Planning, Pantsing and Plantsing?

What kind of writer are you?

I was listening to a podcast recently; Wizards, Warriors, & Words: A Fantasy Writing Advice Podcast on Apple Podcasts and it got me thinking about the different ways writers attack when it comes to their planning. (They have a youtube channel too Wizards, Warriors, & Words: A Fantasy Writing Advice Podcast - YouTube )

Within my writing group alone, each one of us uses different techniques to write, and we talk about this all the time.

So, what kind of planning style do you have and why is it important to understand your own style of writing?

Whether you're new to writing or have been slapping away at a keyboard for most of your life, have you come across the three types of writers there are and how different - or not - they really are.

I'm sure that many of you would have heard of these before, because it isn't any secret. But, for those of you who haven't, lets get into it.

Typically there are three ways to get your writing down on paper, three categories that Authors fall into and each one of them is unique to the individual.

Plotter, Plantser and Panster.

Yeah, I can see the raised eyebrow. You have questions. I am going to answer them as best I can.

The Plotter - I plan, I follow, I write.

Plotters; are probably self-explanatory.

Do you remember in primary school, English class, and your teacher drove into you with the sharp side of a hammer how important a plot was, and that plot needed to be planned out in dot point form until you knew exactly what you were going to write...? *deep breath*

I think you get it.

I have a lot of respect for Plotters. Plotters plan their stories before they write, with notes, sometimes even pretty pictures and imagery to draw from. It's great.

"Plots are what the writer sees with." Eudora Welty

Plotting as we know can be important to writing a story but let us not forget it isn't the most important factor.

Plotters are something of a dream to me. There are times I would love to know where my story is going, what plot lines are and how to make them just follow a plan.

But I'm a rebel, we know that.

Pantser - Let it Flow, Let it flow...

I'm this kind of rebel.

A panster is a writer that "flies by the seat of their pants". Basically, whatever happens in our books happens, characters speak to us and lead us on a journey. There is little to no planning. Well... none really.

"My books are primarily plot driven, but the best plot in the world is useless if you don't populate them with characters that readers care about." – Jeffery Deaver

Imagine you're just imagining, and the words are springing forth from your fingertips tapping over the keys as you go, you are gripped by the story unfolding. It takes you on a journey. And all of it comes from deep inside you.

I once read a book called "Writing in Flow: Keys to Enhanced Creativity by Susan K. Perry | Goodreads", this book changed my entire perspective on the way that I write, and helped to realise that much of the time, I am writing with flow.

And I think the same may be true for many pantsers...

and Plantsers.

Plantsers - The best of both worlds...

I mean, ideally this is it. Planning, plotting, flowing...

A Plantser is a writer that plans their Plots, but is flexible, willing to let their stories take them on different journeys, write themselves into corners, break out of those corners, re plan and keep attacking until they have slain the beast.

"Plot is a Literary Convention. Story is a force of nature." Teresa Neilsen Hayden

If you ask me, this is the most common form of writer. In my experience at least. And if i was consistent enough with the planning side, I would love to be this.

I'm just not organised enough to be this amazing though.

A few years ago, I tried this. I planned out the book, made a scrapbook within a notebook, put all the plot notes in, glued little pictures in, I was a real nerd about it. I carried it around in my bag, and ultimately barely looked at it again, But I spent so much time doing this, by the time I started writing, and everything I had planned changed, I felt like it was a massive waste of my valuable writing time.

But that's just me.

All in all, I believe plotting and planning is only a fraction of what goes into writing the book that makes the book "good" or "great". There are many more factors, and I will likely write about them in the future.

Hopefully this has been a little helpful blip in your life. Get planning, get pantsing, get plantsing.

Get Writing.