To be a pantser or a plotter that is the question. A plotter is a writer who plans out their novel before they write it. A pantser, on the other hand, "flies by the seat of their pants"; they take the rollercoaster for a ride without [or with very little] planning.
Personally I'm a pantser. I've always hated outlines ever since my primary school teacher introduced me to them. They feel too forced and strategic. Writing is supposed to be a journey. On a journey one may have the destination planned and maybe a few pit stops in between but everything else should be in the moment. That's an important thing that I have learned about writing: if you do not feel surprised then your audience will not be surprised. That's why I don't use outlines because it feels more authentic. Another thing about outlines is that if you decide to steer off course you may have to change your destination and everything in between. Trust me, to redo an entire outline is a pain. Unlike a pantser, a plotter has an organized direction. For a plotter the dreaded monster named "Writer's Block" is usually out of sight. It is not hard to get passed a roadblock when you know where you're supposed to go next. When writing, I get stuck often and have to dig myself out of a hole. Sometimes I get stuck for days or weeks making me abandon one project for another. I have several unfinished novels at roughly the same amount of words. I've tried making outlines, but it doesn't work out. I can't plan that far ahead. It just feels rushed. What do you consider yourself: a pantser or a plotter? What are the advantages or disadvantages of your plotting techniques? Leave a comment...
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorAuthor of The Demonic Eyes and Bloody Nightmares Archives
February 2017
Categories
All
|