Plotter, Plantser or Pantser?

So, you want to write a book, now what?

How organized are you?  Do you like working from a shell giving you pointers and direction?

Do you like heavily detailed, fine information that will tell you exactly what to put in each scene?

Or do you “fly by the seat of your pants” and write when the characters talk to you?

As an author with a full time day job, I am the latter.

I also write only when I am in the mood and that does not happen that often or as often as I’d like.

I am not one of those that sits down every day and plans to write $1k before I can turn off the computer.  No.  That is not my style nor can I be forced to do anything I don’t want to do.  If I am not in the mood to write, nothing good will come of it. 

This is when you have to know yourself and know what you are capable of doing and what feels comfortable to you. 

If you are okay with writing every day then being a plotter or plantser might be your style.  These two have a basic concept of the book and an idea for the beginning to the ending of the book with scenes in between.  The only difference is the plotter has more detail to keep them grounded while the plantser can add their own creativity between details jotted down.

For a plantser, the ending of the book is not always known.  Most of the time when I write the book, I have an general idea about the characters I want to write.  I have a setting but little else is known.  I sit down and the characters amaze me with what they tell me.  It all works out in the end and it will for you.  Just know who you are and what style is best for you.

Happy Writing!