Pantser vs Plotter

As someone who was fanatical about participating and beating NaNoWriMo every year (until shit hiteth the faneth), I really did become attached to the writing identity of a Pantser. For those who've never heard the terms, allow me a brief definition.

Plotters are those who plan out every scene in their novel, the overarching plot, the critical moments, as well as the perfect ending. They may or may not be the type of people to do in-depth character questionairres and know the backstory of even the most minor person that appears on the page. In short, a Plotter is someone who knows exactly what they're doing.

Pantsers know nothing, Jon Snow. Pantsers are those that write 'by the seat of their pants'. This means the story is just as fresh and new for them as they write it as it will be for you when you read it for the first time. Okay, 'know nothing' may be a bit of an exaggeration. Typically, a Pantser will be inspired by a song, a phrase, a name, what-have-you, and then it will spawn in the brain like a fungus. Little spores will pop up. A new scene. Interactions with a new character. A fantastic setting. What have you. Eventually, all the little spores meet up on the surface and the beginning of a story is born. The rest of the writing process then looks like a hobby farm of mold production.

In case you can't tell, I'm a Pantser, through and through. What you may not know is that I tried very hard to be a Plotter. And there are many days where I look at successful authors and bemoan my own nonsense.

Side bar: Success actually has very little to do with whether or not you're a Pantser or Plotter and everything to do with the amount of time and energy you have to devote to something. Do not feel bad if your time and energy is needed elsewhere in your life!!! Living takes a lot of effort. Making it to the next day is still a massive success. And if all you write is one word this week, that's still more than what was there before.

What I envy about Plotters is that they have a linear path. All of that preparation makes it so that they can sit down at the computer and go, "I need to write scenes f through i today," and then ... do it. They have a plan of attack! They are the supreme strategists who are able to crank out incredible, precise plots with engaging characters and heart-pounding intensity. I bow to their expertise, professionalism, and purpose.

Guess what I don't envy? Their writing process.

You see, the problem with knowing what your book looks like front-to-back before you write even the first word is that you never, ever get to experience it like the reader does. If there's no mystery for you, then you don't get the incredible shock and joy of watching something completely unexpected unfold on the page before you. There are not shouted, "Oh my God!" moments. No muttered, "You've got to be fucking kidding me." Not even the good, old fashioned, "Oh shit. Did not see that coming." The issue with always knowing the route is in losing joy in the journey.

I'm not saying they never experience emotions while writing! I'm sure they're eager to get to a certain scene or to write the big reveal. All I'm saying is that they'll never truly get to experience their novel the way a first-time reader would. And maybe they envy us that.

What I would consider my biggest flaw as a Panters–and the thing that disqualifies me the most from ever being a Plotter–is my inability to rewrite a novel in a timely and efficient manner. And if there's one thing I hate the most about myself, that is it!

You see, I'm so in love with my writing process because it feels like reading a really good book. (I've had twenty+ years to perfect my craft. I do actually love my own writing style, thank you very much.) What I also love is my harder-to-nurture editing ability to spot the problems and fix them. Depending on the project, editor brain can kick in quite early to the point I recognize problem areas and have the ability to fix them right away, or editor brain isn't even on the same train as writer brain, and it doesn't get on until the last station. If that happens (and it usually does), editor brain then has to look over at the entire length of track writer brain just traveled and figure out what exactly I just did.

This is where everything gets hard. Too often, editor brain looks at the track, the scenery, the passengers, and the entire construction of the train and decides that it all looks like a mess of coal and it needs to look more like a Japanese bullet train. Or that Canadian luxury train...

Anyway, if I finish a project and realize that I have to redo everything, then chances are my union went on strike and now the project is languishing on the wayside until some terms are agreed to. If worse comes to worse, we close the doors on some things entirely.

So, today, you get to have a list of all the books where I've finished the first draft (maybe even second) but still have no ETA on when it will be finished because we're still stuck in reshoots:

1. Birds & Butterflies This is a 4 book series that I began for NaNoWriMo back in 2015, I believe. All first drafts of all four books are finished, and were actually written back-to-back in roughly six months. (Writer brain was going strong.) Unfortunately, as much as I loved the first drafts, they weren't ready to be published and later revelations in the writing process meant the beginning needed to be heavily modified. I've been modifying for almost ten years... But this series is probably my crowning achievement ... or it will be when it's finished. So I shall continue to inch forward because I love it so.
   

2. The Bell Yard This one was an idea that literally formed due to the origins of the graveyard shift. It all came together so quickly and eagerly. But I also forced some things that weren't necessary, I overwrote a lot, and it's difficult to determine which scenes will need to be cut versus those that are more poignant. This one could be redone fairly quickly if I eliminate just the one side plot, but it could also take longer as I attempt to figure out what can then fill the gaps.
   

3. Ruina Star The concept, the characters, and the world in which this story encompasses makes it one that I'm eager to come back to. Especially since I've determined that it should be done as a duology. I think I'm more excited for the rewrite to this than I am most of my books, only for one critical change that transforms the whole entire story. Of course, that also means that the entire second book would be a whole new venture for me, so I'm also looking forward to that.
   

4. Claimed To be honest, this one is a good short story on its own. (If you can call 45 pages short.) That said, it could be bigger. A little more detailed. With more nuance and character development. And I want to give it that. Someday. Until then, it's tucked away for better days.
   

5. Believe Everything Every time I think I have this one juuuuust right, something feels ... off. My brain cycles through things like "it relies too heavily on politics and activisim" and "there isn't enough action" or "the plot is dull". To be perfectly honest, none of that is actually true if it finds the right audience. The problem is that I feel like I have all the right puzzle pieces, but I'm forcing some in holes that seem right, but are throwing off the whole picture. It'll take some time to get this one right, but I'm looking forward to the day it is.

And that's it. At least according to the Work List. Honestly, I thought it would be longer, but that's probably because of how often editor brain gets on the train before it derails entirely. So I do have multiple drafts going of other projects, but that's because I have to stop in the middle of one or the other in order to start again. Well, that's it for this round of nonsense from my head. As per usual, I couldn't remember to write this until the final hour. Goodbye for now.