WeeklyWritingWrapup.20250215
This week: the pros and cons of planning a piece of writing vs making it up as you go; an update on my writing; The Spike-related links; and chilling out to The War On Drugs.
plotter/pantser
Authors are often split into two camps:
Plotters - writers who plan a piece before they begin, often in a lot of detail. This can include the overarching storyline and theme, chapter outlines, character information and arcs, location maps, magic systems, and more, and will often involve up-front research of related topics.
Pantsers - writers who begin writing without a plan, sometimes with no idea where the story will end up. They write "by the seat of their pants", creating everything as they go. It's also often called "discovery writing", as the writer "discovers" the story as they write it, almost letting the characters or story write themselves.
As with almost everything, it's not so binary and is more of a spectrum, but for the sake of this piece, we're going to compare the two extremes.
One of the biggest considerations might be: which is the most work?
I don't think there's much difference.
When planning, a lot of the work is front-loaded, meaning that, as long as the plan is well thought through and adhered to when writing, there should be less fixing and rewriting to do at the end.
When writing without a plan, the hardest work is after the first draft has been completed. The opening and the conclusion will often be very different, the tone and theme shifting as the writer "discovers" the story, and the emphasis is on research and rewrites to polish what will hopefully be a diamond in the rough.
Some writers feel there is more freedom in pantsing, and that too much of a plan limits them. Their method is to get into a flow state and let the words go where they want.
However, if there's no plan, it's more likely the writer will hit a block where they don't know what to write next, or will write themselves into a corner, putting characters into positions or situations they don't know how to get them out of.
That's not to say blocks don't happen if you have a plan, but the more serious should be figured out before they're stumbled across.
Plotting can lead to characters feeling flat and unrealistic, as though they are there just to move the story along.
In pantsed stories, characters usually drive the story and they can feel more active and alive as a result.
The editing process is a lot heavier for pantsers. Their first draft will often be messy. If they began without an idea of the ending, there's no guarantee they'll be able to tie things off in a satisfying finale. It may require starting again almost from scratch.
Plotters will sometimes have heavy editing and rewrites too, but if the plan was good and it was stuck too, they should need to change far less in subsequent drafts.
There will often be a larger difference between the first and second drafts of a pantser than of a plotter.
Sometimes pantsers will reach the end of their first draft and realise there isn't enough for a good story. There may be characters or scenes that can be salvaged and reused in something else, but sometimes the whole thing needs to be abandoned, which can be a lot of work down the drain.
This should not happen to a plotter if they have planned their story carefully and, crucially, been honest with themselves as to the quality of the idea.
TL;DR:
If you hate spreadsheets and lists and charts, pantsing probably suits you best.
If you hate editing and rewrites, plotting is the way forward.
I'm a plotter.
My overall writing process has evolved with each major project, adding extra planning steps each time to make the drafting and editing smoother. I'm not sure if I'll ever reach the point where I have a set process that I use every time. I can imagine I will always find new improvements in the never-ending and impossible search for perfection.
progress_report
Blissfully, I've been on leave from my day job this week and have been able to dedicate more time to my writing. A solid 5197 words written over four chapters: not as much as I'd originally hoped, but I've gained some forward momentum that I intend to continue through the remainder of this draft.
I'm solidly in the middle section now, raising the stakes and putting the building blocks in place for the finale. Part 3 of Volume 2 has always been the part I've had most confidence in, and I'm enjoying writing it.
status.vol2
The Spike Volume 2 will contain three separate books from the perspective of seven characters.
Part 1 - draft 2 complete; further chapters to add.
Part 2 - draft 2 complete!
Part 3 - draft 2 written up to chapter 28; thirty-eight chapters to go.
The intention is to complete draft 2 of part 3 by the end of March.
Part 1 is currently much shorter than the others, and I want them to be closer in length, so I will need to decide how to tighten parts 2 and 3 slightly, and add more to part 1 - I have some exciting ideas to expand it.
Then a readthrough of all parts will determine how much revision is required.
The ultimate aim is to have Volume 2 finished by the end of 2025 for publication early 2026.
connecting_links
The Spike is set in our world, incorporating real events; the links below are relevant to the themes and overarching storyline, and may or may not provide clues to the direction of the series.
I do not necessarily agree with or endorse any of the views within.
Microsoft Study Finds AI Makes Human Cognition “Atrophied and Unprepared”
reCAPTCHA: 819 million hours of wasted human time and billions of dollars in Google profits
AI Company Asks Job Applicants Not to Use AI in Job Applications
Uber CEO warns robotaxis can't find a fast route to commercial viability
Google's AI made up a fake cheese fact that wound up in an ad for Google's AI, perfectly highlighting why relying on AI is a bad idea
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that's inspired my creativity.
This week, I've been listening to a band that I keep coming back to when I'm on holiday from work: The War On Drugs.
This habit goes back to 2018. I first discovered their album "Lost In The Dream" when I was stressed at work and shopping for a holiday destination; it's more chill then much of my catalogue. The album became the soundtrack of that holiday, and every time I play it now, it takes me back to that time.
