tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post3699390548589329508..comments2024-02-21T05:25:03.233-05:00Comments on Adventures in YA Publishing: Question of the Week, 3/3/13 - Plotter or Pantser?Martina Boonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-89798294183237009662013-03-04T10:30:58.195-05:002013-03-04T10:30:58.195-05:00I'm so happy to have you back, Clara!!!!!!! We...I'm so happy to have you back, Clara!!!!!!! Welcome. And I love this question! I'm a plotser. I get an idea, write a synopsis or short pitch, then do a discovery draft which I laughingly call an "outline" and usually ends up somewhere in the 20K to 30K range, which follows the format in my Complications Worksheet. Then I examine that "outline" by creating a bookmap that considers the goals of each character in the scene, the scene outcome, and the change that results in the mc's circumstances as a result of that outcome.<br />Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-53568279877900472482013-03-03T20:14:35.903-05:002013-03-03T20:14:35.903-05:00I started out as a pure pantser, but now my plotti...I started out as a pure pantser, but now my plotting board looks like a war room with all my file cards and code symbols. All I'm missing are model ships and tanks. I must admit - plotting still gives me the chance to let 'er rip with the pantsing within the structure. Plantser mania.Leslie S. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122865337924270039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-14522660295243951752013-03-03T19:35:57.117-05:002013-03-03T19:35:57.117-05:00I'm like you, Clara. But my plotting is very e...I'm like you, Clara. But my plotting is very extensive, especially since I started using Donald Maass's 21 Century craft book. Geez, does that guy ever make you sweat. His questions about your characters and plot are tough but worth it. Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-1957857545217899092013-03-03T18:54:17.098-05:002013-03-03T18:54:17.098-05:00This last one, I started out as a complete plotter...This last one, I started out as a complete plotter and sort of slowly disintegrated into pantser as the story took some turns. Trying to right the ship is difficult!Rockethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15624569711289689258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-60016880535046625372013-03-03T17:46:37.484-05:002013-03-03T17:46:37.484-05:00Hi, Clara! I'm the opposite. About 80% pantser...Hi, Clara! I'm the opposite. About 80% pantser and 20% plotter. :P He he. I like the term Plantser!Lisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-15066930997913250092013-03-03T16:59:02.003-05:002013-03-03T16:59:02.003-05:00Wow, guys, this is great! Love the variety here: P...Wow, guys, this is great! Love the variety here: Plotters, pantsers, and plantsers. Keep the comments coming!<br /><br />~ClaraClara Kensiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739170567096747793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-71369567597926013602013-03-03T14:08:11.525-05:002013-03-03T14:08:11.525-05:00I started out as a pantser, but then I had kids an...I started out as a pantser, but then I had kids and my brain bandwidth narrowed considerably. <br /><br />Now I write an outline, but I carefully tell myself that it's more like guidelines than actual rules. I have to have the mental wiggle room to go let the plot go in unexpected directions, and the characters do things I didn't expect.<br /><br />My last story wound up with a completely different ending than I'd intended. I'd meant for my protagonist to wind up committing the murder--and then I found out a whole subplot about alchemists and the things they did, and my protagonist didn't have to kill anyone after all.Kessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15019626781634777336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-21039305279482702822013-03-03T13:42:17.619-05:002013-03-03T13:42:17.619-05:00Welcome back Clara!!
I'm a pantser at heart, b...Welcome back Clara!!<br />I'm a pantser at heart, but I've forced myself to become a plotter. I *know* it ends up working better for me, but it sucks sometimes. <br />Jan Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05581745380932671351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-29230741681117786642013-03-03T13:01:13.722-05:002013-03-03T13:01:13.722-05:00I am probably 90% pantser. It depends on the book....I am probably 90% pantser. It depends on the book. Sometimes I'll just have a character idea and roll with it, other times I know how the whole story will turn out, and sometimes I only know how it's going to end. I never sit down and plan ahead, though. I just sit down and write whatever comes to mind.The Magic Violinisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889060820055920735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-73396872970936320972013-03-03T11:26:32.460-05:002013-03-03T11:26:32.460-05:00I'm a panster. If I try plotting, I veer away ...I'm a panster. If I try plotting, I veer away from it anyway because it doesn't end up working with my characters. I know where the story will end up, but that's about it.Katie Hamsteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972086397849770691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-4880114225278658782013-03-03T10:31:14.785-05:002013-03-03T10:31:14.785-05:00I've panstered two ms so far (I do keep an ope...I've panstered two ms so far (I do keep an open notes file so I can jot down ideas ahead of the writing that I don't want to forget). I see the value in plotting - mostly in that writing a query pitch and synopsis would be so much easier if there had been a "plan" and I'd stuck to it. We'll see how far I can go plotting the next one - but my fingers do have a mind of their own!GSMarlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17558162486383585621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-32918375149223291422013-03-03T09:36:21.485-05:002013-03-03T09:36:21.485-05:00Generally, I outline my novel projects, and I pant...Generally, I outline my novel projects, and I pants my short stories. With the latter, I often think the whole thing out by the end if it was especially short.chihuahuazerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677672177353350936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-19317532732854865242013-03-03T09:35:45.424-05:002013-03-03T09:35:45.424-05:00I'm a combination as well. I've tried goin...I'm a combination as well. I've tried going 100% plotter with character profile worksheets, etc., but it doesn't work for me. I could never go 100% pantser either. I feel like I only have so much time to write, so I have to give myself SOME sense of direction or I wouldn't get anything done :)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14121018905141253640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-44804820818743237632013-03-03T09:20:38.934-05:002013-03-03T09:20:38.934-05:00I'm a pantser with an outline too. I like know...I'm a pantser with an outline too. I like knowing the overall arc of the story before I start, but the scenes themselves are where I find my creative kicks as a writer. When "The hero/heroine will butt heads" in my outline turns into a scene with the two of them facing-off on a samosa-making contest-- that's when the pantser in me smiles. <br />-SonaliSonali Devhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15161800632313347221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-50141868723019136222013-03-03T07:17:41.338-05:002013-03-03T07:17:41.338-05:00By nature I'm a pantser, but this time around ...By nature I'm a pantser, but this time around I'm giving plotting a try. My outline leaves lots of room for creativity and interpretation, but it's better than I usually have and I have to admit, it seems to be helping.Jess Schirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930756756945812094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-38455276517029232472013-03-03T06:55:36.608-05:002013-03-03T06:55:36.608-05:00Awesome that you're back, Clara. I had the sam...Awesome that you're back, Clara. I had the same problem being a panster for my first manuscript. I'm now about 50% each. I really just outline the key plot points and I have an idea of some of the scenes. But I can't outline a whole story out. I wish I could because I'm a really organized person at my job and I would have thought I'd outline my stories too.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com