#pantsers

[kimboo-york]

My book all about discovery writing (aka "pantsing") is out now!

At its core, By the Seat of Your Pants is a celebration of storytelling in its most organic form. It demystifies the concept of discovery writing, illustrating how some of the most engaging and captivating narratives are born from spontaneity and intuition, and offers guidance to those looking to explore discovery writing techniques. More than just a craft guide, it’s an affirmation for every writer who has ever felt constrained by the rigid frameworks of traditional writing methods.

#By the Seat of Your Pants #discovery writing #pantsing #pantsers #discovery writing techniques #writing craft #writing skills #creative writing #writing #on writing

[keyboard-squared]

Have I Discovered the Perfect Plotting Method for Pantsers?

Even pantsers need to plot, but what do you do if outlining isn’t your forte? My new favourite resource, Story Grid, might have just given me the answer.

Pantsers, where are you? Hooray for having no idea what we’re doing! That’s what I always thought being a pantser meant. When I penned books in my younger years, I never even touched an outline. I thought I simply didn’t need one – I could write a book from beginning to end flawlessly. But I’ve come to realise recently that I did have an outline in those days – in my head. I had the time and…

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#blogging #books #creative writing #discovery writing #fiction #fiction writing #genre #pantsers #plotting #story grid #writers #writing #writing community #Writing Tips

[embyrinitalics]

Really enjoyed this talk, “Finding Your Way Out of the Muddy Middle,” from the 2022 Escape the Plot Forest seminar. It’ll be available for free until this evening.

#writing #writers #discovery writers #pantsers #Escape the Plot Forest 2022 #Kat Caldwell #Finding Your Way out of the Muddy Middle

[guruwithin]

How to Write a Novel Without Plotting (Intuitive Pantser) >

Ellen Brock

There are people who can’t write without a structure, a plot.  There are people who can’t write within a structured plot. The second group is said to write by the seat of their pants and thus, have the nickname “Pantsers.” This video is for Pantsers.

#youtube #pantsers #fly by the seat of your pants #intuitive writer

[nopoodles]

I tried something

I tried writing out/filling in a beat sheet before I had a full first draft.

I've been having a little trouble getting new stuff down on paper lately. I've been taking my own advice to just write what comes to mind, to add a thousand square bracket summaries, and so on but it's been weeks now of this particular struggle (I know why, but it's still frustrating). So I figured what was the harm in trying to do a beat sheet, I wasn't getting anywhere anyway.

You'll never guess what happened (and this is for all those people who say outlining is the only way and nobody can ever write a novel by the seat of their pants), I managed to fill in only the pieces of beat sheet that I had already written. I slotted those plot points into their relevant places (the way I do if I use a bear sheet to check structure between drafts) and could not begin to think of what might go in the rest of the spaces, because I didn't have enough draft written to begin with.

People are often astounded when I say I can't outline. A lot of people truly believe pantsers are just people who haven't tried outlining, but I really have tried. I've tried it so many times because it sounds like it would make things far faster and easier, except it doesn't. Not for me. Instead I just sit there stewing about what is supposed to come next instead of just seeing what direction my subconscious brain wants to take me.

#i don't have a conclusion because this ksnt a dissertation i just wanted to share #pantsing a novel #pantsers #i know i just made a post recently about 'who are these people you speak of' related to a different issue #so just to be clear these people who say you cant write well without an outline are the hardcore outliners ive run across online #i dont name and shame if i can avoid it so i wont #i will say that theres a big name in self pub and self oub advice whyi is of the firm and repeated belief that outlining is The One True Way #despite having books i personally consider to be a serious mess #its not just her but shes a prime example of these kinds of people

[everythingunderthestarsthings]

What's your writing process?

Hello to people who still follow this blog (thank you so much, and i promise my content will be worth your time), and for newer folks who got here through hashtags, hello! Though my username says everythinganime, who i am as a person is so much more than that because humans are always multi-dimensional.

I love writing. I love reading. I love watching anime. I love tarot cards (still a noob, though). I'm into self-exploration. I don't know how to drive. I'm a person.

This post leans more into my writing practices.

I'm a writer. I want to be an author one day, preferably to a fantasy novel, but my writing style leans more towards coming-of-age genres.

I'm figuring that out, though.

My writing process is very haphazard. I write down stuff in a diary – ideas, random lines from songs that speak to me, character names, etc – and I have word documents and Google docs with my writing, whether it be fanfiction or original ideas.

I'm more of a pantser than a plotter, but I'm trying to lean more into plotting, since I always hit a dead end with all my half-pantsed ideas.

