always L.G.! Your debut novel sounds awesome, but I agree that something that complex needs some planning to stay on course.
I ran into a similar issue with my current WIP that has six POVs. I’m also trying to get back to it for the challenge! Here’s hoping we both reignite our respective projects this next month. 💪
One of us! LOL I too have historically been a pantser but recently have realized that having a light outline actually helps me break through those moments when I get stuck. If I know the next scene I need to get to, I'm less likely to find myself staring at the screen wondering Now What??
Haha, I was hoping someone would enjoy that joke. Yes, you're exactly right! Having some semblance of direction helps avoid narrative dead ends.
Thanks for checking out the article!
I am definitely a pantser with some plantser tendencies. I write but when I get stuck I tend to plan a bit, just enough to get me going again. This cycle tends to repeat itself often leading to a number of stories that are in stages of completion. There they remain until the right turn of events pushes them on towards completion.
That seems like a good approach! I think it's extremely important not to try and force creativity because that can lead to burnout. Sometimes, you just have to let the story simmer until inspiration comes knocking.
Thanks for checking out the article and sharing your thoughts, Bill!
"Sometimes, you just have to let the story simmer until inspiration comes knocking."
That has always been my philosophy about writing. Every so often I go back and read some of the unfinished pieces until something says, "I know how to finish this," and I complete it. Other times it just needs a nights sleep, a good walk, a conversation, or a place where I can focus for the next bit to pop up so I can continue and finish a piece.
Thank you for your prompts and observations.
I do believe in a plantser with plotter tendencies…. Great read!!
Thanks for checking out the article, Stephanie! That's a good approach for sure!
It depends on the situation. When I wrote "The Sound Empress" I planned out the characters and some of the elements I wanted to include before I delved into the story (plantsing it). However most of my writing is spur of the moment; there is no planning involved apart from what my muse thinks up. This is the strategy I am using for the "Dates for Donuts" idea that I'm working on.
Rarely if ever do I go in depth with everything like a planner, which seems counterintuitive as in real life I tend to prefer order.
It's funny how the way we approach our daily lives differs from how we express our creativity, haha. I like to stay organized as well, but I often find that creativity thrives in some level of controlled chaos, so your approach makes a lot of sense.
Thanks for checking out the article!
Fellow plantser here! But I am the sort of plantser who will quite often have a fairly detailed plan or outline, but as I start writing, I let my characters take the lead and often they go completelyyyyy off track. Sometimes I’ll adjust my plan as I go along, but it’ll keep going off track and eventually things will work out in a completely unexpected way!
Sounds a lot like my approach! I feel like a lot of the magic happens when you let the characters take the lead. Thanks for checking out the article!
Do you think that Poe was a plotter, or was the graphic just picking a random writer?
I researched each of the writers highlighted in the graphic. When I looked into it, I read the Poe was known to meticulously plan elements of his stories.
You could argue that he was more of a “plantser” since he didn’t plan everything, but I leaned towards plotter based on my research. 😁
I am a Panster with short pieces but then I rewrite them over and over. I am a Plotter with longer pieces, especially Science Fiction or Fantasy. I am both with poetry.
Hello:
Well, at a creative writing course this year, I discover that I am a "plantser" (the spell checker keeps changing it ...) because I have the plot in my head. I just need some notes (very general): for example, a map, the genealogy of the people I am writing about and a just ideas that come to my head so I don't forget them...
I want the characters to develop the way they actually want. That makes them much more alive and makes me much more attentive to their actual development.
This is a really great point, Mercedes! I agree that characters should have the freedom to develop as you write the story. It makes them feel much more real that way. Also, I struggled with autocorrect because it kept changing "plantser" to "panther," haha, so I also understand that challenge.
Thanks for reading and sharing your approach!
Hahaha, we must have the same spell checker! 🤣🤣
About the characters, specially in stories as long as The Legend of Sinardia, that are not based in any other story or history, that is really necessary.
Thanks to you for writing it. Have a great week-end!
Lol not sure which one I am, sometimes I'm a plotter other times a plantser and still other times none and all at once. I write mythological epics and fantasy-epics with the hope of writing LOTR or Silmarillionish or other such epics. The journey though is my favourite part.
Absolutely! Switching between the three is a totally valid approach, especially based on what’s best for the project you’re working on. Love that you’re doing epic tales, and with those, the journey is absolutely the best part.
Thanks for checking out the article!
Any time, I’ve since switched by categories to see about growing via those ones. I don’t know why it never occurred to me to switch them.
I'm certainly a plantser for my current crime fiction novel. My total pantsed my previous novel writing attempt!
Haha, yeah I feel like for larger stories you need a little planning to keep things on track. That crime fiction novel sounds cool!
Damn predictive text! Sorry, I meant “I totally pantsed”
All good, haha. When I was writing the article, "Plantsers" kept getting autocorrected to "Panthers," so I feel your pain. 😂
Oh gosh, that must have taken ages to write. I wish it was called panthers 😂
I have always identified as a pantser, but lately, and as my work has gotten more complex, I have found that some planning is almost always necessary. Case in point, my WIP (that I will be reigniting for the Spring Novel Writing Marathon) which also happens to be my debut, is written in First person, present tense, from multiple POV's (I mean, go big or go home, right?). So even though I started the project as a pantser, the complex storyline (did I mention the narrative rewind?) I've been forced to make some notes, but I'm still refusing to do a complete outline. Organization be damned!
And I am so glad you mentioned On Writing. I can't recall a day since I made the crazy decision to become an author, that I have not referred back to that book. One of my favorite quotes, being the pantser that I am, is "I let my characters tell me the story." That is so me.
Thanks again for this discussion, and for the opportunity for us closet plantsers to reveal our true identities. :)
Haha, you’re quite welcome as always L.G.! Your debut novel sounds awesome, but I agree that something that complex needs some planning to stay on course.
I ran into a similar issue with my current WIP that has six POVs. I’m also trying to get back to it for the challenge! Here’s hoping we both reignite our respective projects this next month. 💪
Very nice! I’ve become much more of a plotter myself over the years as well, though I leave a lot of room for pantsing, haha.
Thanks for checking out the article!