#pantser or plotter

[lifeinacartoon]

Embracing Chaos: A Pantser's Guide to Crafting Compelling Fiction

Planning a story when you're a pantser (someone who writes "by the seat of their pants" without extensive outlining) can be a creative and fluid process. Here are some steps to help you plan a fic, even if you prefer to write without a detailed outline:

Start with an idea. Begin with a basic idea or concept for your fic. It could be a character, a situation, a setting, or even a specific scene that's been floating around in your mind.

Character Sketches: Develop your characters. Write down their names, physical descriptions, personalities, and backstories. Even if you don't plan everything in advance, knowing your characters well can guide your writing as you go.

Set your goals: Determine what you want to achieve with your fiction. Is it a short story, novella, or novel? What's the central theme or message you want to convey? Understanding your goals can give your writing direction.

Identify Key Plot Points: Instead of a detailed outline, focus on identifying key plot points or moments you want to include in your fic. These could be major events, conflicts, or turning points. Think about the beginning, middle, and end.

Create a Loose Timeline: Organise your key plot points in a loose chronological order. This will help you maintain a sense of structure without stifling your creativity. You can rearrange or add new points as you write.

Develop Themes and Motifs: Consider the themes and motifs you want to explore in your fic. These can help guide your writing and give it depth. Themes could be love, friendship, redemption, etc.

Write a First Scene: Start with the opening scene or chapter. This will help you dive into the story without feeling overwhelmed by the entire plot. As you write, let the characters and situations evolve naturally.

Follow Your Characters: Allow your characters to guide the story. As you write, pay attention to how they react to situations and make decisions. Sometimes, the best plot twists come from character-driven choices.

Embrace Revision: Understand that your story may evolve and change as you write. Don't be afraid to revise and rewrite parts of your fic to maintain consistency and improve the overall narrative.

Use Writing Prompts: If you ever get stuck or need inspiration, consider using writing prompts. They can help you generate new ideas and keep the creative juices flowing.

Beta Readers or Feedback: If you're comfortable with it, share your work with beta readers or writing groups. They can provide valuable feedback and suggestions to help you refine your fiction.

Stay Open to Change: Be open to making major changes if the story naturally takes a different direction than you initially planned. Sometimes, the best stories come from unexpected twists.

Trust the Process: Remember that everyone's writing process is different. Embrace the pantser approach if it works for you, and trust your instincts as a writer.

Writing as a pantser can be an exciting and spontaneous journey. While it may require more revisions and editing along the way, it often leads to unique and organic storytelling. So, start writing and let your creativity flow freely!

[prosebushpatch]

As you can probably guess, I discuss Pantsing and Plotting and how I go about story planning. What about you? Do you consider yourself a Pantser or Plotter? Why or why not? I'd love to hear about your process!

[bangjiazheng]

Pantser vs Plotter: The Right Way to Write

[writerpolls]

*In writing terms, an architect is someone who plots out, plans, and outlines things before drafting. A gardener is someone who takes an initial idea and then just writes, seeing how the idea grows without specific plans.

Some people use the terms “plotter” and “pantser” (as in, going by the seat of their pants) for these writing styles, but I prefer architect and gardener.

[nondelphic]

starting a new project is basically committing to one of two equally chaotic paths. you either:

a) spend weeks meticulously outlining every plot point, character arc, and worldbuilding detail, only to abandon it halfway through because the vibes took you somewhere else entirely, OR

b) you raw-dog the whole thing, trusting your brain to 'figure it out,' and end up with a draft that’s half literary brilliance and half 'what the hell did i mean by this note that just says "cows are symbolic."'

either way, you're writing by the seat of your pants, but one path comes with a fancy map you’ll never actually use.

[vivsinkpot]

Plotting vs Discovery Writing: Should You Plan Your Story or Wing It?

Ah, the age-old writer’s dilemma:

Do you map every scene like a tactician drawing battle plans — or dive in with nothing but vibes and a chaotic sense of adventure?

