I used to be a pantser. I admit it. It worked for me, kept the creative juices flowing, and really...well, this is a little tougher to admit, but...I didn't know better. I started writing my first story when I was thirteen. You know, just to prove I could actually create an entire story from beginning to end. Back then I had no idea there was any such thing as outlining and developing characters and all that.
That way of writing took me all the way into my late twenties, and the birth of my second child. And slowly, as my lifestyle changed, so did my approach to writing. I got more organized around the house, and all the sudden I needed to give my characters a goal, some motivation. I started making grocery lists and organizing my pantry, and all the sudden I had to have plot points. And then, bam! I had my third child, starting making chore lists and doing my laundry on the same day every week, and I had to have everything plotted and my stories planned as much as possible.
I might have been a pantser by nature, but being a plotter became a habit - like so many other things in my life. I think it suits me because that's the kind of person I am. I like to have a plan, a goal, a path. And sure, spontaneity is fun, too, and I don't like to squelch my creativity, but plotting is the way I like to do it now.
Have you always written the way you do now or has your style changed over the years? Do you think plotting or writing by the seat of your pants comes naturally or develops because of your personality?
I think we write does have a lot to do with your personalities and how we approach life. It's so interesting your style changed through the years!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if mine will. Plotting ahead takes the excitement of writing the story for me. That said, I kind of HAVE to plot ahead when writing up a synopsis for a wip. That's tough. *shudder*
I've adapted over the years. I've never been a real pantser, as I always knew how the story started and where I wanted it to end. In many ways my first draft IS the plotting.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you in this regard, Cindy. I used to be a pantser, but I definitely lean toward plotting now. I tried it once and saved myself so much time and needless writing. I don't think I'll ever go back!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful Easter!
I'm a plotter for my writing, although right now I'm chomping on the bit to get past the plotting stage of WIP #2 because I really want to write it. I'm still learning what works for me, but as a newer writer I don't think I could maintain plot in my head. too much else rolling around in there with mommy brain.
ReplyDeleteSame here, Cindy! I knew nothing about plotting when I started writing, so I winged it. But as I learned more, I valued every scrap of advance plotting I did. I'm a major plotter--and I organize my house chores the same way you do too! Isn't that funny? :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a plotter - all the way. I'm going to try to plot a little bit less on the next one, but we'll see how that goes!
ReplyDelete1st novel: pants. Every novel following. Some loose plotting, then pants it the rest of the way.
ReplyDeleteSkeletal plotting.
~ Wendy
Jessica, I guess where we are in our career makes a difference, too, like you said. If you have to write a synopsis for an agent or publisher, there still has to be a little bit of plotting. I think it's cool, though, that you don't plot, just write :)
ReplyDeleteMartin, that's an interesting take - AND if your first draft is kind of like your plot, then I bet that's THE best way to get to know your characters :)
ReplyDeleteHey Heidi, that's interesting, and I know what you mean. It saves time for sure, and at least for me, guards against plot holes.
Julia, I love that! Mommy brain. Yes, this, among other reasons, is why plotting can be very useful!
Jill, that is funny! But even though it's not entirely spontaneous, it still allows for creativity, right? And it feels good to be organized :)
ReplyDeleteJulie, I'm glad you wrote that. I think, even though we plotters like to continue to plot each story, I believe here and there, there's a story that feels like it needs a little fresh thinking that happens on the spot.
Wendy, skeletal plotting. Very nice term. I love how everyone has different ways of writing but it still gets us all to the end of a story :)
Oh my, that's just how it happened for me too. The busier life got, the more I needed to be strategic about my writing.
ReplyDeleteInitially, I was a pantser, happily slapping words on the page with abandon. Now I plot every scene with goals motivations and conflicts.
Maybe when I'm an empty nester, I'll go back to pantsing??? Naw, probably not. :D
I'm another who was a pantser on my early efforts. Experience taught me the value of having an outline. Knowing where I'm going is a big help. I can't imagine writing a story without a plan these days.
ReplyDeleteErica, sometimes the spontaneity of it is tempting, right? To just sit down with a new idea and type away. But that would probably mean extra editing later on, and that's not an appealing aspect.
ReplyDeleteKeli, I know how you feel. It's not even the chapter by chapter, scene by scene thing, though that helps soooo much, but it's more knowing the big points and making sure you have enough conflict all around.
It's mostly plotting in my head, then flying by the seat of my pants on the keyboard.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a problem. I sit down and work it out.
That's funny...I feel like I'm going in the reverse direction. I still plan, but I think my approach has changed. I'm switching to more of a character-first writer instead of plot-first. :)
ReplyDeleteLoree, it sounds like you have it down :) The head plotting always seems like the most thorough way of getting to know your characters.
ReplyDeleteSarah, that's interesting. I know what you mean. Getting to know your character, making sure their fully developed isn't always something that's easy to do on paper.
How interesting. I love to analyze this kind of thing, as it proves there are no hard and fast rules.
ReplyDeleteI am mostly a panster, but notice when I speak, I use an outline form in writing my notes. Otherwise, I'll go off on 100 rabbit trails and my audience will shake their heads and say as they're leaving, "She was funny, but what was her point?"
I've always been a mix. Like you though, after having kiddos, being prepared and planning ahead has been crucial to stay on track with my writing.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy -
ReplyDeleteI'm a pantser! Any plotting I do takes place in my head. Outlines and all that stuff gives me the willies.
Blessings,
Susan :)
My first novel I pantsed, and it became such an unruly mess it would have taken me completely starting from scratch to get it right again. Which means... I basically plotted the book by writing it! What a waste of time!
ReplyDeleteI just can't pants it. I know people who do that, and do it brilliantly, but I have to know a basic direction. And usually, I know the end.
My MFA program is very into pantsing, though. They say if you want to surprise the reader, you have to surprise yourself. Maybe that works for them, but I tried it again... and not so much for me. :)
I stick with my "three act" and percentage outlining. It keeps me moving, keeps it about the right pacing and length.
My life is like that, too. :) I'm with you. I have a house of five to run. If I didn't keep everything organized and know what was going to happen, it would be chaos!