OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
Writers are a funny bunch and the split between plotters and pantsers seems to be an arbitrary one in my mind. In this guest post, Nick Thacker explores why mixing planning with “pantsing” is probably the best route to go for writing fiction. It's certainly the way I write. How about you?
*Gasp!* *Shock and awe!*
I know; crazy, right?
Listen, it's not like you think. I've finished a novel, plenty of other fiction content, and am completing a second full-length fiction thriller, and trust me–I haven't sold my soul.
In the writing world, as you're probably aware, there's a polarizing debate between the “pantsers”–those who write by the seat of their pants, plotting and planning as they go along–and the “planners”–those who like to get every detail, plot twist, and problem/solution researched before they begin to work on thier manuscripts.
The Pantsers usually are classified as the ultra-creative, left-brained abstract thinkers, who strive for genius in the creative space by charging into uncharted territory.
The Planners are commonly considered the analytical, detail-oriented people who appreciate well-researched and flawless plots with fully-developed literary devices and very full Evernote accounts of research material.
I'm somewhere in-between, and I'd venture a guess that you are, too.
I write in a creative way, AFTER I've planned out what I'm going to write. I don't try to get everything down into a “research journal,” nor do I actively try to free-write every day.
For me, writing zen falls somewhere between the Pantsers' and Planners' respective camps, and if I had to call it something, I'd say I'm a “Plantser.”
I don't plan everything
As a church music director, I ran a contemporary worship band (think U2 for God) that employed some of the finest musicians I've ever worked with. They were each professional gigging musicians, teachers, or industry pros with years of experience.
I decided to start using “loops” in our worship set–basically a pre-recorded or pre-programmed musical backdrop that would play throughout our songs. Imagine stripping out the guitars, drums, bass, and vocals from a rock band's album, and what you'd be left with would be a backing track that adds color and depth to your sound.
For the band, there were a few things that troubled them. Mainly, we were all worried that using loops would cause us to have less freedom, as we were constricted to a set structure, tempo, and order for each song.
They thought creativity as individuals and as a band would plummet.
It didn't.
Strangely enough, when we playing along with some of these songs' loops, we found that our creativity and overall sound improved DRASTICALLY. We were tighter as a unit, and every member of the ensemble felt as though they had MORE freedom to play licks, leads, and filler material.
The church liked it, and we liked it.
Back to writing
So, how does this apply to writing a novel?
Well, if you plan a GENERAL STRUCTURE for the major sections of your book, and create some simple character sketches, you'll find that the creative juices start flowing MUCH easier when you actually get into the writing process.
You won't have to worry about your end goal; that's already been planned. How you get there, though, in each sentence and paragraph and scene is up to you.
Here's a list of what I like to plan out:
1. Overall theme/idea (duh)
2. Major characters–hero/heroine, villain(s), supporting actors
3. Plot summary (a general structure to guide the major story question along)
4. Scenes and Sequels (to borrow from my boy Dwight Swain!)
5. General notes on the novel's direction
As a self-declared “plantser,” it seems natural for me to resist a set structure, yet want to complain when I get stuck. The method I've mentioned here doesn't solve all the problems, obviously, but it does help me feel clearheaded when I approach the daunting task of penning somewhere near 100,000 words!
I'll expand on the idea of planning/pantsing your novel, and hopefully I'll be able to guest-post again soon! For now, though, leave a comment with your own thoughts on this approach–do you do something similar? Or drastically different?
View Comments (49)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1 2 3 Next »I'm a little similar i think
I have a good plan of where i want to go (what i want to cover in each chapter and scene), but then i just start writing and see where it takes me. I try to keep on track with the plan, but sometimes my creativity will cause me to alter the overall structure. I don't see this as change, but evolution.
No plan though would be scary. I'd have no goal to strive to, and i'm not sure what the end product would be. I may try it one day though. just to see what happens :)
Matt (Turndog Millionaire)
I have an idea and then plot a few scenes, then get to 30,000 words and then extend the whole plot so I can finish before the dreaded block sets in. I reckon this still makes me a hybrid :)
You are right. I certainly am an inbetweener when it comes to plot v pants. So maybe it should be plot and pants? I think that has all become much easier with the advent of software like Scrivener which lets you keep these random jottings --research--plot points--notes on direction-- together in once place.
One of the very interesting things about writing a novel is to be able to look back at those initial sketches and plans and see how things change along the way, because I bet they do.
