The epic battle of writers. Planning it out, or going with the direction of the wind, on a whim.
Some believe that plotting everything out first- characters, settings, conflict, climax and ending- destroys true creativity. That it limits where the characters wants to go. Some say ‘pantsing’ it can lead you too astray from where you began. Example: Story starts out a horror/suspense with a dog, ends up a comedic romance with a pet monkey.
I’ve always been a planner. Not just in writing- school speeches, work presentations, and my first 3 manuscripts were completely outlined before I started writing. I needed the road map to keep me on track. My safety net.
Just this last month, I did something I’ve never done. Sat down and wrote what came to my brain. No plotting, no character sketching. I ‘pantsed’ four chapters without stopping.
And I freakin’ loved it!
Scared a bit too, thinking the writing would be horrible, the pages full of back story and wandering motivations (and some of it was). But it was damn fun!
And I ended those four chapters with the same characters I started with. No road map and I’m still cruising along the highway with the convertible top down. Wind in my hair. No ponytail.
Not sure how far I’ll go before I give in to my plotter-side and at least put together character sheets. But it’s felt good to go with the flow of my creative side.
Who’da thought it?
Are you a plotter or pantser?
Have you ever tried both?
Consider this peer pressure…
Related articles
- Pantser or Plotter? (kymlucas.wordpress.com)
- Pantsers, Plotters and Pottering Around (maerwyddmcfarland.wordpress.com)
- on pantsing, plotting, and why i do one over the other (elsiechapman.com)
I’m a plotter too … but I always start out with the story as a pantser. It usually comes out of a free write then I back away and the story begins to grow and morph and grow second heads and another set of arms. Then I plot it out 🙂
I totally agree with you though. Free writing is so much fun and can take you in really inspiring directions.
I’m both a pantser and a plotter, sort of like Jennifer above. I always start with an idea that I just write out, then go back and try to lay out a plot before I get too lost.
Thanks for stopping by my blog, and also for a good post!
I’m pantster through and through, but I think in the back of my head I know the destination, just not the exact route I’ll take. But, I had to sit down and plot PF to fix it’s mess, so there is value with that. I think each story may be a little different – some need the guidance of plotting and others want to run free.