I know this topic is quite common, but I think it would be nice to share my experience and thoughts. Now, if you aren’t familiar with the word pantser or plotter, I will explain the definitions. A pantser is a word that means a writer writes ideas but doesn’t know exactly how it is going to play out. And now the plotter knows what the story is about, the characters, backstories, weakness, goals, and everything else.
Long before I found there was a word pantser, I called ideas or sometimes people called them inspirations. I got inspiration from movies, music, and books. I even got some from being around people or looking at nature. During my first few years as a newbie writer, I used to copycat stories from watching Disney Fairies movies or Barbie movies because they were magical, imaginative and full of creativity.
But at the same time, it helped me find my writing style. I like to write a variety of genres. Fantasy was my favorite genre and still is. If it wasn’t for those movies, I probably wouldn’t know where to start. Before I started writing in descriptions, I wrote dialogue stories. I know it sounds lame but seriously it is the truth. I may add a bit of description, however, I barely had any. I didn’t know till I was told adding descriptions helps the readers to see the world through the eyes of the characters.
I don’t always call myself plotter or pantser because I thought they were both the same thing. It turned out they weren't. When I get an idea, I often know how the story is going to be about. I create a few characters, plot ideas and write out the story from there. That’s a plotter. Sometimes I have to take out ideas, but not all of them fit in the plot.
Before I started writing stories on a laptop, I would write ideas and stories in my notebooks. Of course many were really short. They were probably less than a thousand words. My first time using a laptop was when I was thirteen or fourteen. It was my older sister’s red laptop. I wrote a little experiment, writing one of the Psalms at my grandparents. From there I started writing my little stories on her laptop.
As I got older her laptop started having problems. I don’t think it has to do with typing. Well, it could be me typing too much. But it turned out it wasn’t the battery that was worn out. The internet connection wasn’t working either. We tried everything to fix the issue. I thought it was getting old.
Then one evening my parents said that I could get my own laptop. I did end up getting one. I was pretty excited. Even since I brought my own laptop, I typed my stories. I write all sorts of things. Short stories, a couple of novellas, two novels, and some flash fictions.
If you asked me if I’m a plotter or pantser, I can be both. I experienced both. It’s a blessing and a curse. I can’t say it’s awful.
As a pantser, it can be hard. It’s nice to have ideas coming here and there but when it comes to writing a story, I sometimes get stuck. I don’t feel motivated to continue because I don’t see the whole story. They don’t seem interested. Now, not all ideas are bad.
If you go to my homepage, you will notice the quote about the storyteller. I will write it to share it with you. We, as the writers, shouldn’t ignore the voice of the storyteller. We can control it after the storyteller is done with the story. Sometimes we try to control the story during the first process instead of letting the story itself tell you. We have the power to revise, correct, and all of that hard stuff later. That goes to pantsers and plotters.
Every writer is different. One might be a plotter without a problem while another is a pantser or other way around. Maybe both. It depends on the writer. I am not saying you should follow my advice. If you do, that’s great, because I think it’s the best way. I’m sharing my experiences in those areas. If you are both, that’s great. But if you are either one, no matter what, you are still a writer! Just trust your storyteller.
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