Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Blog Me MAYbe: Are you a Panster or a Plotter?






 So welcome to day 2 of Blog Me MAYbe! Wednesday is, May I ask something about you? day.

Especially in the early days of making writing something other than a closeted hobby, I spent a lot of time wondering how things get done. How do people plot entire novels? Personally, I'm 1/2 and 1/2. I start by being a plotter, and eventually become a panster having thrown the original plot out the window about a quarter of the way through.

If you're not sure what the difference is, here's a good explanation from Samhain Publishing.

So... May I ask something about you?

ARE YOU A PANSTER OR A PLOTTER?

15 comments:

  1. Great question!

    I'm a plotter, definitely. I have my pantsing moments--like, I will still go along with a train of thought, even if it's not in my outline--but I like to have a guide. Otherwise I'd never finish anything.

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    1. Awesome. I think it's great that you allow new trains of thought even if it's not in the outline.

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  2. Love the question!

    I'm a pantser who just happens to keep post-its that remind me where I'm supposed to go. The post-its sometimes get forgotten, but other times they are really helpful while I'm typing as fast as I can.

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    1. Oooh. I do love post-its. I tried writing with Scrivener because of the virtual post-its. But that didn't work for me.

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  3. Panster with a touch of plotter, I do know (in my mind mostly) some BIG events but I usually just type away without any clear path...:D

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    1. I often have scenes that I'm writing toward as well. I think I wish I were more of a plotter. :)

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  4. I admit it, I'm 1/2 and 1/2 as well. I always start off pantsing then part way through end up having to outline. I like to get the main plotlines down so I don't forget them. However, I have to admit most of my stories end up veering from the outline.

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    1. LOL. It's always so amazing to me that you plot in the middle after pantsing. It totally works for you. :)

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  5. I was always a diehard panster, but I am slowly, (nails dug into the mud) being drug toward appreciating and sometimes using the dreaded plotline. I still can't stay on track to save my life, but I have found that they do help in some cases.
    Sometimes.
    lol

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    1. I suppose that helps on the revision side of things. Being able to go back to a plot line and see how things worked out. :)

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  6. I'm a plotter, but I'm not really strict about it. I don't make outlines; instead, I jot down notes. I need to have a path to follow when I write, but if I try to get too detailed about it, I just stifle myself.

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    1. In a lot of ways I get that. I sort of have a plot outline, but usually by chapter two it's altered and eventually I become full panster. :)

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  7. Olah fellow gamer chick ; ) pantser with basic outlining.

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  8. I know where they're going I'm just not sure how they'll get there. xxp

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