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Among writers, there is often great discussion regarding the issue of plotting a book out in advance versus writing, well, kinda by the seat of your pants. I follow both methods, depending on the story. Sometimes, I’m a plotter and sometimes I’m a panster.
My current WIP (tentatively titled Call of the Blood) is flowing really well for me, and in this tale, I’m being a complete panster. I haven’t written down my outline, I’m just going where the characters and scenes take me. I’m on page 287 of this story, with plans to hit page 300 by Sunday night. (Hey, maybe I’ll get lucky and make that page goal by tomorrow night!) As I’ve been writing, I’ve been telling myself that if the pages stop flowing, then I’ll sit down and completely plot the rest of the book.
I’m curious…since I follow both plotting methods, does that make me part of a writing minority? Or do other writers out there follow this dual method, too?
In other news…I’ve just gotten the galley for Caged Wolf and I need to check over it and get it back to my publisher. It’s been a while since I’ve worked on that particular story, so I’m looking forward to getting to know my wolves once again. 🙂
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I’m the same, Cynthia. The book that I’ve just finished I wrote without an outline until halfway through, when I got stuck and wrote a mini-outline. I’ve also written books with a solid 3 page outline from the start (I’ve never had more than 3 pages of outline though).
I pantsed my wip and had to gut the middle and rewrite it. Next one I’ll plot a little more, although I don’t like to do too much. There has to be room for surprises.
Have fun with the galleys. 🙂
Michelle, it seems we definitely follow a similar method. 🙂
I do like to have room for surprises, Edie. On my last story, I plotted it out after I’d completed the first 3 chapters, but then, I made a few “adjustments” here and there to make my surprise room.
I’m in there with you, Cynthia. I’m a total pantser. I usually have a vague idea of where I’m going with a story, but by being a pantser, I leave it so open for adding stuff as I think of them.
I outlined once and it went pretty good, but I don’t think its as good as my “free-flowing” stuff. Maybe its just the fact that it feels more free to me and the imagination can pull out all the stops.
But that’s just me. 😆
Ah, Liz, I love the line about your imagination being able to pull out all the stops! That’s the way I feel, too!