Plotter or Pantser? Season 2 Episode 6

Plotter or Pantser? The Djuna Shellam Podcast Season 2 Episode 6

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Well, first of all, are you a writer of fiction novels? If you’re not, the question is moot. If you are a fiction writer, knowing what you are may be helpful.

Plotters

Plotters outline their novels to some degree, whether loosely or highly detailed. They will know pretty much everything about their book, characters, plot… everything, from beginning to end before writing one word of prose. Furthermore, they’ll know exactly when to write “The End.”

Plotters are generally methodical, organized, and, I would submit, somewhat controlling. They are the masters of their fiction universe.

Pantsers

Conversely, pantsers do nothing of the sort. No outlining, chapter organization, plot structure… nothing in the way of preparation. Or, close to nothing, anyway. They write by the seat of their pants—thus, “pantsers.”

Some pantsers love the thrill of not knowing what comes next, letting the work speak to them as they progress. Others, reject the work of plotting for a variety of reasons. Because, plotting is… work. Depending upon how much you put into it, it can be quite a lot of work. Hard work. Plotting also requires patience—an abundance of it.

Pantsers run the risk of writing stories with holes the size of the Grand Canyon. On the other hand, they’re not bound to a particular route if another, more exciting and brilliant one presents itself mid-novel.

Middle Ground

Somewhere in the middle of the plotter and the pantser is the plantser. A writer can be a plantser who is more of a plotter, or a plantser that is more pantser than plotter.

There are heaps of articles about the plotter/pantser/plantser writer types—all you have to do is put in a simple search request, et voila!.

Now you’re asking yourself, is this important information to know? And, if it is, why is it?

Is This Important?

I think it’s interesting. As far as I can recall, I’ve not come across this plotter/pantser/plantser thing in the past (but that doesn’t mean I haven’t—I just don’t recall), but, apparently, it’s a thing. I do think it can be somewhat important if you’re not satisfied with your current writing method and are looking for ways to improve. I’m generally intrigued by other writer’s methods, and am curious if somehow incorporating their way of writing into mine might enhance my own.

In my podcast I mentioned the author Georgia Beers and her TikTok. You can find her HERE.

Podcast

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