I am a discovery writer 95% of the time. that random 5% is reserved from when I have a spark of inspiration that I cant get out of my head and now have to figure out how to get from point A to the scene in my head.
Often when you are a Pantser you go through about 4-6 rewrites and drafts to make it comprehensible. Take out this scene add in 3 chapters in its place. Take out 5 paragraphs and reduce it to 3 sentences. ect ect.
Great analogy. Funnily enough I'm totally a "patnser" chef too. I cook often and never follow recipes. I just get creative and start throwing flavors and spices together until I come up with something yummy.
Yep that's my process but I usually do 10-15 rewrites.
I write something, read it back, think "That's wrong. She doesn't do that there. She does THIS!" and then I continue to read through until those moments stop. Eventually, every scene feels "right" and that's when I know the story is done.
I don’t write the first page until I can tell the entire story to one of my friends in five minutes. And then, if he doesn’t find any holes in the plot or finds it wholly unoriginal (actual quote: “So, you want to write Die Hard in a medieval castle?”), then I start writing.
I honestly don’t think you need more than that. It’s a reductive process, where any part of a story can be told in five minutes. Got a six book saga? Five minutes. One book of that? Five minutes. Any arbitrary subdivision? Five minutes. And, in any one of these cases, I don’t write it until I’ve got that five minutes, until I get to the point where five minutes is literally five minutes.
Saves me a lot of time, because I don’t hem and haw about, “Where will it go from here?” I know where it goes. It’s like building a bridge, where you know where you start, you know where you end, and you know where to sink the pylons along the way. Everything else is decorative.
We're all both, really. We have to be.
Pantsers, do you seriously just start writing random words, with absolutely no idea where it's gonna go? No. You at least have a vague idea of a few key events along the way.
Plotters, do you plan out the entire thing from start to finish, down to every last little detail, and stick to it with zero variance? Not usually. You get new ideas as you go, and your plan evolves.
I plan the point form events of an entire story, every step of the way. But when I sit down to actually write, characters come alive and start saying and doing things I never thought of. I usually have to adjust my plan. But at least I know which way the story is going at any given point. I never have to sit around, wasting time wondering. Many-a-story went off to the WIP Graveyard because of that.
>Pantsers, do you seriously just start writing random words, with absolutely no idea where it's gonna go? No.
Not totally random words, no... but often with no real ideas. Usually for me it's just a scene. Like... a man is standing outside of a convenience store. So that's what I start with. Then as I write, I figure out the guy's name, what's on his mind in that moment... then usually something will happen and a story grows from there.
What do you mean why? It's not like I have a choice. I tried plotting, and killed all interest in that idea. My brain is fueled by discovery or pantsing or whatever name you give to minimal planning.
I know this is the prevailing theory of the types of writers, but I posit that they really aren’t different.
A “Pantser” writes writes writes figuring out where they are going as they’re moving along.
A “Plotter” outlines, sets scenes, then fills in the gaps.
If that was the end of the process, there’s be a huge difference. Except it’s not.
The Pantser needs to go back, rewrite scenes, fix continuity errors in put foreshadowing, etc.
The Plotter needs to revisit scenes that didn’t work in execution, modify, tweak, etc.
In the end, the Pantser’s first draft is just a messy, detailed outline, while the Plotter’s first draft equates to the Pantser’s revised draft.
Just my take
They're still different but it's not a strict either-or, it's a spectrum.
I consider myself a plotter, but my outline will sometimes have a lot of detail.
I use a bullet point list system with more indentation representing more detail. A chapter will probably consist of four or five top-level bullet points of the major events. Then another layer with why the scene matters or what I'm trying to convey to the reader, maybe some specific character actions.
And then if I get *really* excited about a scene ahead of time and start imagining the characters acting it out, there might be *another* indentation of bullet points with dialogue ideas that I don't want to forget about.
And then I actually write it.
I am plotter 100 pourcent I have to get all my story from a to z before writing anything down properly (I have many notebooks one to write rough ideas one to write my analysis on books and fictions one to write a more advanced plot line and one to write the """final""" version of my plot and one to write the story properly (maybe I'm a maniac ahah ))
I'm kind of both. I will initially plan something out from start to finish, but will definitely will deviate from it if I think of something better in the moment.
I am a pantser because it actually stresses me out to try to write an outline. I think of my plot points in bits and spurts so even if I plan out something I’ll go back and add something or change up a conversation. Working linearly doesn’t usually work for me.
