Plotting and Pantsing are terms used to identify different methods of writing first drafts. Most people are familiar with plotting, and pantsing is just the opposite.
Plotting:
The creation of a first draft after substantial planning and preparation. The first draft is written from an outline.
Writers will think through every aspect of their story and create a detailed outline. Then when they sit down to draft, they follow the outline closely. This way, the writer knows how the story will end and everything in between. Plotters will also create character guides for what their characters are like and how the characters develop. Plotters believe that the more you think through the story before you draft it, the easier it is to draft, and the less revising you need to do. A problem with this method is that it could limit the creativity and the spontaneity of the drafting process. For example, if the writer gets a spontaneous idea, then the writer will need to stop and adjust the outline to match the new idea or ditch the spontaneous idea. If the writer chooses to ignore the spontaneous idea they may miss out on a unique or interesting twist to their story.
Pantsing:
The creation of the first draft by sitting down and just typing the story as it comes into your head.
It’s very, very messy process. Some writers say this is the way they get more inspiration as they get lost in the ideas. Some people shoot for a specific word goal and that’s when they know they are done. Others write until all the ideas are out and hopefully, they have a beginning, middle, and end. The problem is that the writer may have to do a lot of revisions and may end up with a first draft that has a lot of plot holes.
Which one is best?
Both. Each writer is different, and you may find that you are more of a plotter than a pantser or vice versa. The term ‘plantser’ is for a person who does both plots and pantses. But most writers are a little bit of both. Plotting and Pantsing are more levels than they are strict stereotypes. A writer may be 40% pantser and 60% plotter. A writer may need to fully world-build before writing a draft, but then they see what happens. Or a writer may need the characters fully developed with character arcs before they write, but they let the action be very spontaneous. Each writer is different, and the goal is to find what works best for you. To do that you will need to try different ways of getting your story on paper. Maybe try fully plotting and then try fully pantsing. Then try little levels of each. The key is when you get into a rut or you feel discouraged, don’t think it’s because you aren’t a writer or a good writer. You just haven’t found your writing process yet, so have fun trying new things and don’t let new concepts scare you. Even if you successfully wrote a story or book with one method, you may find you prefer another method later on. Don’t limit yourself and instead have fun and embrace the options.
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