All writers have their own unique ways of crafting a story. The creative process allows writers to develop skills over time, and with each project, writers hone these skills into a method that works most effectively for them. Experimenting with different writing methods is a great way to see what works best for you, especially when starting out.
Let’s look at three writing methods you can work with to find what works best for you!
The Plotter
You are a person who needs to know what’s happening in your story at all times. Every story beat, every plot twist, and character moment must be nailed down and set in stone before you start. You have your story organized on color-coded index cards, in a formal outline, or handwritten on legal pads. You won’t start writing until you are 100% certain that all your ducks are in a row and you are confident in your story’s path.
Pros
Being organized is an important part of the creative process, especially when developing a story. Having a roadmap from scene to scene and from start to finish can keep you on track and ensure that you will get to THE END sooner than later.
Cons
There are times when being meticulous and following the map are encouraged, but they can also stifle and harm creativity if used too rigidly. What you’ve written out is great and will get you to the endpoint, but if you don’t allow for a few detours along the way, you may miss opportunities for your characters and story to grow in ways you didn’t think of weeks ago during the outlining process.
The Panster
Always the renegade, the Panster likes to play fast and loose with their stories. They have an idea or concept and have no problem diving into the fray, allowing plot and characters to bubble up whenever moments arise. You look at a blank piece of paper or a new Word document as your personal playground where you can build or tear down whatever you want, whenever you want. Creativity is fun, and you are here to have fun!
Pros
There’s a feeling of creative autonomy that comes with this style of writing. Your gut is in control of where your story and its characters go. You don’t have the “limitations” of an outline or rigid story structure, and you can make immediate decisions.
Cons
Like many writers, you probably have had a great idea, jumped into it, then lost your way a few chapters in. Where is this going? Who are these characters, and why do they matter? You can quickly lose your way, get frustrated, and walk away from the unfinished story.
The Hybrid
Utilizing both methods, you can be the responsible adult (Plotter) and engage your free-spirited child (Panster). You’ve created an outline that leaves room for creative flourishes and detours along the way. Maybe something you have in your outline isn’t working, but a new sequence will work better. In a Hybrid setting, you can switch things out and around without losing the overall story structure (since you have the outline), but also have the ability to be spontaneous when needed.
Pros
It’s the best of both worlds. You can stay on track and know where you’re going but also live a little within the confines of the story.
Cons
If you are rooted in your Plotter or Panster ways, it may be hard to implement a mixture of the two. If you are a Plotter, give yourself a few scenes to play around with. Likewise, if you’re a Panster, maybe create a rough outline of the major story beats that get you to the end of the story.
Through trial and error, you can work to create a storytelling method that gets you where you need to go faster and more efficiently.
Final Thoughts
Figuring out who you are as a writer, your strengths and weaknesses, can help you fine-tune and evolve into a methodology that makes you a stronger writer and storyteller. Creativity should be freeing, but sometimes you need a little guidance to keep that creativity – and the story being told – on the right track.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
