Plotter or Pantser

[B.W.]

So when you write your novels, do you write an outline before you start (plotter) or do you make everything up as you go along (pantser)?

For my first novel, I did the initial draft as a pantser, but when I went into the second draft, I started plotting a little more. Then when it came to the second novel, I already had an outline written up for that and mostly stuck to the outline.

I just finished the first draft of the third novel and that was plotted with an outline -- but along the way, I started making some things up as I went along. I guess we'll find out if it worked out once I pull out that first draft!

So I guess I'm a combination of the two.

What about the rest of you? Always plot, always "pants" or some combination? Or do you think it varies depending on what you write?

[M.R.]

I am sort of in between. I can't seem to finish fiction books that I write an outline for, but I have to have the plot completed in my head before I start writing.

[Kimber]

I am such a pantser. When I first started writing I outlined but never ended up following it. I have the overall story line in my head when I start, but my characters always end up taking on a life of their own as I'm writing. A few times I've been quite surprised about where there characters took the story. In fact, the last book I wrote had a completely different ending than the one I envisioned. The natural flow of the story and the character interactions took me there instead.

[Jennifer]

I think I'm a macro plotter and a micro pantser. I have a big picture that's plotted out, but I spend a lot of time on character development, and sometimes those buggers don't do what I say -- they do what they want! Then I have to follow their lead, even if it takes me well off the beaten path. I've found that it makes my writing better, though, and the story richer. Unfortunately, it also means my readers have to wait longer for me to finish each book.

[Jennifer]

Kimber wrote: "I am such a pantser. When I first started writing I outlined but never ended up following it. I have the overall story line in my head when I start, but my characters always end up taking on a life..."

I just posted something so similar, Kimber! :)

[Susan]

I'm a pantser with a plan. I know the destination--how the problem might be solved--but not exactly how I'll get there. Sometimes my characters solve the problem in different ways than I expected.

[Krysten]

I'm usually a pantser, but I also have a couple of series of books and when writing book #2 or #3, you need to know where you're going with not only this storyline, but down the road in the next books.

[Lora]

I had an outline for MIRRORMASTERS, and I think it helped me get where I wanted to go ultimately, but of course things changed during the writing of the book. With my second novel, BENEATH THE RED SAND, I pantsed it but came up with the ideas -- just in my mind -- for where it was going before each writing session, and that seemed to work. I'm also kind of pantsing the MIRRORMASTERS sequel, but may need to do some plotting because I'm having the same issue of just having way too many ideas for it. Not sure why that's the case with this series; it didn't happen with RED SAND.

[Brett]

This is going to sound similar to Jennifer, with a slight twist. I tend to come to stories by way of a single really strong image that often becomes the opening scene of the novel. Then I kind of mull over the who, what, when, where, and why of that single scene until a general sense of the story comes together for me. After that I have an idea of the big moments of the story and in that sense I'm a plotter, but everything between those high points I use the art of pantser.

[Melody]

Used to be a pantser, but since I ended up deleting so many scenes, I am now a plotter. However, I still end up deleting scenes. I always end up changing my mind. ;)