Cheers,
RA Jones
LOVE Scrivener :) There are lots of fans of the software on this site as well. It is revolutionary for novelists I think, and in fact, anything of book length.
Yup, same here--I'm a HUGE Scrivener devotee!
Actually, I'm going to be doing an in-depth post on using Scrivener to write a novel; I'll be sure to link to it here.
Thanks!
Nick
Here's that post I mentioned--it's pretty long, but I think it covers some great ground!
http://www.livehacked.com/writing-2/using-scrivener-and-evernote-to-write-your-book/
Hope it helps!
Nick
@Turndog,
Thanks for stopping by! It's definitely scary (to say the least) to not have a plan when you start writing. I didn't at first, and I ended up spending an entire rewrite fixing the first act...
Now, even with "pantsing," I at least have to keep me going in a direction that makes sense!
@RA,
Absolutely! Even with a barebones outline that I started much too late, the original beginning of my story ends up nowhere to be found in the finished version!
Thanks for commenting, and for reading! Talk to you soon,
Nick
Hi Nick,
I work in a very similar way. However, by about Chap. 4 or so, I start outline. I develop this overwhelming urge to know where I'm heading. Not that I always go there, of course! But doing this makes me feel more secure. Or something! If I deviate from the outline, which I often do of course, I go back and adjust it.
Thanks for a thoughtful post.
Hi Pam!
I definitely feel that urge as well--sometimes before I start writing!
It would seem that I'm ever less of a planner than you! However, I wouldn't say I am completely a write-as-you-go sort of person. I don't take a lot of notes, but the plot summary (among other things) is generally what gets filled in over time.
There is nothing wrong with planning as opposed to writing as you go. You are creative enough to think of a whole story and outline it, right?
Good point--I'm not trying to claim my way is best, just another way.
There's nothing wrong with planning as you go, or even not planning. I would just argue that unless you're trying to have a stream-of-consciousness novel, you'll eventually start to "plan"--even if it's just the next few words, and it's only in your head.
Thanks for stopping by!
Nick
I'm a pantser, and I'm not sying that with any kind of pride, or to be thought of as one of those "ultra-crative" types. I haven't even published my first novel yet (!)
I have to write through the first draft just to figure things out, but then, I go to my trusty bulletin board and map. I might do character sketches, written and drawn, maps, timelines, histories, etc. So I am a combination. I usually start with a character and I have a good idea what the major events of the story will be, as well as the climax, but things can change and evolve in the writng process, and they usually do.
I love reading about process. I'm fascinated by it, largely because mine's constantly changing and evolving. Thanks for sharing :)
Hmm, that’s a cool way of doing it–so you’re using the first draft as a creative outlet, then using the blackboard as a “catch-all” of the good ideas/plot sketches?
Seems like it would work quite well! I might borrow that idea!
Nick
I also find the process endlessly fascinating Melanie and it probably morphs with time, as we settle into our voices.
Hmm, that's a cool way of doing it--so you're using the first draft as a creative outlet, then using the blackboard as a "catch-all" of the good ideas/plot sketches?
Seems like it would work quite well! I might borrow that idea!
Nick
A really great article - thanks Nick. To me, the word that kept shouting out to me while reading your post was 'balance'. Why should writers have to be one extreme or the other? And I agree, we are often in between. Thanks again :)
Right on, Chrissa--balance is key, because most things in life aren't "Star Wars" polarizing... and there's no reason "planning" or "not planning" should be either!
Thanks for the comment, and we'll talk to you soon!
Nick
"Plantser"! I like it. I'm more pantser than planner, which is probably why I don't get anything finished. That being said, there is a point where I sit down and regroup, thus creating an outline of sorts. I really can't outline pre writing though, other than to have a general idea.
I like your idea of what you plan out--enough to keep me focused but not too detailed to make me crazy.
Eva;
Have you read Steven King's "On Writing?" He's a self-declared "pantser," and he almost vehemently downplays the benefits of plotting ahead of time.
That said, he's the kind of guy who openly admits that there are other ways to do it, and he does have a general storyline idea in mind when he starts writing.
So definitely don't get discouraged, but also don't let your plan to be a "pantser" act as an excuse for not writing! Plot/plan what you need, and "pants" the rest!
Thanks, and take care!
Nick
I also think Stephen King has internalised his process to the point where he has it in his head somehow. Pro writers must get to that stage, right?
Yeah, that's true--the whole time I was reading "On Writing" I was thinking that there MUST still be a "plan" in there somewhere--even if he's not consciously aware.