As a author, the question I've been asked most by other writers is "Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?"
For anyone unaware of this phenomenon, a Plotter is someone who plans their stories out, while a Pantser just flies by the seat of their pants. << See what they did there?
I, however, don't like "this or that" categories; I need options!
So if you're like me, continue on to see which writing style fits you best!
Chaotic Pantser - What the hell is a plot?
Writes completely out of order and later struggles to connect scenes
Finishes the side fiction before the main story
Writes whatever they're excited about at the time
Rarely completes a manuscript
Neutral Pantser - Even I'm not sure what's going to happen!
Writes things as they come to them
Suffers from writers block 80% of their life
Not afraid to bounce around chapters, when they're stuck
Doesn't know the ending before it's written, because that's boring
Lawful Pantser - Dark and twisted roads lie ahead...
Writes everything in order
Ends up in strange places as the story develops
Spends hours researching a topic, but uses none of it
Knows random details that no one cares about
Chaotic Plantser - What was that amazing idea I had again?
Has an idea of the plot when they start
Never writes things down, because surely they will remember
Can't remember anything
Writes out of order and assembles scenes into a frankendraft
Neutral Plantser - Not how I pictured it, but it's fine, this is better.
Creates a brief outline before starting
Inevitably goes off script and ends up in unexpected places
Doesn't mind this because this is more interesting anyways
Promises to outline better next time, but never does
Lawful Plantser - Yeah, my MC is definitely an INFJ.
Knows the major plot points and uses the flashlight method to get to the end
Builds world maps and timelines as they go
Uses character bios; sometimes written, sometimes found online
Has definitely taken personality tests for their characters
Chaotic Plotter - I can't summarize it in three sentences, it's too complex.
Definitely has a wall dedicated to notes, photos, and maps connected with strings
Writes scenes on little cards and tries to organize them on a board
Places scenes out of order, but doesn't notice until final edits
Copy and paste is life
Neutral Plotter - You wont find a plot hole, I double dog dare you to try.
Writes an outline containing important plot points and the ending
Modifies and updates outline as the story progresses
Spends hours upon hours researching topics, even when it's not necessary
Starts writing character bios, but never finishes them
Lawful Plotter - It'll release in a year or two, I haven't even started the writing process.
Writes thoroughly detailed character bios
Organizes multi-page outline by scene, chapter, and sub-chapter
Plans for the story long before they begin writing it
Probably knows what color socks the MC wears on Tuesdays
Hopefully you laughed a little, while reading through these and thought to yourself, "Yep, that's me."
I consider myself a Lawful Plantser. I know where I want the story to go, I just don't always know how I'm getting there. An intense knowledge of my characters, however, seems to always guide me in the right direction.
Leave a comment and let me know which writing style you connect with most!
Lots of love and good luck to all my fellow indies out there!
Debra Leigh xo
