As a writer, I’ve heard two terms—planners and pantsers—as a way to explain a person’s writing process. In many workshops, I’ve rated myself on that scale, and in those moments, I never knew exactly how to answer. I was learning about me and my process that I didn’t want to commit to only one of the writer types. (Here’s a secret: I still am learning about me and my writing process). 

If you’re new-ish to this world like me, there is no pressure to commit to a writing style. You are free to experiment. And that’s the beauty of writing. You can put down on paper whatever feels right to you. 

What’s the Difference?

Planner

As the name suggests, planners create outlines of their novels before even writing one word on the page. They detail the journey their main character will embark on, from start to finish. And while there’s capacity to make adjustments as necessary when they’re actually ’in it,’ the author, for the most part, considers all of the potential plot holes and consequences up front. Planners over think at the beginning; they conduct research and identify the best path forward. In theory, if a planner figures out the plot and direction at this stage, the writing—and more importantly the editing—will go much smoother. That is, as long as they start. 

Pantser

These writers, on the other hand, “fly by the seat of their pants” and let the story guide them in the moment. Very little (if any) planning is involved. As they write, pantsers let the character and the plot drive them forward, and they never exactly know which twists or turns will transpire next. There’s a certain level of freedom to this approach, but it could also mean a lot more editing will need to take place to clean up any plot holes. 

Plantser

What if you’re someone like me who falls somewhere in the middle of the scale? This type of writer may have a light outline they follow, but aren’t necessarily tied down to the plan set at the beginning of the process. The outline produced is merely a suggestion, and plantsers have the option to spontaneously diverge from their original plan toward something that may work even better after getting to know the characters.

Experimenting with Writing Styles

I’ve tried the pantser approach. I’ve tried the plotter approach. What I’ve learned is that I’m a little bit of both. When I experimented with the planner approach, I found myself getting stuck in a vicious planning cycle; I wanted the perfect outline and told myself I wasn’t ready to write until I figured everything out. It threatened my ability to actually start the novel. When I tried the pantser approach, it was in the editing phase where I realized that what I wrote didn’t make sense, and I ate up a lot of time trying to find the best path toward a solution. I need an outline, but I also need to allow myself the liberty to go offscript and try something I didn’t necessarily plan. Plantser is my writing style. 

A writing process is unique to each individual. There are many guides out there with tips and tricks, but I recommend finding what works for you.