Plotter, Pantser, or Plantser?

Plotter, Pantser or Plantser

Don’t know what these words mean? Well, neither did I until I was inundated with writers’ language. Like any profession, or specialty,  writing has insider words. ( I will take up WIP and POV in another blog.) But one has to be prepared when someone asks, are you a plotter or pantser? ( I sure wasn’t the first time I was asked.)

So, a writer who is a Plotter, is one who has the structure and story arc meticulously thought through before writing the first draft. It may be a detailed outline or a spreadsheet. The point is, the writer-plotter has a clear road-map and knows how the plot will progress, beginning with the opening scene, progressing the build-up of tension, the climax and resolution.  (These steps are referred to as the story arc.) The cast of characters is complete and the writer knows how each one will react physically and emotionally to the events in the story. While plotters operate across all genres, these books are usually plot-heavy and require world-building. J.K Rowling, Dan Brown, and John Grisham are good examples of successful writers who fall into this arena. 

Pantser on the other hand, fly by the seat of their pants, so to speak. These writers prefer to let the story unfold as they write, relying on instinct and allowing for more spontaneity. Pantsers often refer to a ‘discovery approach’ to writing, confident that the characters’ personalities and reactions will drive the story forward.  A pantser is comfortable allowing the story direction to emerge and change. A true pantser doesn’t know what happens before they put pen to paper. (Boy, that’s outdated!) Pantsers create rich, emotional characters with various failings and let the story evolve from their interactions. Fredrik Backman’s novel, My Friends and Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden are good examples of successful pantser writers. 

All that said, Pantser to Plotter is a spectrum, and someplace in the middle is the writer who is now referred to as a Plantser. These writers combine elements of plotting and inspiration, allowing plot twists, changes in character dynamics, and surprises along the way. Plantsers have a general idea for the flow of the story, where it will start and (probably) how it will end as well as the role and personalities of major characters. However, they are willing to change the story (sometimes reluctantly) when a character does something out of the box, or a new character pops in which changes the direction of the plot or adds a subplot. In these books, there is often a new (often minor) character introduced late in the story that was not in the initial plan. Plantsers will tell you, “Where did that come from? But hey, let’s see where that goes.” 

This is where I fit in as a writer. I knew the Wind Chaser novels would be set in the Bahamas and both books would include a true, but perhaps not well-known, piece of history. I knew who the primary protagonists would be, and the basis for a romantic subplot. However, I did not know Buddy’s story (Kat’s brother in Uncharted) and what would happen to him. Nor did I know that Willow, a very minor character who turns up near the climax of Uncharted, would end up with a major role in Uncovered. I can’t tell you more without creating a spoiler. You’ll have to read the books for yourself.