Plotting vs. Pantsing: the writer's debate

Writers disagree on a lot of things. Coffee vs. tea. Pen vs. pencil. But today’s question from a subscriber is possibly the biggest debate yet.

Jack Cuison

asked Flight Patterns: What do you think is the best way to write a book? Should I plot everything out first or should I just go with the flow and let my story develop?

This question is about the differences between plotting and pantsing (also known as discovery writing.) What are plotters and pantsers?

Plotters Vs. Pansters

Writers who plot everything out first are, in writing lingo, called “plotters.” They like to have a plan (outline) for their story. The Plotter often spends a lot of time preparing for their story, then completes drafts very quickly.

Writers who go with the flow to see where their story takes them are referred to as “pansters” since they write “by the seat of their pants.” They spend little to no time preparing for their story and instead research as things come up. The Panster’s story may take unexpected turns, take longer to draft, and require more editing.

To Plot, or Not to Plot…

To plot or to pants depends on a few factors including how extensive the project is, how much time you have, and how much writing experience you have.

For short projects, like short stories or even novellas, if pantsing is your preferred method, I say go with it. Pantsers often enjoy the process of writing, and short (fiction) works usually don’t run into the drawbacks of pantsing.

Novels and series become more unwieldy, and are more of an investment for both the writer and the reader. Pantsers risk running out of momentum on longer works, going down a dead end and losing time having to backtrack, or boring their readers with a long, rambling, incohesive story.

Time is another factor. If you are writing just for fun, with low stakes, pantsing is a good way to develop your writing skills. However if you plan to publish books traditionally, plotting is a skill you will need in order to complete your writing before your deadlines.

Consider your level of writing experience. Beginning writers tend to be pantsers, but as they increase in skill and experience, often become plotters. Very good writers who know the craft can get away with pantsing but often end up plotting.

Other Methods for Writing

Now, even though we’ve just talked about plotters and pantsers, there are a few options in between plotting and pantsing. There are writers that make outlines but treat the outline as a starting place, and are flexible if they decide they need to change the outline later. There are also writers (I consider myself in this category) who make very brief outlines and fill out the story as they go.

Even if you prefer pantsing, plotting is a valuble skill. A good outline to start with is the three act story structure. While some people don’t like this story structure, following it is useful because you will be able to put the emotional points in the story where people expect and are most receptive to them.

• Act One: The Setup

  • Exposition

  • Inciting Incident

  • Plot Point One

• Act Two: Confrontation

  • Rising Action

  • Midpoint

  • Plot Point Two

• Act Three: Resolution

  • Pre-Climax

  • Climax

  • Denouement

In conclusion, Jack, whether you should plot your book or go with the flow depends on where you are in your writing, and where you want to be. Some outlining will most likely be helpful, and if you want to write your book fast and avoid needing a lot of edits, plotting will help you out. If you want to take your time and have fun writing, pantsing might be the way to go.

Are you a plotter or a panster or somewhere in between? Leave your comments and questions below!