Here's How I Am Pantsing Through My Crime Fiction Novel In 8 Steps
Sharing My Current Pantser Process
Author Note:
I am going on a break from 31st July (Sun) to 15th August (Mon). I need to rest and recharge my creative batteries before I jump into the August cohort of Ship 30 for 30.
You can read about it, in detail, here.
"Art is standing with one hand extended into the universe and one hand extended into the world, and letting ourselves be a conduit for passing energy."
- Albert Einstein
Hey! I am new at being a pantser. I am learning as I am going. And since it's working out for me, I thought, why not share what my current pantsing process looks like.
Step 1: The Hook
This is not the hook you use on the readers. This is the hook that got you hooked to the story idea.
For me, it was my protagonist, Olivia Shaw. I could see her clearly in my head, and I knew what pain she was going through.
This information got me hooked and made me wonder what happened to her next. It must have been a couple of months to finally see a story form in my mind. I knew what her adventure would be and why she needed to embark on that journey.
Step 2: Start With What You Know
I knew Olivia had retired from investigating crimes, and I knew she would be forced to return to that old life. So I started writing about that.
As I write the current scene, I get an inclination for the next. Then the next. And then the next.
Slowly and surely, I am inching forward with the story.
Step 3: Letting It Flow
I have my bullet points to tell me the important part of the scene. But I have no idea what really unfolds in the scene and how it unfolds. I leave that to my creative mind.
My creative mind dictates to me what's happening, and I just type it out. I don't doubt, stop, or suggest something else to that creative voice.
My creative mind often surprises me with an even better version of the scene than I had initially imagined.
Step 4: NO EDITING
As I am writing my first draft, I have given my editor-self a holiday.
No editing until I am done telling the story. I don't need to make any grammatical or structural sense right now.
Step 5: Bullet Pointing The Next Scene
When I am done with the day's writing session, I make a bullet point list of where I see the story heading next.
Nothing very detailed, just who are the characters involved and what's their next action.
I fill in the gaps when I write that scene.
Step 6: When In Doubt, Add A Note
While writing my scene, if I find something that needs research or that needs more description, but I don't have anything at that moment, I will make a note of it on the side to visit it later.
I am doing this because I don't want to interrupt the creative flow from flowing my mind through my fingers to my screen.
I can always go back to those scenes and add in the fillers.
Step 7: Don't Worry About Anything Other Than The Current Scene
If I have a sudden eureka moment about a scene that could occur in the future, I'll note it. But I don't actively think about chapter 54 while writing chapter 3.
Step 8: Repeat Step 3 to Step 7
... till I eventually reach the conclusive and satisfactory end of my story.
It's pretty simple, really.