Plotting Style: Are you a Plotter or Pantser?

Are you a Plotter? Pantser? Somewhere in Between?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a good story idea must fall into one of two categories. Either they are meticulous in outlining every aspect of their novel (Plotter) or write by the seat of their pants (Pantser). Right?

Wrong.

Look, I am not in the business of putting a writer in a neat box in order to describe their plotting style. If you’ve been writing for a bit of time, you might self-identify as either a Plotter or a Pantser.

Like most things, I believe that these two plotting styles fall on a spectrum. Even if you’ve been pantsing since the dawn of time, at some point it will become critical to employ some type of plot structure to your novel, whether that be in revision or during your draft. And before all the Pantsers leave this blog post, this is less about your creative process and more about storytelling fundamentals.

On the other side, Plotters (don’t worry I didn’t forget about you) might fall into the trap of restricting the story to their carefully planned outline. This can lead to problems when sparks of inspiration demand a diversion from the charted path.

The reality is most of us fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, which—despite its murkiness—is a great place to be. Experimentation in your own writing practice is a key component to finding the balance between plotting and pantsing when writing your novel.

Which one are you? Let’s find out more!

Do you like meticulously planning out your novel? Do you need to know how it ends before you get Started?

If this sound like you, then you might be a Plotter. These writers thrive with a detailed outline and a plan for how the story will progress. Some Plotters plan out every aspect of their novel before they start writing, while others need only a majority of their ideas fleshed out. Regardless, these writers use everything from journals to spreadsheets to organize their novels.

Do you start your novels with no ending in mind? When you sit down to write, do you see where the inspiration takes you?

You are a Pantser! These writers allow the story to unfold naturally as they write. Without the restrictions of an outline, these writers often find unexpected plot developments and characters as they write their novel. While spontaneous, these writers might spend more time in the editing phase polishing their plot structure and story arc.

Do you feel like to have a general idea of where your story is heading, but leave room for inspiration along the way?

Alexa, play “Best of Both Worlds” by Hannah Montana. Both plotting styles have their benefits. What if you could combine them to reap the benefits of each? Some writers find balance by including a loose outline, which gives them both structure and flexibility.

At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong approach to plotting your novel. These terms are meant to guide, not confine you to any particular method. As you continue to grow as a writer, your plotting method may even shift in one direction or the other.

you guys would Not want me to feel left out right?

Whether you are a Plotter or a Pantser, the right editor will help you bring the principles of storytelling to your manuscript. The key is finding an editor who understands your process and can help guide you to success.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more craft knowledge, writing tips, and general meanderings. Happy Editing!