Pantser vs Plotter
Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?
Are you a Plotter or a Pantser? Before you answer that question, let’s look at what a plotter and Pantser are.
As they say, a Pantser is someone who flies by the seat of their pants. Pantser’s don’t plan the story, there is no outline, they invent a story as they go along. There is plenty of freedom to move within the story, as a plan does not tie them down.
A Plotter is meticulous in planning and outlining their story before they write it. In fact, it is essential for plotters to do so. It keeps their story structure, and they know how their story is going to finish.
Before writing a novel, plotters must know what will happen. They need clarity, and they know exactly what they are doing.
Whichever way to decide to write, or fall into writing, there are pros and cons in both writing styles.
The Pantser
The Pantser pros are:
The freedom to move in any direction they want to in their novel. I felt this in the first novel I wrote. The words just flowed into my mind. It was a great feeling. Pantsers also have flexibility because they are not following an outline, and again, have the freedom to move within the story. If they don’t like how the story is going, they can just change it, no big deal.
The Pantser cons are:
Not having a plan, or a little planning, it is easier to get stuck, as there is no direction to follow. This can mean unfinished manuscripts until the writer has more ideas to continue writing. It also means lots of rewriting because of the lack of direction. Rewriting means more editing given there is not a clear outline, and the Pantser might feel like they are all over the place. This takes up more time and is a nuisance to the Pantser. However, rewriting and editing is something all writers have to contend with. It’s just more time-consuming for the Pantser’s because their lack of planning means more rewrites. Anything can happen to the Pantser while writing. For example, halfway through the manuscript, a new character or plot manifests itself on the page. This wouldn’t happen with a plotter, as they plan everything before writing.
The Plotter
The Plotters pros are:
They always plan their novel ahead of time. They know exactly what’s going to happen before they write. This means less writer’s block as they know exactly what is going to happen next, which in turn they can write faster. Having an outline of the story means a clear, concise direction. Less editing as the Plotter is not going back editing new characters and new ideas that are created halfway through a story, like a Pantser would.
The Plotter’s cons are:
They are so confined to their plans; they are reluctant to change something in their writing. If they have to change something, then they have to redo their whole outline. I can tell you from experience, redoing an entire outline is not fun.
Can you be a Pantser and Plotter? Or do you fall into the role?
I was a Plotter. In my children’s books and non-fiction work, I planned everything I intend to write. However, one night I woke up by my dog’s barking and could not go back to sleep, and spent time writing. I was not in the mood to write anything serious and had this amazing idea and wrote it down, followed by another idea, and before I knew it, two hours had passed. No planning, no thinking – just words flowing through me onto the laptop. It felt amazing.
Had I become a Pantser? I did not plan any chapters; I did not know who the killer was in my mystery novel until the last few chapters. Every time I sat at my laptop; the words just appeared. I was flying by the seat of my pants, just like a Pantser, when I wrote, The Power, the Capture and Release. A nurse’s revenge.
I can choose to be a Panster or Plotter depending on what I write. I am yet to decide my preference. There are skilled writers in both areas. — for example; George R. R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones and Stephen King, author of IT, Carrie and The Shining, etc. are Panster’s and JK. Rowling is definitely a plotter.
It does not matter if you are a Pantser, a Plotter, or somewhere in between; all that matters is that you enjoy your writing and are successful. The more you write, the more you will discover about yourself, not just as a writer, but your personal development as a person. It is such a great feeling.