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of both approaches — and why the real magic might lie somewhere in between. 🖋️

Plotting (Outlining / Planning)

Pros:

✔️ Clear direction – You know where you’re going. No getting lost in the woods.

✔️ Foreshadowing magic – You can plant clues, callbacks, and payoff arcs with confidence.

✔️ Fewer plot holes – A roadmap helps spot inconsistencies early.

✔️ Less panic during writing – You’ve already solved some of the hardest narrative problems.

Cons:

✖️ It can feel rigid – The story may resist your outline or outgrow it.

✖️ Planning fatigue – You might lose momentum before the writing even begins.

✖️ Less room for surprise – Characters can feel boxed in by pre-decided fates.

✖️ Too much structure can kill discovery – Sometimes the magic is in what you didn’t see coming.

Discovery Writing (Pantsing / Writing as You Go)

Pros:

✔️ Creative freedom – You’re exploring in real time. Characters can surprise you.

✔️ Organic pacing – The story flows from instinct and mood.

✔️ Emotional authenticity – Moments feel raw, fresh, and true to how they unfolded.

✔️ Writing is more exciting – You’re discovering the story as a reader would.

Cons:

✖️ You might write into a corner – Plot knots are harder to untangle without a plan.

✖️ Revision may be intense – You’ll likely need more editing to fix structure, foreshadowing, and pacing.

✖️ Themes may be muddled – Without direction, your story can lose its core.

✖️ Momentum stalls – Getting stuck is common if you don’t know what happens next.

The Hybrid Approach (A Little Bit of Both)

Plot the skeleton. Discover the heart.

Many writers outline broad strokes (major beats, ending, key twists), but leave space to discover the emotional or interpersonal journey as they write.

You might:

Write a chapter, then outline the next.

Plan major events, but improvise how characters get there.

Start as a pantser, then reverse-outline what you’ve done.

There’s no “right” way — just the one that keeps you writing and enjoying your craft.

Final Thought:

Plotting is a compass.

Pantsing is a storm.

Every writer’s ship sails differently — but the goal is the same: reach the end, and love the journey.

[chaoticwritermind]

Have I Secretly Been a Pantser The Whole Time?!?!?

For the first time, in a long time, I have been writing consistently. Where did this come from? Did I have this ability the whole time?

I have had 'writer's block' FOR YEARS!!!! It was really debilitating. It made me feel frustrated, awful, like a loser, like I wasn't actually meant to be an author, which was very crushing because I have stories in my head that WILL NOT SHUT UP!! I thought I'd go insane from my lack of being able to write and the incessant noise of the stories in my head.

Recently, I wrote a 100 word scenario and posted it to a social media I have and one follower that I have been getting close too said they couldn't get the scenario out of their mind and wondered if I would want to continue the story with him. Like, I write one part and then he writes one part.

I was worried obviously because I've had writer's block for so long but I thought, "Fuck it! Let's give it a try."

To my absolute surprise, I was WRITING!!!! Who am I? Since when could I do this? Is it because I have a writing partner? Could it be because someone was waiting on me so that they could continue to write their part? Was it because I got feed back immediately? Is it because I am not planning the story out at all? I just straight up pantsed it! Pantsed! Me, a pantser ?!?!

I don't fucking know. But I'm interested in seeing how this new way of writing will work in my stories. Will it work? Will I choke again?

Regardless, I have agreed to write another story with my social media friend. It's casual, no pressure, just for fun. The best part of the writing that I've recently done is that it's actually good!!

I hope this new writer in me will stick around and I'd actually be able to get these stories out of my head and into the world.

I want to be a published indie author, while also making a living off it. I have so many stories to tell and value to give.

[thingsthatcometomymindwheniwrite]

how it feels being a Plotter having Pantser friends only

[kaylas-words]

Plotting or pantsing? - Writing for the "AAAH!" moments

I write for the scenes that make me grab my chest—the drama, the fuzzy, heartwarming moments, and the ideas that make me open a fresh document and write "AAAH! What if—" across the top.

At some point, I order these scenes relative to each other, and I call that my outline. Then I work forwards and backwards from each point, bridging the gaps as best I can.

