Week 19: Plotter or Pantzer, and why?
Saturday. Six-thirty a.m. I missed the Linky deadline to post my blog link on the Marketing for Romance Writers Blog. I’m on my own here without the #MFRWauthor group, but I’m posting, anyway. Such is life. Therefore, my post for the 52-Week Blog Challenge this week is late.
My grammar checker does not like the word pantzer / pantster / pantser, and it certainly doesn’t like p-l-a-n-t-s-e-r, which is what I am — plotter and pantser. I’m spelling the word in multiple ways in this post. My editor will come through the screen to slap me if she sees this inconsistency. It’s all in fun for this post.
I’ve moved from being a one-hundred percent pantser to around fifty percent plotter. Regardless, I’ll always allow my plantser to do what she does no matter the percentage stated.
To give a short answer, I’ve become both.
Why?
- I plot for direction, tentative word count, to keep on track, and to make sure to cover all the basis needed to bring a story to the proper ending–the happily-ever-after, in my case.
- I write by the seat of my pants to give my muse free rein, allow creativity to run free, and to surprise myself with what might come next.
However, for an upcoming book to be published this year, I did something different. It’s a brand-new series, setting, and characters not related to my other series. I had to start from scratch with a new setting and new family. It also begins a new story bible for the series.
For the first book, I had to set it up and make plans for the rest of the books and characters. This takes plotting and planning, but it takes writing by the seat of my pants too. Oh, and I had a certain amount of elements to add because of a collaboration with other authors, which gave me more direction.
What did I do different?
Story Beats:
THIS TIME, I laid out a plan using story beats. My plantser does as she/he/they please with the story as long as the story beats are followed and met.
Story beats give me a road map. (I credit author Jeri Gold and her romance beat sheet for this.)
My pantser will always have free rein in a story whether I begin plotting or writing freely. If I don’t have a semi-detailed plan in the beginning when I pantser write, I will have one after starting a book. My goal at first is to start writing Chapter One to get the original idea in story form so I can see it on the screen in words instead of an idea in my head. This chapter one will go through multiple revisions, get moved, or even deleted. Even with using story beats.
To stay within a word count, I think almost one-hundred percent plotting is necessary and makes sense. When my plantser is writing, I aim for a rough word count, but this number isn’t carved in stone. I’m trying to write shorter books, which for me is below the hundred thousand count. A lot of plotters use an outline. I don’t. Plotting out each chapter and scene and sticking to it, doesn’t work for me. My plantser won’t be silenced, and I can’t say I mind. It wouldn’t be fair if I tried.
What about other authors? If you’re interested in knowing if other authors in the group are pantsers or plotters, check out their links at the Marketing for Romance Writers Blog.
If you’re a mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt or uncle, or a mom in any capacity, Happy Mother’s Day to you.
Enjoy your weekend.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
8 thoughts on “#AmWriting Plot or Pantzer/ Pantser/ Plantser? Week 19 #MFRWauthor”
D. Wallace Peach
I’m 70/30, Mary. Mostly a plotter. I don’t set up chapters in advance. Instead, I outline the story and let the chapters form organically. My plot controls the goals, the obstacles, the things beyond my characters’ control. Then the characters have to pantser their way through it all. The strong goals keep the character on track, even though occasionally I have to negotiate with them. 🙂 I love the structure of plotting, but I have the most fun when the characters are being themselves. A fun post! Good luck with the new series. That’s exciting!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I guess the more I think about it, Diana, I may be 60/40 with planning being sixty percent, which for me is a big deal since I used to sit down with a basic plan of where I wanted the story to go and just write. So I do plan much more than I used to. Actually, I’ve been doing something similar to story beats all along, but the beats are much more detailed and took more time to plot out though my characters have free rein to run.
I can see where you need a lot of plotting and planning with your books because you are writing the complete series all at once and have so much world building. I set up each book as I go, but each book has to plan for the next book in the series, as far as who the stars will be and what will happen to a new hero and heroine, and then to bring in new characters along the way. Isn’t this a fun job? ❤ Have a great week.
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D. Wallace Peach
It’s a blast, Mary. I love it. Except right now. I’m having a terrible time with my current trilogy WIP. I think I’m going to write a stand alone next year. Ha ha.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Haha. I’m tempted to write a standalone too. Well, I did write a short barely Novella size for Christmas if I decide to publish it. Not the same as a full-length novel though.
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Cathy Brockman
I almost never remember to link up LOl sometimes till Friday. I write mine over the weekend.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I usually start writing mine during the week, but by the time Friday comes around, I’ve forgotten to get back to proof it, but this time I didn’t get to it in time. Thanks for visiting, Cathy. Happy Mother’s Day.
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Teagan R. Geneviene
Mary, I’m glad to see another post from you. I was just about to email and say hello — and wish you a happy Mother’s Day.
It’s exciting that you are working on an entirely new story. I can’t wait to hear more.
Hugs on the wing.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks for the Mother’s Day wishes, Teagan. I’m still kicking. Haha. My book is nearly ready to go to the editor. Probably next week, but it isn’t coming out until October or November. Plus, I’m working on my ranch matriarch’s book.
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