Plotters v Pantsers: pick a side!

[EmilyMiller]

This is the genesis of what became my novel. It’s a PM I sent to @Djmac1031 on Nov 13th 2024.

Nov 13, 2024

Two hundred years in the future…

Guy’s wife dies. He has an android created in her likeness, but a partly organic android based on her DNA. He knows it’s messed up, but he is grief stricken and it’s the only way he can see to cope. Then the android starts to have memories.

—

This is typical of my initial ideas. I developed it a bit further and wrote an intro, which is like 90% the same in the finished work. But then I realized that it needed some purpose and and ending. So I focused on that.

I wrote an initial version of the ending early on. Then my challenge was how to get from A to Z in a way that made sense and in which the events and actions of the protagonists were consistent with the world they inhabited and their natures.

I did this by writing a [kinda long] outline. Now I didn’t foresee everything. At times I realized that I needed to deviate from the outline. At times I figured out that in order for X to happen, I needed Y and Z to happen first, which meant adding a new section to the outline.

But, beyond these inevitable meanderings, I stuck to my purpose and to joining the narrative up with my pre-written ending (which I also revised as I wrote).

To me, this is a hybrid approach. I don’t plan every detail, but I do have a plan. I don’t slavishly stick to my initial plan, I adapt it as I see fit. But I always have a structure I’m working within. At no point (save before I envisaged the ending and then wrote the outline) was I in a position where, “I have no clue where this is going, let’s just write.”

I’d say maybe 75% plotter and 25% pantser. Then that might be different for another story, but I’m never 100% either extreme.

Like I’m writing a story with the lovely @PennyThompson at present which has much more pantser qualities (at present). But I’m already scoping out the ending and plot with her.

 

[IWroteThis]

No sitting on the fence in this one: two camps only. Which side are you on?

Bonus points for throwing a witty insult at the enemy. Although I suppose the plodders plotters will have to plan their insults first.

In case it wasn't clear: I'm Team Pantser!

I've found sitting on the fence to be uncomfortable, so I put in a gate. Now, I go back and forth freely depending on the story.

 

[CalBishForNow]

Pantser.

I usually start writing with a scene in mind. Maybe it's the climax and I only have a vague idea of how I'll get there, maybe it's the near the beginning and I only have a vague idea of where the plot/characters will go, maybe somewhere completely random. Before I "finish" the story, I almost always have ideas for follow-ups. Sometimes those will get written down in the form of an outline. If it does, it'll almost always be significantly edited before I get to the "end."

Maybe I should wait to hit "publish" until I run out of ideas for follow-ups, but (a) every story has a climax and conflict of their own so they're complete in that sense, and (b) where's the fun in that?

 

[EmilyMiller]

where's the fun in that?

Not meaning to single you out, but everyone has their own idea of fun.

As someone with an ND brain, the idea of simply letting the story evolve and seeing where it ends up is frankly terrifying. For me, much more fun to have a structured (but still malleable) approach.

The world would be more boring if we were all the same .

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Neither. I'm a plantser.

 

[PennyThompson]

Neither. I'm a plantser.

You need water and sunlight and you probably aren't getting enough of either?

 

[EmilyMiller]

Neither. I'm a plantser.

Plant-based porn? Like triffids?

 

[SimonDoom]

For those who think that plotting takes the surprise and fun out of writing, I would just analogize it to painting. When Leonardo painted the Last Supper, he didn't just put brush to canvas and ask, "I wonder who's going to show up in this painting?" He knew. But there was still a huge artistic challenge before him. It's the same for a plotter. I like knowing the overall purpose and shape of my story, and outlining and crafting it before I start. But there are still many surprises once I start writing. I write with an end in mind, and figuring out just how I want to get there is part of the fun and the challenge. Plotting means knowing where you want to go but not necessarily how you're going to get there.

 

[TheLobster]

When Leonardo painted the Last Supper, he didn't just put brush to canvas and ask, "I wonder who's going to show up in this painting?"

I know you probably picked this example at random, but I find it amusing you landed on one where there is in fact some speculation as to who exactly has been portrayed (John vs. Marie Magdalene).

 

[KittyOfSteele]

You need water and sunlight and you probably aren't getting enough of either?

Just because I'm Latina doesn't mean I need more sunlight! Dear God, no, the sunlight is too strong! I prefer to be on the shade.

I'm a succulent though, no water needed. Yes, I'm flirting only a little. Couldn't resist.

Plant-based porn? Like triffids?

...elaborate, because all I have in my head currently are threesomes between Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman, and Ivy is the one with the vines working them as tentacles.

E: *Insert David Lynch's voice* I swear, this FUCKING phone autocorrecting the pronouns now... GET REAL!

 

[PennyThompson]

I'm a succulent though, no water needed. Yes, I'm flirting only a little. Couldn't resist.

*Spritzes Kitty lightly with a misting bottle.*

...

