Pantser or Plotter? -- Ladies of Lallybroch Literary Forum

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Date Posted: 21:06:05 01/14/10 Thu
Author: Debi
Subject: Pantser or Plotter?

I never knew there was a word for my writing style, such that it is. You all know I write in scenes, almost never planning anything ahead of time. Hell, Old Dogs was really just an excuse to fantasize about Clive Owen. So, that means I'm a pantser, writing my novel by the seat of my pants, so to speak. I'd love to plot and plan and have an idea of where things are going, but I have a feeling my characters would watch me do all that work, chuckle behind their hands and proceed to turn my carefully laid plans upside down.

So, how do you write?

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[> I'm definitely a pantzer- that's how my darn manuscript got so big. I just sat down and wrote whatever came out. It was totally fun- no stress. It made for a ms too long for a unproven author by current industry standards, but I like big books and I enjoyed meeting all those crazy side characters. I've tried to be more of a planner with the next book, and it just doesn't flow as well, I don't lose myself and slip into the character's world as easily. --

susiej, 13:37:57 01/15/10 Fri

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[> Is there a word for someone in-between? >> -- Fi, 09:36:07 01/19/10 Tue

I start with a basic outline, one page long. I also have a notebook for character sketches; for example, so I can keep track of inherited characteristics like eye colour, or know how old a character is at a particular date.

Then I write the scenes, and one of the following happens:
- The scene starts playing itself out in my head before I even start, as as I write my pen is on fire. My characters do and say things I don't expect, or secondary characters appear out of nowhere, or interesting side plots introduce themselves. Sometimes this pushes the boundaries of the outline, but I let it go and figure I'll work it out in the next draft.
- I'm not particularly inspired and not sure what to write. I look at the outline and research notes, pick out somewhere I need a scene, and write until I reach at least 500 words. Sometimes the process of writing will inspire me and it will turn into a "pantser" scene, but in any case I'll have progress.

As a pure plotter I'd get bored, and as a pure pantser I'd be crippled by writer's block. An in-between strategy works for me.

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[> Forever and proud to be a pantser! I trust my characters to get me where I need to go. I write for the same reason I read and that is to experience the journey. If it's all plotted out before hand, there's no point in taking the trip. -- Esther, 10:36:59 01/19/10 Tue

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[> Pants, with a good bit of skin of the teeth and recycling. -- Larn, 05:30:20 01/22/10 Fri

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[> Since I only write poetry, I guess I don't really fall into those styles. But I need an Image or a line with which I start and than I craft the rest around that. For example "Someones son" was sparked by the memorials in Washington DC and all the little things laied at the foot of those shining black walls full of names. So I guess if I would need to sort that style I would be a Pantser.>>> -- Lady Morilka, 09:55:28 03/02/10 Tue

I rarely plan the things in my poems and those I wish to write about something specific, where I don't have a start, are still unfinished, waiting for a spark.

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