"Under The Pressure" is the opening track and one of their live favourites.
What's inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
plotter/pantser
Authors are often split into two camps:
Plotters - writers who plan a piece before they begin, often in a lot of detail. This can include the overarching storyline and theme, chapter outlines, character information and arcs, location maps, magic systems, and more, and will often involve up-front research of related topics.
Pantsers - writers who begin writing without a plan, sometimes with no idea where the story will end up. They write "by the seat of their pants", creating everything as they go. It's also often called "discovery writing", as the writer "discovers" the story as they write it, almost letting the characters or story write themselves.
As with almost everything, it's not so binary and is more of a spectrum, but for the sake of this piece, we're going to compare the two extremes.
One of the biggest considerations might be: which is the most work?
I don't think there's much difference.
When planning, a lot of the work is front-loaded, meaning that, as long as the plan is well thought through and adhered to when writing, there should be less fixing and rewriting to do at the end.
When writing without a plan, the hardest work is after the first draft has been completed. The opening and the conclusion will often be very different, the tone and theme shifting as the writer "discovers" the story, and the emphasis is on research and rewrites to polish what will hopefully be a diamond in the rough.
Some writers feel there is more freedom in pantsing, and that too much of a plan limits them. Their method is to get into a flow state and let the words go where they want.
However, if there's no plan, it's more likely the writer will hit a block where they don't know what to write next, or will write themselves into a corner, putting characters into positions or situations they don't know how to get them out of.
That's not to say blocks don't happen if you have a plan, but the more serious should be figured out before they're stumbled across.
Plotting can lead to characters feeling flat and unrealistic, as though they are there just to move the story along.
In pantsed stories, characters usually drive the story and they can feel more active and alive as a result.
The editing process is a lot heavier for pantsers. Their first draft will often be messy. If they began without an idea of the ending, there's no guarantee they'll be able to tie things off in a satisfying finale. It may require starting again almost from scratch.
Plotters will sometimes have heavy editing and rewrites too, but if the plan was good and it was stuck too, they should need to change far less in subsequent drafts.
There will often be a larger difference between the first and second drafts of a pantser than of a plotter.
Sometimes pantsers will reach the end of their first draft and realise there isn't enough for a good story. There may be characters or scenes that can be salvaged and reused in something else, but sometimes the whole thing needs to be abandoned, which can be a lot of work down the drain.
This should not happen to a plotter if they have planned their story carefully and, crucially, been honest with themselves as to the quality of the idea.
TL;DR:
If you hate spreadsheets and lists and charts, pantsing probably suits you best.
If you hate editing and rewrites, plotting is the way forward.
I'm a plotter.
My overall writing process has evolved with each major project, adding extra planning steps each time to make the drafting and editing smoother. I'm not sure if I'll ever reach the point where I have a set process that I use every time. I can imagine I will always find new improvements in the never-ending and impossible search for perfection.
progress_report
Blissfully, I've been on leave from my day job this week and have been able to dedicate more time to my writing. A solid 5197 words written over four chapters: not as much as I'd originally hoped, but I've gained some forward momentum that I intend to continue through the remainder of this draft.
I'm solidly in the middle section now, raising the stakes and putting the building blocks in place for the finale. Part 3 of Volume 2 has always been the part I've had most confidence in, and I'm enjoying writing it.
status.vol2
The Spike Volume 2 will contain three separate books from the perspective of seven characters.
Part 1 - draft 2 complete; further chapters to add.
Part 2 - draft 2 complete!
Part 3 - draft 2 written up to chapter 28; thirty-eight chapters to go.
The intention is to complete draft 2 of part 3 by the end of March.
Part 1 is currently much shorter than the others, and I want them to be closer in length, so I will need to decide how to tighten parts 2 and 3 slightly, and add more to part 1 - I have some exciting ideas to expand it.
Then a readthrough of all parts will determine how much revision is required.
The ultimate aim is to have Volume 2 finished by the end of 2025 for publication early 2026.
connecting_links
The Spike is set in our world, incorporating real events; the links below are relevant to the themes and overarching storyline, and may or may not provide clues to the direction of the series.
I do not necessarily agree with or endorse any of the views within.
Microsoft Study Finds AI Makes Human Cognition “Atrophied and Unprepared”
reCAPTCHA: 819 million hours of wasted human time and billions of dollars in Google profits
AI Company Asks Job Applicants Not to Use AI in Job Applications
Uber CEO warns robotaxis can't find a fast route to commercial viability
Google's AI made up a fake cheese fact that wound up in an ad for Google's AI, perfectly highlighting why relying on AI is a bad idea
weekly_inspiration
Every week I share something that's inspired my creativity.
This week, I've been listening to a band that I keep coming back to when I'm on holiday from work: The War On Drugs.
This habit goes back to 2018. I first discovered their album "Lost In The Dream" when I was stressed at work and shopping for a holiday destination; it's more chill then much of my catalogue. The album became the soundtrack of that holiday, and every time I play it now, it takes me back to that time.
"Under The Pressure" is the opening track and one of their live favourites.
What's inspired you this week? Please share in the comments.
See you next week.
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