Life is a never-ending journey of self-discovery, and sometimes the things we learn about ourselves can truly surprise us.
I'm a planner. I love to plan so much that I even plan to plan (only half-joking here!) I love checklists and Excel spreadsheets and Gantt charts. I'm not too keen on surprises!
So, it makes perfect sense that I plan out my stories, or as some of my writing colleagues call it - I am a Plotter. A person who plans out the details of the plot, who knows what is happening in each chapter and can, if so desired, write out of order.
I never understood how someone could be a Pantser. In other words, someone who "writes by the seat of her pants" with no idea where the story is going or what's going to happen.
I completed my first manuscript in full Plotter fashion and was rather happy with the way it turned out. However, something was missing, and I couldn't put my finger on exactly what.
Then I began Wished and got writer's block. I knew what I wanted to happen. I just didn't know how to get there.
Someone recommended I free write - just write whatever came into my mind knowing that it would probably be chopped out in the editing process. That's when I learned - SURPRISE - I'm a Pantser. When I write in order and let the plot and characters take me wherever my mind wanders, sometimes I surprise myself. In Wished, Honey's love interest didn't even exist in the original concept for the book. Jackson was supposed to need a tutor until my mind determined he was Valedictorian. In Just Another Stupid Boy, Paige wasn't supposed to be such a weirdo, but I love her unconventional take on life.
As a hard-core planner, it was a little difficult to accept that I'm not a plotter, that when I plan out every aspect of my writing I lose a little bit of the spark in my stories. Now, however, I embrace it and can't wait to see what twists and turns each new story takes.
If only I could apply that same patience to the real world....
Oh well, back to my To Do lists and Excel spreadsheets.
I'm a planner. I love to plan so much that I even plan to plan (only half-joking here!) I love checklists and Excel spreadsheets and Gantt charts. I'm not too keen on surprises!
So, it makes perfect sense that I plan out my stories, or as some of my writing colleagues call it - I am a Plotter. A person who plans out the details of the plot, who knows what is happening in each chapter and can, if so desired, write out of order.
I never understood how someone could be a Pantser. In other words, someone who "writes by the seat of her pants" with no idea where the story is going or what's going to happen.
I completed my first manuscript in full Plotter fashion and was rather happy with the way it turned out. However, something was missing, and I couldn't put my finger on exactly what.
Then I began Wished and got writer's block. I knew what I wanted to happen. I just didn't know how to get there.
Someone recommended I free write - just write whatever came into my mind knowing that it would probably be chopped out in the editing process. That's when I learned - SURPRISE - I'm a Pantser. When I write in order and let the plot and characters take me wherever my mind wanders, sometimes I surprise myself. In Wished, Honey's love interest didn't even exist in the original concept for the book. Jackson was supposed to need a tutor until my mind determined he was Valedictorian. In Just Another Stupid Boy, Paige wasn't supposed to be such a weirdo, but I love her unconventional take on life.
As a hard-core planner, it was a little difficult to accept that I'm not a plotter, that when I plan out every aspect of my writing I lose a little bit of the spark in my stories. Now, however, I embrace it and can't wait to see what twists and turns each new story takes.
If only I could apply that same patience to the real world....
Oh well, back to my To Do lists and Excel spreadsheets.