I'd like to know your writing processes. If you're a writer, do share! If you've always wanted to write, do share that too! It's an open forum.

(I'm very new to blogging.)

Peace.

#writing #reading #books #writers #authors #plotters #anime #pantsers #we all have dreams #writing community #love #peace #hobbies #passion #honestly im new to all this #first try! #inspiration #songs #writing process

[lifeinacartoonart]

Embracing Chaos: A Pantser's Guide to Crafting Compelling Fiction

Planning a story when you're a pantser (someone who writes "by the seat of their pants" without extensive outlining) can be a creative and fluid process. Here are some steps to help you plan a fic, even if you prefer to write without a detailed outline:

Start with an idea. Begin with a basic idea or concept for your fic. It could be a character, a situation, a setting, or even a specific scene that's been floating around in your mind.

Character Sketches: Develop your characters. Write down their names, physical descriptions, personalities, and backstories. Even if you don't plan everything in advance, knowing your characters well can guide your writing as you go.

Set your goals: Determine what you want to achieve with your fiction. Is it a short story, novella, or novel? What's the central theme or message you want to convey? Understanding your goals can give your writing direction.

Identify Key Plot Points: Instead of a detailed outline, focus on identifying key plot points or moments you want to include in your fic. These could be major events, conflicts, or turning points. Think about the beginning, middle, and end.

Create a Loose Timeline: Organise your key plot points in a loose chronological order. This will help you maintain a sense of structure without stifling your creativity. You can rearrange or add new points as you write.

Develop Themes and Motifs: Consider the themes and motifs you want to explore in your fic. These can help guide your writing and give it depth. Themes could be love, friendship, redemption, etc.

Write a First Scene: Start with the opening scene or chapter. This will help you dive into the story without feeling overwhelmed by the entire plot. As you write, let the characters and situations evolve naturally.

Follow Your Characters: Allow your characters to guide the story. As you write, pay attention to how they react to situations and make decisions. Sometimes, the best plot twists come from character-driven choices.

Embrace Revision: Understand that your story may evolve and change as you write. Don't be afraid to revise and rewrite parts of your fic to maintain consistency and improve the overall narrative.

Use Writing Prompts: If you ever get stuck or need inspiration, consider using writing prompts. They can help you generate new ideas and keep the creative juices flowing.

Beta Readers or Feedback: If you're comfortable with it, share your work with beta readers or writing groups. They can provide valuable feedback and suggestions to help you refine your fiction.

Stay Open to Change: Be open to making major changes if the story naturally takes a different direction than you initially planned. Sometimes, the best stories come from unexpected twists.

Trust the Process: Remember that everyone's writing process is different. Embrace the pantser approach if it works for you, and trust your instincts as a writer.

Writing as a pantser can be an exciting and spontaneous journey. While it may require more revisions and editing along the way, it often leads to unique and organic storytelling. So, start writing and let your creativity flow freely!

#writing resources #writing tips #writing community #pantser writer #pantser or plotter

[writingwithfolklore]

Making the Most out of your First Draft

As someone who used to write every first draft without planning and then use that to figure out characters and outlines, I have a lot of experience in first drafts that are incredibly helpful to forming an actual story, and drafts that don’t add much.

              So here’s how to make the most out of your first draft:

1. Write what doesn’t make sense

One of the most helpful first drafts I ever wrote abandoned plotlines and started new ones as though they had existed all along like several times. It was also the longest draft I had ever written because I had packed so many ideas into it. The reason why this is helpful is because you can test out what a plot point will look like in the middle or even end of your story without having to go back to the same beginning again and again.

It doesn’t need to make sense, just try things out. Disappear characters who don’t work, add a best friend near the end that acts like they’ve been there the entire time, whatever idea you’re interested in you can try out without worrying too much about what makes sense or what you’d need in place to set it up. It's like literally stream of consciousness writing, and you're going to learn so much more about your world, plot, and characters than trying to make it make sense.

2. Write poorly

I spent a lot of that first draft having characters monologue to themselves or each other about their interests and problems and lives which allowed me to explore their backstories and voice even if that’s not something I would do in a final draft. I had the wackiest plot points to see how my characters would react, what would happen to the plot, and if I didn’t like it I would keep going like nothing had happened, I did a lot of yadda-yaddaing over worldbuilding and setting the scenes and making up things on the spot to see if they’d stick, skipping sometimes to the interesting stuff, or adding in a random scene just for fun.

It doesn’t have to be good. Even a little bit. You’re learning about your world and your characters and the story you want to tell, but you aren’t writing it yet. Allow it to be the worst thing you’ve ever written.