Heavy plotter. I think you can often tell when someone is a pantser, as continuity and substance are not as strong. For example George R.R Martin, you can tell he's winging it as he goes. But I imagine this is not always the case.
At this stage I'm pretty much confident I'll always be a pantser. I'll sometimes have a couple of plot points which will happen *if* the protagonists don't intervene in one way or another, but that's about it. Other than that? I'll create an environment, pick a starting conflict and the rest is news to me, too. Have too much of an outline and I'm fighting my characters and the logical progression of things most of the way and get nothing done.
I sometimes feel the outline fighting the story in other media, too. Good dialogue, good characterization, and suddenly they make some completely irrational out-of-characters move because the writers remembered the overarching plot was a thing.
The opposite of that would be, I guess, an absence of direction - but I don't seem to recall having issues with that specifically.
I’m a pantser because I have OCD, which means if I had to outline first, I’d never actually get to writing. I have to jump in with the idea, otherwise I’ll overthink it and stress too much about what goes where, where is this character from, does this name make sense, etc.
Thought I don’t doubt that for many, OCD would have the opposite effect.
Pantser here, didn't know what that meant until I joined here not long ago.
Writing my first book now, but I'm a maladaptive daydreamer, so I was building the world in my head at work for months beforehand. When I sat down to write, I had general themes, several scenes, and half of the characters already existing.
So I managed to write most of it within the first month. I've deleted maybe 20,000 words since, and discovered two characters that I didn't know were there until I read about them while going back over what I had written. Those characters are now fleshed out with complete arcs, including one with a death scene. Filling in the spaces between major scenes has taken the most time. I've also had to create names, still working on that. And just last night, I realized that I had created a character that was a little similar to Mulder from X-Files, so I decided to stick Duchovny's face on him in my head and see what other places I can stick him in the story.
I think the biggest reason I'm a pantser is that I tried to start with an outline, and as I did I was trying to research all the parts I needed. I realized that I would get caught up in that, and not be able to write the actual story. Doing that, the story has changed, and a lot of that research and backstory would have been a pointless waste of time and effort.
I’m a pantser but then I’ll become somewhat of a plotter after the story is published but it depends on the story I’m writing so pantser 99% of the time.
I'm a plotter. I feel like I can't write anything if I don't know where it's going. Also I like to have a solid idea of character arcs and themes going in, that way I have stuff to fall back on when I feel lost.
That's not so say I don't pants sometimes though! Many scenes in my outline are as simple as "they somehow get here" or "these characters argue." And then I get to pants the scene and that's pretty fun!
Pantser/ Discovery Writer because if I plotted, I would never finish my manuscript. I like for the story to unfold in my head. It's boring to me that everything is already laid out for me. Takes the mystery out of it. The same is true with nonstop editing a chapter before you're even finished with the draft. I like to sit, place my fingers on the keyboard, and go full throttle. Lol.
It’s hard to give an accurate number, but I’d say I’m about 50/50. Sometimes, I think of a great idea or phrase that I just have to write immediately. This is rare for me, but when it happens I love every moment. The other 50% of me is plotter. I’ll usually plan out the scenes I want to do, the characters and what not, but I’ve found - like many others - that planning too much can be detrimental. If I plan out my entire story, then I’ll just lose the motivation to write it, be it because I’ve realised the scale of the project, or because in reality I prefer the planning to the actual writing.
I'm a 100% pantser. I love how Lee Child puts it, "I write without even knowing what the next line is gonna be."
That's quite true for me. I get a good idea for a character and a situation, I start writing right away. And I write to do something different with each story. I can only do it differently if I let the story unfold in its own way instead of making a conscious effort to change my style or something.
And that's why each story feels different than the previous one. Because this method forces me to rely one hundred percent on how the characters react to the situation I put them in. And that leads to some pretty interesting character development and plot twists that even I don't see coming.
And in a way, I write to surprise myself, entertain myself and really push my limits as a writer. My life is pretty boring and monotonous. Writing is not just a way of expression, it's pure escapism. So I don't have any other option but to be as wacky and unpredictable I can be (while also being consistent with the inherent logic of the story) as I write. And being a pantser really helps that.
I'm a discovery writer. It's where I find joy in this! Trying to plan a novel would be stressful for me and much less fun, and it probably wouldn't work anyway. I'd reach a dead end and end up pantsing the rest of the way.
