Are You a Pantser, a Plotter, or BOTH?

What do I mean when I ask:

Are you a pantser, a plotter, or both? When you write, do you fly by the seat of your pants, outline all the plot details before hand, or use a combination of both techniques?

I’ve always been a plotter, which was extremely helpful when I wrote my nonfiction book. Also, it helped immeasurably when I developed and wrote hundreds of insurance continuing texts and courses (online, classroom, and webinar). As a novelist, being a plotter has also been helpful. Now, however, I’m writing my first novel on a pure pantsing basis.

Of course, that statement is made tongue-in-cheek because, let’s face it, while the fuel of my fabrications is imagination, if I come up with a great idea for a future line of dialogue or scene I’m definitely writing it down. In a literal sense, even the most devout of pantsers has to engage in SOME plotting!

So, here’s what I’m doing now…

At this moment, I’m thinking it’s absolutely essential for me to know how my book is going to end. Specifically, whether my lead character achieves her goal and how she’s grown and/or become a better person. So, I guess that’s plotting. I also think that if flashes of insight strike me as I’m writing (and they’re doing so), I’ll plan for them by sketching them into a loose outline. That’s also plotting.

But as far as everything else goes, I’m winging it! Definitely pantsing.

I attended a terrific plotting workshop presented by Gayle Lynds at a writer’s conference a couple of years ago and my big takeaway was that plot derives from character. So far, my pantsing/winging is going well.

Yes, I know all the advantages of plotting—I’ve experienced them firsthand. On the other hand, I agree with many others that plotting too much, or too tightly, can sensor creativity and disallow deviations from the path already outlined.

So, are you a pantser, a plotter, or both?

What are your personal experiences? Do you have any tips? Successes? Less than desirable consequences we should know about? Let us know!

As always, here are some resources:

Well-Storied: https://www.well-storied.com/blog/a-pantsers-guide-to-story-structure

Jane Friedman (one of the few people I love without having known/met her): https://janefriedman.com/panster-or-plotter/

Writer’s Digest: https://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/jan-29