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?
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!
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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.
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