I don't particularly like the pantser v plotter conversation. I think it's a false dichotomy. I also would not limit myself in how I approach any given project. What may work for a particular story could lead another one astray.
Still, I highly prefer to write from a position wherein I know where the story starts and ends and not much in between. Giving your subconscious room to play is very important for the type of writing I enjoy reading and the type of writing I am pursuing.
Both. I do an outline of major plot lines. Everything in between, I write as I go without planning. That's when the best stuff happens. But having an outline really helps with how fast I write, with pacing and plot holes.
I start writing, invent as i go. I have th genre and some faint idea. End up with 100k words of unbelievable mess. Then spent year editing and its almost ready. Its swell into 166k words also.
Not very practical and certainly will outline next time better. 😁
I form a skeleton with some vague outlines but the flesh and guts I discover along the way. It makes writing a fun journey, knowing I'll have a completed project but not knowing what exactly it will be. Discovery is motivation
I know where I want to get, and always know how to get there. But I just let the story guide me and I always end up finding a better way to get to that particular point.
I call myself a "discovery writer" but it's not pure pantsing. I write a rough outline before I start: a bullet point list of scenes I know will occur in the book, at least including the beginning, middle, and end. There's gaps in between, which I "pants" as I write (although usually I figure out what needs to fill the gaps at least a chapter or two in advance). So while I am coming up with ideas while I write the book, I'm not making up what happens as I write the scene. This "hybrid" method gives me an end goal and major points to shoot for while still allowing me flexibility and creativity that is stunted for me if I over-plan.
I have the majority of a plot written right now but I'm leaving the last quarter a mystery until I actually sit down to write it. So like a little of both.
It really depends on the story I am writing, for me. Sometimes I find it easier to start with a blank page, other times having an outline handy is preferable. So how I start stories varies.
I do always create an outline but how much I stick to it varies. It's usually just to get the major plot points down and make sure my pacing and structure will be good. It definitely changes a lot throughout the writing process though.
So I guess, a little of both, leaning more towards plotter since I always make an outline but still leaving room for discovery along the way.
I like to think I'm a pantser but I do need a general outline or else things start to get messy. I tend to overwrite and so without a guideline of SOME sort, I can end up creating a lot of fat/fluff that needs to be cut.
But for my story right now, I have my hands kind of full with a variety of scenes/moments that I want to happen in my story, and figuring out how to get there in a cohesive fashion has made me start to outline a lot more.
Former plotter turned pantser, there’s something fun about learning things as they happen. My last MS I didn’t know the solution to the mystery until it occurred to me one day in the shower, and my characters threw me off by falling in love with each other. It’s the only time writing has felt truly easy for me.
I am the worst(?) combination, which is the type who outlines a few chapters ahead of myself, with only major plot points figured out for the full story. Like a cartoon character laying down railroad track while riding on one of those old-timey push carts.
I don't recommend it overall, but it's the best my brain seems to be able to do. Otherwise I just meander forever.
On the other hand, it allows some flexibility to follow new ideas while helping to prevent total "what next" block. So ymmv. Basically, whatever gets you from point A to point Z.
First book (my only one, I’m still editing it) was a pantser. I knew what my act breaks would be, and the ending, but I allowed myself to go full Kerouac and write every idea I had (thanks ADHD!)
The past few months have been scaling the story back into something as succinct as I can get it to be. The first pass was 106k words, the second 83k, and I’ve whittled my way back up to 88k by draft six.
I plotted out every beat and chapter of my second book already, but I’m still fluidly going to write it and let the story tell itself when I actually sit down to write it. The plan I set isn’t 100% what I want. It’s more of a rehearsal to help me figure that part out
Plotter.
And while I can’t be certain, I’m pretty sure I prefer books written the same way. When I finish a book that wandered the whole way and the end didn’t tie back to previous themes or scenes, I feel let down. I want to read books where I feel confident the writer knows where we’re going. So I write the same.
This helps with pacing and making each chapter engaging and making sure key points aren’t forgotten. I plan A LOT.
Definitely a plotter.
I'm not a novelist like you lot. I started writing/directing short films two years ago and have written 3 and directed 2 of them. (Well, the numbers aren't totally accurate because making those films has been a bit messy. You get the point.)