3. Make notes on what you like

As you go through and throw spaghetti at the wall (figuratively speaking), make notes on the things that stick. If you write a line of dialogue you really like, or a piece of backstory or even a vibe, make sure to make a note of it somewhere. This will help you narrow down your ideas to what you want to keep when you start writing your story. And if you’re like me and you want to outline or plan your subsequent drafts, these notes will be invaluable to start forming your planning.

Anything else I missed?

#writing #creative writing #writers #writing community #screenwriting #writing inspiration #books #filmmaking #film #writing advice #first draft #making the most out of your first draft #pantsing #pantser #writers on tumblr

[starchaserdreams]

Me, writing 6,000 words today:

And then what happened???? *Type type type*

And THEN what happened???? *Type type type*

NO WAY. Then what??? *Type type type*

#fanfiction #fanfic #just writer things #just writer problems #archive of our own #writer #writing #marauders fanfiction #marauders #marauders era #dead gay wizards #starchaser #jegulus #sunseeker #wolfstar #all for you #kreacher saves regulus #thats the fic obviously #ao3 #pantser #NaNoWriMo #NaNo #93k in for the month some of it do be like this #jegulus fanfiction #starchaser fanfiction #wolfstar fanfiction #regulus p.o.v. #r.a.b. #Regulus Arcturus Black #phoebe's version of canon until it isn't

[jxsterr]

haha whaaat finish the fic youve been working on for like two months because you refuse to make an outline you say??! thats so funny anyway heres them kissing

#ill be freshly buried in my GRAVE when i finish this forbidden love fic #im a pantser i insist as i proceed to write one good page rawdogging it before getting stuck #im a pantser i say as i leave myself with more plot holes than PLOT #jester writes #(barely) #zelink #pre calamity #botw #legend of zelda

[kimboo-york]

By the Seat of Your Pants: Secrets of Discovery Writing delves into the uncharted waters of a writing technique often shrouded in mystery and skepticism.

It demystifies the concept of discovery writing, illustrating how some of the most engaging and captivating narratives are born from spontaneity and intuition, and offers guidance to those looking to explore discovery writing techniques. More than just a craft guide, it’s an affirmation for every writer who has ever felt constrained by the rigid frameworks of traditional writing methods.

Find out more at my website!

#By the Seat of Your Pants #Discovery Writing #Pantsing #Pantsers #Discovery Writing Techniques #Writing Craft #Writing Skills #Creative Writing #Writing #On Writing

[harringrove-heroes]

people commenting on my fics: can’t wait to see what happens next! :)

me:

#sometimes it’s days before inspo strikes and sometimes it’s years #fan fiction #ao3 #fanfiction #harringrove #writblr #writeblr #mine #pantser

[andypantsx3]

might need to share my fic premise for the omegaverse collab fic so i am publicly accountable. i went into this with no game plan this time, just vibes, and i have been struggling.

#pantsers howwww do u do this #HOW #andie.chat #tw: a/b/o

[so-many-ocs]

plot is for weaklings we write about absolutely nothing for 400 pages like real men

#/j /j /j #🌿 writing #writeblr #pantser #writers block #writer memes #writerscorner

[selenekallanwriter]

I actually do try to write outlines. But my characters just laugh and laugh and do whatever the fuck they want 😭

#writers on tumblr #writeblr #writing #writer problems #writing memes #creative writing #urban fantasy #am writing #paranormal romance #fantasy #writing fantasy #fiction writing #high fantasy #plotter #pantser #I actually did write an outline for the last book #But it became useless after like two chapters lol

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

Hold on I think I cracked the code behind why so many people don’t understand what pantsing/discovery writing is!! Intention!! Though pantsing entails “writing without an outline” (so much nuance there) it doesn’t mean you don’t have a specific intention behind a work! Intention can evolve but it’s like the guiding force behind a work & something I’m aware of while I work, even in the most subconscious of ways… intention!!!

#Rachel rambles about pantsing vs plotting again bc someone left me a comment & it reminded me of a tip a gave which was smart #ANYWAYY pantsing is a really cool and diverse process (not saying outlining isn’t I just don’t do that!) #& there are soooo many variations of discovery that I wish I could learn more about how others pants bc there’s neverrrr ‘ #<< ‘content’ abt that !!! hold on would ppl collab with me anonymously to talk about their process if you pants?? #& I could compile a vid of tips from pantsers??? I always only have tips from me LOL but would love to hear #from more pantsers!!!! there are a million ways to outline but where are the million ways to pants!!! #million ways to pants now?? million ways to pants WHEN?? #also this isn’t a versus pantsing and plotting holding hands rn