Are You a Plotter, Pantser, or Plantser?
What is your writing process? Did you know there are names (unofficial, but still) for how a writer might develop their stories?
Writing processes are a personal choice. This is good news because it means you get to work the way you want. But here’s the kicker: sometimes the process we choose isn’t always the best approach for varying reasons.
This blog post will define three types of writing processes, explore the pros and cons of each, and offer tips on how to choose the process that’s best for you.
Let’s hop to it!
WHAT IS A WRITING PROCESS?
Writing process is the system writers use to begin, develop, and finish their manuscripts. There are multiple variations, but the three main categories you’ll hear talked about the most are Plotting, Pantsing, and Plantsing.
It may either encourage or frustrate you to be told that there is no one single or right approach to writing. As with everything else, what works for one writer may not work for another. However, you can figure out which process is best for you by learning about the three different types and understanding the pros and cons of each.
PANTSING
Writing by the seat of your pants, or “pantsing,” is a method whereby writers defer attention to quality and structure in order to simply get words on the page.
Writers who swear by this method are more interested in letting their ideas loose onto the page, wildly spilling forth characters, setting, and situations in an unorderly, somewhat chaotic fashion, like an adventurer without a map.
Story that operates via plot is less important to pantsers. They don’t want to be preoccupied with accuracy, consistency, or constancy of story. Creativity is their drug of choice.
Pantsing is also known as “organic,” “discovery,” or “raw” writing.
BENEFITS:
creative freedom
story is “discovered” along the way, lending a sense of wonder and surprise to the author
story is tied to authenticity of character choice and behavior rather than pre-planned plot points
dynamic process that tends to yield unique ideas
DRAWBACKS:
disorganized or disorderly
little to no plot
characters meander or spend more time thinking/reflecting rather than taking action that drives the narrative
more difficult to revise
lack of structure that leads to plot holes, inconsistencies, or implausibilities
pantsers are more prone to writer’s block
PLOTTING
Plotting is mapping out a story’s and the characters’ arcs prior to writing detailed scenes and chapters. Black-and-white thinkers who love outlines and bullet points and charts will likely be quite comfortable with this method. Such writers are methodical, controlled, and deliberate. Their approach, in comparison to pantsers, is like a hunter tracking prey.
To ensure that everything fits together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, some writers spend months outlining their structure and major events—before they even begin writing the actual story. Working through ideas and sketches and blurbs in outline form enables them to catch and fix problem elements like unnecessary characters, plot holes, and weak conflict before the story goes off track.
Other terms for plotting include “outlining” and “planning.”
One of the most prominent outline methods employs Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat principles. Originally conceived for screenwriting, the method generally works for novels as well. Beat sheets are used to plot a novel before drafting it. Beats are events that motivate a story’s characters to face dilemmas and make choices. Knowing the beats helps an author identify a story’s arc before commencing writing.
BENEFITS:
more organized or orderly
easier to increase conflict or raise the stakes
faster and easier to write a draft
stronger pacing and momentum
easier to revise
plotters don’t suffer as many blocks
DRAWBACKS:
time to plot ahead of drafting can be lengthy, which can suck out the anticipation of writing the story
feels mechanical or sterile
creativity is often forsaken for plot points or story beats
possibilities are sometimes missed when plot is kept on a tight leash
the storytelling can come across as stilted or wooden
PLANTSING
This process is a hybrid of plotting and pantsing—hence, plantsing. Writers are terribly clever, aren’t they?
The combination of the two extremes incorporates the best of both worlds, making the process of plantsing more flexible and personal. The variations of plantsing are as varied as writers, so it’s impossible to describe this process with concrete specifics.
Writers who “plants” their stories will come up with their own brand of creativity and productivity to get their stories written.
BENEFITS
writers can mix it up as they go along
more of a balanced approach that can be modified depending on the writer’s circumstances or preferences
DRAWBACKS
too much flexibility can lead to miscalculations with the story’s development
easier to avoid the need to “plot” if organic writing is more enjoyable
WARNING SIGNS YOU’RE USING THE WRONG WRITING PROCESS
can’t finish your story
having trouble organizing your ideas into sequences of events
you’ve lost the main thread
characters aren’t growing, changing, or enacting growth/change on someone or something
you’re bored or you’ve lost enjoyment
your story feels flat
you have writer’s block
you’re fixated on a particular area
frequent revisions that don’t seem to fix problems (and often create new problems)
Keep in mind, these warning signs aren’t solely due to wrong process. You could be suffering from any of the above and the process may not be the problem. Regardless—if you’re encountering one or multiple unfavorable issues, the story isn’t working on some level. Rather than revising (which only treats the symptoms), go back to the foundation to find the root cause.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WRITING PROCESS
Remember, writing process is a personal choice. This is because it’s tied to your personality, work style, habits, daily schedule, writing strengths, and any challenges you might be up against.
My suggestion to anyone who isn’t sure if they should go the plotting, pantsing, or plantsing route is to try them all. But first, it’s so helpful to know the conditions under which you work best.
Examine your day-to-day life. How do you handle time management? What is your work ethic? Do you like deadlines or do they immobilize you? Are you someone who needs accountability to stay on track? Are you able to write at a time and in a habitat that’s controlled by you? Or are you at the mercy of interruptions from household members? How do you handle distractions? Do you work more efficiently with music or in a public setting?
All of those questions (and more) can help you figure out what writing process will be best for you. Keep in mind, that process is fluid and might have to change depending on a variety of factors. The best way to ensure you’re working with the best process is to do regular check-ins on your productivity.
ARE YOU A PANTSER, PLOTTER, OR A PLANTSER?
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR WRITING PROCESS?
HAVE A WRITERLY DAY!