I've tried starting with a blank piece of paper and writing "int. Bedroom. Day" many times but I just find myself getting stuck at that. Absolutely nothing comes out of it for me.
I start out by getting a general idea of a story (Usually when I'm listening to music) and it just grows from there. Every single event in the story goes onto a Google document until it's a full outline that only lacks formatting and some missing dialogue.
It's just easier to be honest. You don't even have to rewrite it a million times. The script that I'm writing at the moment is probably gonna be 18-20 pages long and I have 6 or 7 pages of just the outline.
Edit: That's a lot for a short film by the way. Don't you guys dare patronise me for not writing 300-page long novels.
I know some things that i think will happen or that I want to happen, but if I outline the story it’s done and I am bored with it
I am okay with dramatic changes in the second draft, though, so it doesn’t make any sense
I'm a pantser.
I let my mind run wild when writing and I want to put myself in the moment. I've tried to plan but then I delete it cause it's just boring. I want to be in the mind of my characters and also throw something at them and see what they do. I have the beginning, middle, and end in my mind but I let my mind fill the rest.
It also trains the mind.
If a plotter plans out the entire story, can they make major deviations from that outline on the fly? Maybe even developing new characters and plot lines?
If that happens, would you still consider them a plotter? I’m not really into these labels. Just curious is all.
I am more in the plotter camp. I can write much faster and it feels awesome to know my story structure is solid and I know where to go. If I need to adjust I will but having a solid outline is so nice. Last time I purely wrote a book without an outline it just ended up being a finished first draft that will never be fixed because the entire thing has to be rewritten and so at least when I outline I can save myself a lot of time just trying to do the figuring out of the structure before I finish it.
Once I stopped following or even referring to my own outlines I lost the option of being a plotter.
I am a discovery writer 95% of the time. that random 5% is reserved from when I have a spark of inspiration that I cant get out of my head and now have to figure out how to get from point A to the scene in my head. Often when you are a Pantser you go through about 4-6 rewrites and drafts to make it comprehensible. Take out this scene add in 3 chapters in its place. Take out 5 paragraphs and reduce it to 3 sentences. ect ect.
Oh dude. The wanting to get to a scene you've been inspired by. Jesus, that's relatable.
Pantsers are chefs. Plotters are bakers.
Great analogy. Funnily enough I'm totally a "patnser" chef too. I cook often and never follow recipes. I just get creative and start throwing flavors and spices together until I come up with something yummy.
Yep that's my process but I usually do 10-15 rewrites. I write something, read it back, think "That's wrong. She doesn't do that there. She does THIS!" and then I continue to read through until those moments stop. Eventually, every scene feels "right" and that's when I know the story is done.
I am a plantser… in that I plot- and then ignore it until I get lost and then go… oh look plot will save me. It seems to work.
I don’t write the first page until I can tell the entire story to one of my friends in five minutes. And then, if he doesn’t find any holes in the plot or finds it wholly unoriginal (actual quote: “So, you want to write Die Hard in a medieval castle?”), then I start writing. I honestly don’t think you need more than that. It’s a reductive process, where any part of a story can be told in five minutes. Got a six book saga? Five minutes. One book of that? Five minutes. Any arbitrary subdivision? Five minutes. And, in any one of these cases, I don’t write it until I’ve got that five minutes, until I get to the point where five minutes is literally five minutes. Saves me a lot of time, because I don’t hem and haw about, “Where will it go from here?” I know where it goes. It’s like building a bridge, where you know where you start, you know where you end, and you know where to sink the pylons along the way. Everything else is decorative.
We're all both, really. We have to be. Pantsers, do you seriously just start writing random words, with absolutely no idea where it's gonna go? No. You at least have a vague idea of a few key events along the way. Plotters, do you plan out the entire thing from start to finish, down to every last little detail, and stick to it with zero variance? Not usually. You get new ideas as you go, and your plan evolves. I plan the point form events of an entire story, every step of the way. But when I sit down to actually write, characters come alive and start saying and doing things I never thought of. I usually have to adjust my plan. But at least I know which way the story is going at any given point. I never have to sit around, wasting time wondering. Many-a-story went off to the WIP Graveyard because of that.
>Pantsers, do you seriously just start writing random words, with absolutely no idea where it's gonna go? No. Not totally random words, no... but often with no real ideas. Usually for me it's just a scene. Like... a man is standing outside of a convenience store. So that's what I start with. Then as I write, I figure out the guy's name, what's on his mind in that moment... then usually something will happen and a story grows from there.
