Pantser or plotter? This common question among authors reveals their dominant writing process. A “pantser”, as in “flying by the seat of your pants,” is someone who lets the story evolve organically as they write with little advance planning. In contrast, a “plotter” has a plan mapped and outlined from the start.
By temperament, I’m more of a plotter. I inherited this tendency from my father, a former draftsman, who was perhaps the most organized person I know. He had lists for everything. He even arranged the tools over his workbench and always put them back in the same spot. When you removed a wrench or screwdriver from its hook, you knew exactly where to return it. You could see its outline left behind where the light had faded the pegboard around it.
But in practice, I actually use a bit of both plotting and pantsing. When I begin writing a new project, I have a general idea of where I want the story to go and its theme. I know the big arc and the first few steps, but not all the details. Those emerge as the writing progresses.
As the chapters develop, I try to leave room for my writing muse to shape the story – the pantser part. Is there a place for that funny idea that just popped into my head? Do I let my characters speak to me about what they would authentically do, instead of forcing them to fit my plot idea? What about that scene, playing like a movie in my thoughts? Or that fun secondary character that you know needs to have a larger role?
But at some point in the creative process, when I have enough of the story and the characters down on the page, I just know what comes next. Then my “plotter” instinct takes over and I can outline the rest.
So what about you? Do you have a process? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?