In one other life, I’m a author who meticulously plans out the whole trajectory of my e book earlier than I even contact my fingers to the keyboard. Once I sit all the way down to work, I discuss with the chapter define I created, which maps out each beat of the story.
So simple! So elegant!
Sadly, that’s not my method. My muse-dependent approach is what’s often called “pantsing,” or flying by the seat of my pants, and if I might change it I one-hundred % would. Typically, the top of the chapter means the start of a disaster whereas I wrestle to determine what’s presupposed to occur subsequent?
The opposite facet of the writing equation, being a “plotter,” is harder in the course of the preliminary drafting phases because it requires the author to conceptualize each twist and switch earlier than beginning, but it surely ensures a extra predictable writing course of because the narrative unfolds, and simpler enhancing.
I’ve tried outlining, however my greatest problem with it’s I really feel disconnected from the story if I don’t let it unfold naturally. I’ve discovered that outlining limits the serendipity I crave after I’m immersing myself within the writing course of. I adore it when my characters shock me, which occurred fairly a bit as I labored on my final novel, Unleashed Vacation.
I made a decision to ballot fellow author associates to see which facet they’re on within the plotter versus pantser debate, and their solutions had been illuminating. (However not all that stunning!)
Each e book has come by way of me in its personal distinctive method, however I often begin with a curiosity a couple of time interval, a subject, or a personality. Typically I define the principle plot turns too, however that’s about the one outlining I do on the entrance finish. Then I let the characters lead me. That does require extra heavy lifting on the again finish, however even when I’ve written a top level view, the story at all times forges its personal path.
— Julie Cantrell, NYT and USA Right now Bestselling writer and managing director of Story Summit
I needed to plot out my sophomore Younger Grownup Fantasy novel, For No Mortal Creature (Delacorte, Fall 2025) as a result of it offered on proposal, which meant offering three chapters and an in depth synopsis. For me, outlining was extremely tough as a result of I’ve at all times been extra of a pantser! Not that I utterly deserted my pantsing methods — the manuscript ended up deviating from the define fairly a bit, particularly the ending. I suppose, in the long run, regardless of my makes an attempt at being a plotter, I used to be by no means absolutely in a position to do away with my pantsing methods!
— Keshe Chow, Quantity One Sunday Instances Bestselling Writer of The Lady With No Reflection
I do one thing I name pondering writing for a very very long time earlier than I begin writing. I additionally look very exhausting on the three-act construction and paste out my e book by way of grand concepts after which begin to slender it down. I’m a plotter and a pantser as a result of I don’t have time to simply be a pantser anymore.
— Ann Garvin, USA Right now bestselling writer of Bummer Camp and founding father of The Tall Poppies
My course of is a hybrid of plotting and pantsing. I consider my plots in three acts and customarily know the way every act will finish, after which I’ve to jot down the story to find what occurs alongside the way in which. I begin with a synopsis that tells one doable path to get from the start to the top, however as soon as I begin writing, the plot usually modifications based mostly on contemporary concepts. The way in which I consider story could be very character-driven, so if a plot level doesn’t make sense for a selected character as soon as they’re extra fleshed out, I’ll change the plot to be extra in keeping with how I think about that character feeling and performing.
— Sarah Hawley, writer of Servant of Earth
I exploit a compromise between plotting and pantsing: the flashlight methodology. I create a primary plotline prematurely, however solely plan the person scenes after I’m about to jot down them. This retains me curious whereas writing, and permits me to comply with the story’s power. It was particularly useful when writing The Geographer’s Map to Romance (April eighth), which is filled with sudden explosions and about-turns.
— India Holton USA Right now, Indie, and worldwide bestselling writer of The Ornithologist’s Subject Information to Love
Again after I was a pantser, it took me so much longer to get my work into polished form, and enhancing was a huuuge headache. My first drafts had been at all times method too lengthy. Now that I define, each time I start a brand new mission I really feel like I’m ranging from a spot that’s to this point forward of the place I was. By the point I sort THE END, my work is extra polished than my pre-plotter manuscripts had been even after a number of rounds of revisions.
— Emily Krempholtz, writer of Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore
I’ve proudly at all times thought of myself a pantser, as a result of how might it’s enjoyable to sit down down and write every single day if precisely what’s going to occur within the e book? However I’ve modified my type. Now I’m a hybrid. I “pants” alongside for the primary bit, after which, after I know the character and the place the story is heading, I buckle down and plot out the center bits. It’s nonetheless lots of enjoyable doing it this fashion, and, as a bonus, it doesn’t take me so lengthy to jot down a e book, as a result of my major character and I aren’t aimlessly drifting by way of her home whereas she takes out the trash and runs the bathwater.
— Maddie Dawson, bestselling writer of Matchmaking for Inexperienced persons
I’m a really stable pantser as a result of I uncover my story as I write it. For all of my books, I begin chronologically, however find yourself going again to edit chapters if I determine to vary the plot. I often start my story realizing the ending (vaguely), and wish to determine how one can get there. Outlining doesn’t work for me as a result of generally I find yourself creating complete characters who weren’t presupposed to be there. I additionally benefit from the freedom of not having a top level view.
— Eve Chung, USA Right now bestselling writer of Daughters of Shandong
Earlier than being a rigorous plotter, I used to be a pantser, and located my drafts ended up being very messy with edits that felt countless. I used to be by no means positive my edits had been truly enhancing the manuscript. So now I’ve gone to the extreme plotter facet of the spectrum and my drafts are a lot cleaner. The outlining course of seems to be like this for me: establish the center of my novel, then fill out character sheets for the protagonists, adopted by plotting the beats utilizing Save the Cat. I get suggestions from my critique companions on my Save the Cat define, make edits, then it’s time to start out writing!
— Taleen Voskuni, writer of Lavash at First Sight