Put a group of writers in a room and eventually, they will begin talking about Plotting vs Pantsing. Sometimes these discussions can turn into heated arguments with those who are purely on one side or the other claiming their way is better. Some writers know which one they want to be, while others try one or both of these methods as they develop their writing style. But what is Plotting and Pantsing? These are the terms that are used to describe how a story is written.
Plotters
Plotting is a term for planning the story ahead of time using an outline or structure. It comes from merging the words plot and planning. Using this style, the author can see what will happen before words go on the page. Those who are firmly in the plotter’s camp tend to be people who love organizational charts, timelines, and outlines. They enjoy this because they can work out any plot holes or problems. The entire work is visible and flows together. The downfall of this method is writers can spend all of their time planning and never get around to writing. The point of writing is to get words out of your head and onto the paper. If you are a plotter, then you are in good company. Authors like J.K. Rowling, James Patterson, and R. L. Stine are plotters according to their respective websites.
Pantsers
Pantsing is a shortened term for “flying by the seat of your pants.” This method has no defined outline or structure. The writer simply drops the characters into different situations and writes how those characters react. Pantsers feel a great sense of freedom writing this way because the story unfolds as if they were reading a book themselves. The entire work is fluid and sometimes the story even surprises the author. The pantser tends to write until the writing feels finished. One drawback of this approach is the potential for the writer to go off on a tangent and lose track of the story. It can be hard to keep track of everything that is happening, but this tends to be exciting and fun. Often, pantsers have a lot of editing to do after completing the first draft. Some authors of today who are pantsers are Dean Koontz and Margret Attwood. In Stephen King’s book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, he describes himself as a pantser and likens fiction writers who use an outline to people who want to write thesis papers.
Plantsers
A relatively new third term, Plantsers, is used to describe a mixture of both styles. Plantsers start with a rough outline or a beginning foundation to build on but leave a lot of room for creativity. This allows for the pantser-like freedom and fluidity while still keeping the structure of a plotter. The plantser knows there are certain plot points that they want to hit, but how the story gets there is up to the characters. A potential issue with this way of writing is getting writer’s block. A way to combat writer’s block is to skip to another part of the story. Since there is a rough outline the story does not have to be written straight through. Shonda Rhimes, creator of the hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy, and Christopher Nolan, the writer/director of the movie Inception are plantsers.
Whatever your style, the idea of writing a book can be an overwhelming task, however, there is an old saying “When eating an elephant, take one bite at a time.”
About the Author
Jeff Robb – Spring 2024
Jeff is a third-generation Panama City local working toward his bachelor’s degree in Digital Production.