Sometimes, though, I just can't think of what goes in between two scenes.

That's when I turn to my draft.

All I need is enough of an idea to write out the next chapter, and then I have a new vantage point to work from. Often, that's enough.

Sometimes, I pause mid-chapter, mid-dialog, feeling... considering... "What if that door bursts open right now? Wh—WHAT IF—AAAH!" (You get the point.)

And my outline, with its gaps, lets me try it.

I outline for structure, the themes, the arcs, the general order of things as I discover them. I write from the seat of my pants—be that drafting or brainstorming—to do the rest.

When one method fails me, I turn to the other.

And when both fail me? Come morning alarm on a given weekend, I stack up two hours' worth of 10-minute-snooze button presses, launching me into a hallucinatory state where I'm awake but asleep but awake and maybe I can steer this and how about that scene I was working on, and mmm—MMM... Maybe I'll accept that I'm just burnt out.

Because resting your mind is a part of the process, too.

And then it's time to read a book.

[skyfallscotland]

@justallihere: you know it doesn't need to have a whole plot, right? it can be just vibes

me:

[we-are-ignited]

Question for fellow writers

(Especially if you struggle with demand avoidance or similar issues)

Is “Save the Cat” ACTUALLY good?

Look, I know, everybody recommends it. The writing craft has rules and structures that work for a reason.

That being said, everybody recommending it makes me not want to pick it up. Why would I want to follow the exact same beat pattern as everybody else? I feel like this is why some books lose unique feelings in terms of structure and set up.

Logically, I don’t recognize that issue as much as a reader. As a writer, my brain just can’t get past the hurdle.

I feel like personal, specific opinions and advice will help me to either get over the feeling (or feel justified, depending on the response).

Any and all responses would be lovely! Tell me if it’s amazing, if I’m thinking of it too literally, or if it’s not something you enjoy at all.

[azus-reyan]

Are you a planner, a pantser, or something else? 

If you like to jump into your story without much preparation and deliberation, you’re a farmer or pantser.

If you prefer to put all the necessary elements in a pot, then organize, sift through, and have everything at the ready long before you put a word of your story on paper—you’re a planner,  plotter, or architect.

If you do a bit of both, a note here, a note there, but jumping in before it gets too technical to keep up with, you’re a plantser.

If you think you’re something else entirely, let me know.

[grapelollipopenthusiast]

Some advice as a discovery writer is to outline.

I update my outline after every scene because I make everything up as I go and change everything, but I need to know where I'm going in order to know how to start a scene.

Only do the major plot beats if you really can't outline, but try it. Some benefits may include:

Strong pacing

Confidence in scenes

Knowing your subplots

Foreshadowing

Less editing

Less writer's block/easier to overcome

It can also take a bit of practice and finding what works best for you, writing doesn't have rules.

[selenekallanwriter]

I actually do try to write outlines. But my characters just laugh and laugh and do whatever the fuck they want 😭

[rickie-the-storyteller]

I did the Author Type Test!

Link here.

I'm basically right in the middle.

Makes sense... I mean, I never knew whether to call myself a plotter or pantser, since my approach has always been a good mixture of both. I like having a plan and basic idea of where I want my stories to go, but I also put a lot of emphasis on developing my characters, and what they want to do isn't necessarily what I plan for them to do lol. I tend to just write what feels the most right for them in the end, even if it doesn't line up with what I had in mind to begin with.

This is so interesting, though!

Tagging some people to try this next if they haven't already (but this is also open for anyone to try out if they want!): @mysticstarlightduck, @jay-avian, @beginning-of-wisdom, @winterandwords and @kaylinalexanderbooks.

[seaglasswrites]

Daily Discussion Thread #3 (1/3/25)

When it comes to differentiating between Plotters and Pantsers, which would you say is the “best” way to write? Is it more important to have a good idea of where your story is going, or to actually write the story?

If you could only choose one of these writing styles, which would you choose, and why? Which would you say you currently fall into, and is that option the one you chose? Why or why not?