Accepting That I Am A Pantser Brought Joy Into My Writing Sessions
Here's Why I Think Being A Pantser Is A Good Idea
I don’t plot things ahead. I just rub two sticks together and get the least little bit of heat, and then I’ll see where it goes.
— Pete Dexter
As I mentioned in my previous essay, I tried hard to be a plotter before realising that, in reality, I am a pantser.
I realised this distinction through one outcome.
I would feel miserable when I would try to plot my story idea and then write it.
Even though I have an outline in front of me, I would have no clue where I am going. I would feel miserable while writing my scenes. I could not help but wonder why I didn’t feel good about my writing. I had to force 250–300 words out, which all looked garbage. I cried and cursed my way through my manuscript.
But the moment I turned to be a pantser, I felt new light enter my eyes.
The writing sessions are a breeze. I enjoy every scene and action I write. Also, by letting my imagination have free rein during the first draft phase, it surprised me with scene ideas, which I would have never thought of but perfectly fit in the manuscript.
I now effortlessly write about 1000–1500 words per writing session without hesitation. Post such a writing session, you can find me galloping around the house full of contentment. I now look forward to and eagerly wait for my next writing session.
So what’s the key difference between the two situations? — JOY.
What I did wrong when trying to force myself to become a plotter was I wasn’t letting my writer soul free. I was trying to restrict it to outlines, scene cards and character descriptions to be productive and efficient.
My writer soul wants to tell stories. It’s the job of the editor soul to chisel it into a shape presentable to the world.
By trying to know every beat of the story before even writing (and living inside) the story, I got my editor soul to work with an empty manuscript. No wonder my editor soul became cranky.
Now that my writer soul is writing the story she wants to share, she is happy. She feels like a child playing in the park. My editor soul is standing there, keeping an eye, so I don’t hurt myself, but she is not interfering. She will come in when it’s time for my writer soul to rest. That’s when my editor soul will get to work.
It doesn’t matter who you prefer to identify as — plotter or pantser.
As long as you are enjoying the process of writing, you are on the right track.
Many writers worry that they can’t write their story if they don’t know everything about it. This can sometimes be not your creativity but your fear talking.
Before jumping into a serious commitment like writing a book, it is natural to be sure of the outcome.
But creativity, like life, is about swimming through uncertainty. That’s where the real treasure is hidden.
Don’t let fear lead your creativity. It will always end up in the dark alley.
Let your creativity show your fear of how incredible and surprising life and a creative journey like writing a book can be.
Creativity lives in paradox: serious art is born from serious play.
— Julia Cameron
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