A solution to the old pantser/plotter conundrum?

[Quantum]

Thoughts?

Which one is the "right" way?

Neither. I fancy that most use some kind of hybrid form.

Here's an enlightening article wherein the author argues that flexibility is the key:

When it came time to write The Catalain Book of Secrets, my magical realism novel which features multiple points of view, though, neither of those methods would work. I ended up pantsing for 10,000 words, then physically printing out those pages and cutting the paper into scenes. Once I had a stack of crazy notes, I bought a roll of butcher paper, moving around the scenes, adding some and deleting others, and finally pasting it (with actual Elmer’s glue) onto the butcher paper once I had everything where I wanted it. I sketched pictures where it was helpful.
(https://janefriedman.com/panster-or-p...)

[Graeme]

I've done a lot of planning and still do. What I've discovered is that once your characters are sufficiently 'invested,' they develop a life of their own and start doing things like...

[1] Make up their own dialog and say the unexpected (with ramifications to the plot)

[2] Shrug off your intended chapter design, refuse scenes as in-authentic to their 'true selves' and insist on a different pathway.

So far about 90% of my original design is holding steady, especially the major turning points and ending - but everything else is increasingly up for grabs.

[Ian]

Me, I start with a plan, but like most military plans it does not survive for long in its original form. My view is, I need to know where I am going to start, although quite often I go back and start again. For those that read my 'Bot War when it was BoM, the original start ended up as chapter 7. So much for a plan! But really the changes were not that significant - What ended up as chapter 7 was chosen to start because it was more pictorial, but I decided that it would be better to introduce some characters, so other chapters were brought forward.
I also need to know the essence of the ending because I have to know where I am trying to get to, and I usually have some scenes in mind that should occur somewhere between the start and the finish because they impart movement to the plot. After that, it is crafting in putting everything together - and of course, the inevitable rewriting.

[Joe]

Graeme Rodaughan wrote: "I've done a lot of planning and still do. What I've discovered is that once your characters are sufficiently 'invested,' they develop a life of their own and start doing things like..."
Good thoughts. Lao Tsu wrote "The way that can be described is not the true way..."
I have been studying Patterson, who preaches outlining, of late. I am experimenting with an outline for my next novel. There seem to be some interesting benefits - I have the story plotted end to end and I can insert scenes when I think of them. But I am anxious to start writing and let my characters express themselves. I also have come to believe that religiously following an outline will result in a quick story that is too mechanical.

[Graeme]

Hi Joe. It strikes me that a balance can be struck between the two.