*does it again, aiming lower*

 

[SimonDoom]

I know you probably picked this example at random, but I find it amusing you landed on one where there is in fact some speculation as to who exactly has been portrayed (John vs. Marie Magdalene).

I'm aware of that, but I'll bet dollars to donuts that Leonardo knew the answer before he started painting.

 

[EmilyMiller]

*Spritzes Kitty lightly with a misting bottle.*

...

*does it again, aiming lower*

Bad girl

 

[M_K_Babalon]

To quote Lisa Simpson - who would definitely be a plotter if she wrote - "I made a table. I make a lot of tables."

Pantser - 13

StillStunned
Sijopunk (commando panster)
BobbyBrandt
Anthodisiac
ADirtyPerv
BeechLeaf
CrookedLetter
_Lynn_
Ezoretta
ElectricBlue
Rob_Royale (by my reading)
M_K_Babalon
PennyThompson

Plotter - 4

THBGato
SmilingLez
dirk2024
TheRedChamber

Fence Sitters and Jokers - 4

Emily Miller
NuclearFairy
ThatNewGuy
designatedvictim

It's not too crowded where I am, but the company is good.

(Let me know if I've miscategorized or missed anyone)

I actually do both.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

A bratty cat girl dominated by a flower girl and an IT girl. Hey, @anthrodisiac , I found a sapphic story for you!

 

[PennyThompson]

Bad girl

*the intrusive thoughts win, and I spritz Em*

 

[PennyThompson]

A bratty cat girl dominated by a flower girl and an IT girl. Hey, @anthrodisiac , I found a sapphic story for you!

*spritzes myself in the face*

 

[Belegon]

Pantser.

I usually start writing with a scene in mind. Maybe it's the climax and I only have a vague idea of how I'll get there, maybe it's the near the beginning and I only have a vague idea of where the plot/characters will go, maybe somewhere completely random. Before I "finish" the story, I almost always have ideas for follow-ups. Sometimes those will get written down in the form of an outline. If it does, it'll almost always be significantly edited before I get to the "end."

Maybe I should wait to hit "publish" until I run out of ideas for follow-ups, but (a) every story has a climax and conflict of their own so they're complete in that sense, and (b) where's the fun in that?

this rings true for me...

I often have a scene or at least a line of dialogue I'm writing "towards" or away from... How I'm going to get there is the pantser part.

Sometimes I have more... my most recent addition to Lit grew out of three things...
one: when I lived in San Diego, there was a little coffee shop that used to do "open mic poetry night." I read several things there and I kinda miss it. the feedback was immediate and often very useful.

two: I had a picture in my mind of three college age girls. one blonde, one redhead. one african-american. I wanted to use them in a story

three: I had the last scene of the story in my mind.... Not the VERY last bit... the top of the stairs was a surprise to me. But in the kitchen...


This is that story I had a really difficult time with a title, so it ended up getting named after the Cafe. But there are more stories going to come from that setting. Shirley needs a story or two, for sure.

 

[EmilyMiller]

A bratty cat girl dominated by a flower girl and an IT girl. Hey, @anthrodisiac , I found a sapphic story for you!

Hey! Who you calling an IT girl ?

 

[TheLobster]

I'm aware of that, but I'll bet dollars to donuts that Leonardo knew the answer before he started painting.

I wouldn't be so sure; the man was weird. Like, did you know he thought humans have four arms and four legs?

 

[EmilyMiller]

*the intrusive thoughts win, and I spritz Em*

 

[SimonDoom]

I wouldn't be so sure; the man was weird. Like, did you know he thought humans have four arms and four legs?

View attachment 2606707

As a crustacean, you're down with that, right?

 

[txblush]

I couldn't write an outline if you paid me. Because I don't know to do one. But I'm learning.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

For those who think that plotting takes the surprise and fun out of writing, I would just analogize it to painting. When Leonardo painted the Last Supper, he didn't just put brush to canvas and ask, "I wonder who's going to show up in this painting?" He knew. But there was still a huge artistic challenge before him. It's the same for a plotter. I like knowing the overall purpose and shape of my story, and outlining and crafting it before I start. But there are still many surprises once I start writing. I write with an end in mind, and figuring out just how I want to get there is part of the fun and the challenge. Plotting means knowing where you want to go but not necessarily how you're going to get there.

Yeah, this. Panster will say I just write what comes to mind. That's how plotting works, too. I don't always know how a story is gonna end, until I get to it. I don't know how other plotters plot, but me; I have an idea, I think about it, from there I have scenes, and pieces of dialog, cliff notes. Then when I actually write, I expand, detail, or fill in blank spots. That's why I say plotting is pantsing. The process is esentially the same, just with an extra step.

I'm not sure how great an example this is, but it was the easiest layout to find in my phone for the story Subway Ride

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Hey! Who you calling an IT girl ?

Your avatar, obviously! I'm always fond of that pun though; it makes me smile to think about an IT who actually works at IT. That was kinda my first story here, so I'm fond of that vibe.

I actually sat on my pants for that, and didn't like the result. I'm plantsing a rewrite now.