Pants-ing vs. Plotting

Which one are you?

Pants-ing is the way to write a novel with no advance planning, or writing by the seat of your pants. Just sit down and start writing. Plotting, on the other hand, is making an outline first. Some writers have very detailed outlines, color code and cross-reference them.

I pantsed a full-length murder mystery during Nanowrimo 2019. I started writing with what I thought was a good idea, but when Nano came to a close, I had a big mess on my hands. Mysteries have a definite structure, clues that need to be dropped, misdirection, etc. My book was all over the place. My first agent, who was gracious enough to read my synopsis and the first three chapters, said she knew who the killer was in the first chapter. Dang it!

I rewrote it, sent it to critique partners, read structure books and rewrote again. Even changed the book from third person point of view, to first person. But sadly, it wasn’t right. The flaws were insurmountable, and I put that book away.

Knowing that there had to be a better way, I looked for an outline class and found Simon Wood. Workshops - Simon Wood. The class was fabulous! I’ve taken a couple of Simon’s classes and recommend them.

I took my new plotting skills and started a middle grade mystery/thriller. Let me tell you it’s so much easier! So, so, so, so much easier when I write a book with an outline. Until my characters decide they don’t like the outline and go rogue. Like a school bus driver with a lot to say. Seriously. How did this guy pop up in my carefully planned book?

Now I’ve decided I must be a plantser. Someone with an outline that sometimes needs to be updated.

How do you write? Just open a new document and get to it? Outline? Or a smidgen of both like I do? Or something completely different. Let me know. I’m always up for a new way to do things.

Until next time, Susan

What’s for dinner: White Chicken Chili leftovers. I love making a big pot of soup that I can eat for days.

What I’m reading: The Second Chance Hotel by Sierra Godfrey - a fun romancey, beach read just right to chase away the winter blues. The Dramatics by Michelle Cuevas. I LOVE this middle grade novel about the little theater you have in your head that makes your dreams.

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