Are you an outliner or a pantser? I don’t know if there has been a study of how many writers prefer each, but I know there are many in both camps. You know the saying, “different strokes for different folks.”
But, before I go on, the definition of an outliner is a writer who creates a written (or typed) outline of the plot of their story. A pantser is a writer who creates the story as she goes along – no outline. The story unfolds as she is writing it.
If I had to take a guess though, I’d say the majority of writers/authors are outliners (plotters).
The reason?
Creating an outline of a story before delving into it provides a foundation. It’s something to build upon. It’s like a map. You mark out your driving route. You know you’re going from Point A to Point B. You see the highways, roads, and so on between those two points. And, they’re all written out in your outline.
It’s interesting to know that there are different kinds of outliners. Some create full detailed accounts of getting from Point A to Point B. Some simply have a rough outline of what the story will be about – possibly that John is at A and has to get to B.
Jeff Ayers (a top crime writer), in his article “Doing What He Loves,” in the May 2009 issue of the Writer, says:
“Outlining allows me time to think. Does this ever happen to you--you're in line at the market, some pushy person cuts in front of you, you mumble something ineffectual or stupid, then when you're 10 blocks away the light bulb goes off, and you think "That's what I shouda said!" Well, outlining gives me the 10 blocks to think of something better.”
I think this is an excellent explanation of why writers use the outline method of writing.
In the article, Ayers explains that he spends lots of time outlining. In addition to coming up with ideas, it allows him to get better acquainted with his characters. This more intimate knowledge allows him to bring them to life.
As I mentioned earlier, outlining is like using a map. But depending on how detailed you make your outline, it can be more like a GPS. It can lead you street by street from your starting point to your ending point.
Even if you run into a detour that was unexpected, as in writing can happen, you have a guided system in place to get you back on track. And, if it’s very, very detailed, you even know where the rest stops are, where to eat, where the scenic sites are, and so on. It doesn’t leave much to chance.
Knowing every step, every detour, all the characters . . . there is a comfort in this method.
I’m much more of a pantser, but I have used outlines now and then. And, it certainly does offer a sense of security. But, with that said, I love to watch my story unravel before me. I love to watch characters develop and move forward. This comes with the pantser method.
It seems though that no matter which style you use, it’s not a guarantee of success or failure. Gail Carson Levine has some good advice in regard to this, “Quality comes from word choice, plot, characters – all the elements [of a good story].”
Which writing method do you use?
Reference:
Outlining vs. Pantsing
This article was originally published at:
The Outline Method of Writing (Are You an Outliner?)
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2 comments:
I've been writing a novel (for what seems like forever). When I first started, I did a light outline, but mostly was a panster. I knew what I was writing and knew what I wanted to say. However, once the story grew I realized I needed to organize my thoughts. The "lightbulb" moment was when I got stuck in the plot. I ended up going back through what I've written, and began my detailed outline from the beginning. I found that it helped weed out the unnecessary events that were thrown in the story and helped pick out and include events that moved the story forward. I'm still working on it, but outlining is definitely helping me through the writer's block.
Jennifer, I think I would need an outline to write a novel also. I can wing it with being a panster for up to around 25,000 words, but more than that, you need structure. You need a GPS for your story. Thanks for adding to the conversation!
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