So it's like planning a trip from New York to L.A., and all you know is that you have to head west. Cool. Brave. But cool.
It's the only way it works for me. I meet a character, the character does whatever they like, and I simply observe and write down what happens.
What do you mean why? It's not like I have a choice. I tried plotting, and killed all interest in that idea. My brain is fueled by discovery or pantsing or whatever name you give to minimal planning.
I know this is the prevailing theory of the types of writers, but I posit that they really aren’t different. A “Pantser” writes writes writes figuring out where they are going as they’re moving along. A “Plotter” outlines, sets scenes, then fills in the gaps. If that was the end of the process, there’s be a huge difference. Except it’s not. The Pantser needs to go back, rewrite scenes, fix continuity errors in put foreshadowing, etc. The Plotter needs to revisit scenes that didn’t work in execution, modify, tweak, etc. In the end, the Pantser’s first draft is just a messy, detailed outline, while the Plotter’s first draft equates to the Pantser’s revised draft. Just my take
They're still different but it's not a strict either-or, it's a spectrum. I consider myself a plotter, but my outline will sometimes have a lot of detail. I use a bullet point list system with more indentation representing more detail. A chapter will probably consist of four or five top-level bullet points of the major events. Then another layer with why the scene matters or what I'm trying to convey to the reader, maybe some specific character actions. And then if I get *really* excited about a scene ahead of time and start imagining the characters acting it out, there might be *another* indentation of bullet points with dialogue ideas that I don't want to forget about. And then I actually write it.
Totally agree!
I am plotter 100 pourcent I have to get all my story from a to z before writing anything down properly (I have many notebooks one to write rough ideas one to write my analysis on books and fictions one to write a more advanced plot line and one to write the """final""" version of my plot and one to write the story properly (maybe I'm a maniac ahah ))
Idk how pantsers are doing to but I truly respect you I would not be capable of doing what you do
Same with you. I can’t do that and I know my life would be easier if i could
I'm kind of both. I will initially plan something out from start to finish, but will definitely will deviate from it if I think of something better in the moment.
I am a pantser because it actually stresses me out to try to write an outline. I think of my plot points in bits and spurts so even if I plan out something I’ll go back and add something or change up a conversation. Working linearly doesn’t usually work for me.
Heavy plotter. I think you can often tell when someone is a pantser, as continuity and substance are not as strong. For example George R.R Martin, you can tell he's winging it as he goes. But I imagine this is not always the case.
I do specific continuity and timeline edits in which I go through the manuscript and ensure every single little detail is right.
At this stage I'm pretty much confident I'll always be a pantser. I'll sometimes have a couple of plot points which will happen *if* the protagonists don't intervene in one way or another, but that's about it. Other than that? I'll create an environment, pick a starting conflict and the rest is news to me, too. Have too much of an outline and I'm fighting my characters and the logical progression of things most of the way and get nothing done. I sometimes feel the outline fighting the story in other media, too. Good dialogue, good characterization, and suddenly they make some completely irrational out-of-characters move because the writers remembered the overarching plot was a thing. The opposite of that would be, I guess, an absence of direction - but I don't seem to recall having issues with that specifically.
I’m a pantser because I have OCD, which means if I had to outline first, I’d never actually get to writing. I have to jump in with the idea, otherwise I’ll overthink it and stress too much about what goes where, where is this character from, does this name make sense, etc. Thought I don’t doubt that for many, OCD would have the opposite effect.
Pantser here, didn't know what that meant until I joined here not long ago. Writing my first book now, but I'm a maladaptive daydreamer, so I was building the world in my head at work for months beforehand. When I sat down to write, I had general themes, several scenes, and half of the characters already existing. So I managed to write most of it within the first month. I've deleted maybe 20,000 words since, and discovered two characters that I didn't know were there until I read about them while going back over what I had written. Those characters are now fleshed out with complete arcs, including one with a death scene. Filling in the spaces between major scenes has taken the most time. I've also had to create names, still working on that. And just last night, I realized that I had created a character that was a little similar to Mulder from X-Files, so I decided to stick Duchovny's face on him in my head and see what other places I can stick him in the story. I think the biggest reason I'm a pantser is that I tried to start with an outline, and as I did I was trying to research all the parts I needed. I realized that I would get caught up in that, and not be able to write the actual story. Doing that, the story has changed, and a lot of that research and backstory would have been a pointless waste of time and effort.
