The Write Groove
Plotting or Pantsing?
According to writing lore, writers fall into one of two categories—plotters or pantsers.
First, what the heck does this mean? Plotters are writers who methodically plot their books or stories before embarking on their writing project. Pantsers fly by the seat of their pants and let their work unfold as it may. A writing teacher once compared it to driving in the fog. You only see the road that’s right in front of you.
Are writers really this neatly divided into careful planners or spontaneous nonplanners? Doubtful. The truth is more likely that people combine the two styles to get plotting pantsy-ness or pantsy plotting.
As a recovering pantser who has tried being a plotter, I’ve discovered the upsides and downsides to both. If I plot too much, I lose the motivation to work on a piece because there’s no voyage of discovery. I already know how the story will start, unfold, and end, so why bother writing it? Snoozerville. It limits the spontaneity and magic that happens on the page and becomes a tedious writing assignment.
On the other hand, if I surrender to being a pantser, the end result can be like the popular meme: I took the road less traveled, and now I don’t know where the heck I am. It’s easier to be a pantser when writing flash or short fiction. When inspiration strikes and an idea or a character grabs me, I take it and run with it. It can be an exhilarating ride with the muse as the driver of the convertible—the wind in my hair, the scenery out of this world, and the journey unforgettable.
For longer works, being a pantser can feel like a long road trip without a map—probably not a great idea, unless you like getting lost. You end up driving in circles, retracing ground already covered, going on tangents, and possibly hitting a dead end or not reaching your destination. In writing, without some plotting, you often have to go back and rework earlier storylines, characters, plots, and subplots. It can be an exercise in frustration—sometimes to the point of wanting to abandon the piece and start anew.
What I recommend is being a plotting pantser and starting with a loose structure—allowing for freedom and creativity while having a general idea of your story structure. Map out the beginning, middle, and end. If, while you’re on the journey, you discover a better destination, give yourself permission to go there. It allows for detours and spontaneous discoveries, ensuring the writing process remains dynamic and engaging.
This happened to me on a trip to Italy. My traveling partner and I were hellbent on going Genoa, but while on the train, an Italian woman suggested instead a small Mediterranean town called Santa Margherita. Of course, we had never heard of it but decided to take her recommendation. We stayed in a family-run pensione with delicious home-cooked meals included. We fell in love with the village, and that spontaneous choice started my life-long love affair with Mediterranean villages.
Just as my journey to Italy led to a detour to Santa Margherita, deviating from your initial plan might lead to more satisfying destinations within your narrative. Having a flexible structure empowers writers to decide when to adhere to the plan and when to veer off course in pursuit of a better, more enriching storyline.
Having a plan or structure will give you a starting point. And from that place you can determine if it serves your project or if you need to stray from it to get to your destination—a completed work that feels satisfying.