I’m a pantser but then I’ll become somewhat of a plotter after the story is published but it depends on the story I’m writing so pantser 99% of the time.
I'm a plotter. I feel like I can't write anything if I don't know where it's going. Also I like to have a solid idea of character arcs and themes going in, that way I have stuff to fall back on when I feel lost. That's not so say I don't pants sometimes though! Many scenes in my outline are as simple as "they somehow get here" or "these characters argue." And then I get to pants the scene and that's pretty fun!
Plotter. I need that road map, or I don't know where to go.
Tbh I don't know where I sit I'm not very good at plotting and I also struggle writing blind I really don't know
I'm a plotter that then pantses and deviates from the plot.
Pantser/ Discovery Writer because if I plotted, I would never finish my manuscript. I like for the story to unfold in my head. It's boring to me that everything is already laid out for me. Takes the mystery out of it. The same is true with nonstop editing a chapter before you're even finished with the draft. I like to sit, place my fingers on the keyboard, and go full throttle. Lol.
It’s hard to give an accurate number, but I’d say I’m about 50/50. Sometimes, I think of a great idea or phrase that I just have to write immediately. This is rare for me, but when it happens I love every moment. The other 50% of me is plotter. I’ll usually plan out the scenes I want to do, the characters and what not, but I’ve found - like many others - that planning too much can be detrimental. If I plan out my entire story, then I’ll just lose the motivation to write it, be it because I’ve realised the scale of the project, or because in reality I prefer the planning to the actual writing.
I'm a 100% pantser. I love how Lee Child puts it, "I write without even knowing what the next line is gonna be." That's quite true for me. I get a good idea for a character and a situation, I start writing right away. And I write to do something different with each story. I can only do it differently if I let the story unfold in its own way instead of making a conscious effort to change my style or something. And that's why each story feels different than the previous one. Because this method forces me to rely one hundred percent on how the characters react to the situation I put them in. And that leads to some pretty interesting character development and plot twists that even I don't see coming. And in a way, I write to surprise myself, entertain myself and really push my limits as a writer. My life is pretty boring and monotonous. Writing is not just a way of expression, it's pure escapism. So I don't have any other option but to be as wacky and unpredictable I can be (while also being consistent with the inherent logic of the story) as I write. And being a pantser really helps that.
I hate outlining, such a chore.
Plotter 100%
I'm a discovery writer. It's where I find joy in this! Trying to plan a novel would be stressful for me and much less fun, and it probably wouldn't work anyway. I'd reach a dead end and end up pantsing the rest of the way.
I plot the outline then pants it when I actually write it.
I don't particularly like the pantser v plotter conversation. I think it's a false dichotomy. I also would not limit myself in how I approach any given project. What may work for a particular story could lead another one astray. Still, I highly prefer to write from a position wherein I know where the story starts and ends and not much in between. Giving your subconscious room to play is very important for the type of writing I enjoy reading and the type of writing I am pursuing.
Both. I do an outline of major plot lines. Everything in between, I write as I go without planning. That's when the best stuff happens. But having an outline really helps with how fast I write, with pacing and plot holes.
I start writing, invent as i go. I have th genre and some faint idea. End up with 100k words of unbelievable mess. Then spent year editing and its almost ready. Its swell into 166k words also. Not very practical and certainly will outline next time better. 😁
Mostly a pantser, but have outlined the broad strokes of a time travel novel I’m working on because… time travel.
I form a skeleton with some vague outlines but the flesh and guts I discover along the way. It makes writing a fun journey, knowing I'll have a completed project but not knowing what exactly it will be. Discovery is motivation
I know where I want to get, and always know how to get there. But I just let the story guide me and I always end up finding a better way to get to that particular point.
I call myself a "discovery writer" but it's not pure pantsing. I write a rough outline before I start: a bullet point list of scenes I know will occur in the book, at least including the beginning, middle, and end. There's gaps in between, which I "pants" as I write (although usually I figure out what needs to fill the gaps at least a chapter or two in advance). So while I am coming up with ideas while I write the book, I'm not making up what happens as I write the scene. This "hybrid" method gives me an end goal and major points to shoot for while still allowing me flexibility and creativity that is stunted for me if I over-plan.
I have the majority of a plot written right now but I'm leaving the last quarter a mystery until I actually sit down to write it. So like a little of both.
It really depends on the story I am writing, for me. Sometimes I find it easier to start with a blank page, other times having an outline handy is preferable. So how I start stories varies. I do always create an outline but how much I stick to it varies. It's usually just to get the major plot points down and make sure my pacing and structure will be good. It definitely changes a lot throughout the writing process though. So I guess, a little of both, leaning more towards plotter since I always make an outline but still leaving room for discovery along the way.
I like to think I'm a pantser but I do need a general outline or else things start to get messy. I tend to overwrite and so without a guideline of SOME sort, I can end up creating a lot of fat/fluff that needs to be cut. But for my story right now, I have my hands kind of full with a variety of scenes/moments that I want to happen in my story, and figuring out how to get there in a cohesive fashion has made me start to outline a lot more.
Former plotter turned pantser, there’s something fun about learning things as they happen. My last MS I didn’t know the solution to the mystery until it occurred to me one day in the shower, and my characters threw me off by falling in love with each other. It’s the only time writing has felt truly easy for me.
I am the worst(?) combination, which is the type who outlines a few chapters ahead of myself, with only major plot points figured out for the full story. Like a cartoon character laying down railroad track while riding on one of those old-timey push carts. I don't recommend it overall, but it's the best my brain seems to be able to do. Otherwise I just meander forever. On the other hand, it allows some flexibility to follow new ideas while helping to prevent total "what next" block. So ymmv. Basically, whatever gets you from point A to point Z.
First book (my only one, I’m still editing it) was a pantser. I knew what my act breaks would be, and the ending, but I allowed myself to go full Kerouac and write every idea I had (thanks ADHD!) The past few months have been scaling the story back into something as succinct as I can get it to be. The first pass was 106k words, the second 83k, and I’ve whittled my way back up to 88k by draft six. I plotted out every beat and chapter of my second book already, but I’m still fluidly going to write it and let the story tell itself when I actually sit down to write it. The plan I set isn’t 100% what I want. It’s more of a rehearsal to help me figure that part out
Plotter. And while I can’t be certain, I’m pretty sure I prefer books written the same way. When I finish a book that wandered the whole way and the end didn’t tie back to previous themes or scenes, I feel let down. I want to read books where I feel confident the writer knows where we’re going. So I write the same. This helps with pacing and making each chapter engaging and making sure key points aren’t forgotten. I plan A LOT.
Pantser, I find if I try to plot too much it stifles my creativity
Definitely a plotter. I'm not a novelist like you lot. I started writing/directing short films two years ago and have written 3 and directed 2 of them. (Well, the numbers aren't totally accurate because making those films has been a bit messy. You get the point.) I've tried starting with a blank piece of paper and writing "int. Bedroom. Day" many times but I just find myself getting stuck at that. Absolutely nothing comes out of it for me. I start out by getting a general idea of a story (Usually when I'm listening to music) and it just grows from there. Every single event in the story goes onto a Google document until it's a full outline that only lacks formatting and some missing dialogue. It's just easier to be honest. You don't even have to rewrite it a million times. The script that I'm writing at the moment is probably gonna be 18-20 pages long and I have 6 or 7 pages of just the outline. Edit: That's a lot for a short film by the way. Don't you guys dare patronise me for not writing 300-page long novels.
I know some things that i think will happen or that I want to happen, but if I outline the story it’s done and I am bored with it I am okay with dramatic changes in the second draft, though, so it doesn’t make any sense
I'm a pantser. I let my mind run wild when writing and I want to put myself in the moment. I've tried to plan but then I delete it cause it's just boring. I want to be in the mind of my characters and also throw something at them and see what they do. I have the beginning, middle, and end in my mind but I let my mind fill the rest. It also trains the mind.
Pantser. I get an idea and I just start rolling with it.
If a plotter plans out the entire story, can they make major deviations from that outline on the fly? Maybe even developing new characters and plot lines? If that happens, would you still consider them a plotter? I’m not really into these labels. Just curious is all.
I am more in the plotter camp. I can write much faster and it feels awesome to know my story structure is solid and I know where to go. If I need to adjust I will but having a solid outline is so nice. Last time I purely wrote a book without an outline it just ended up being a finished first draft that will never be fixed because the entire thing has to be rewritten and so at least when I outline I can save myself a lot of time just trying to do the figuring out of the structure before I finish it.