Plotting Versus Pantsing
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Finding a Writing Process That Actually Works
Every writer eventually faces the same question:
Should I plan my story before I write it, or should I discover the story as I go?
This debate has created two groups of writers: plotters and pantsers.
Plotters create a plan before drafting. They know where the story is going, what major events will happen, and how the pieces fit together. Pantsers discover the story as they write. They start with an idea, a character, or a situation and allow the story to develop naturally. Both approaches can work. Both approaches can also fail.
The problem is not that one method is better than the other. The problem is believing there is only one correct way to write. Writing is a craft, and your process is a tool. The goal isn't to find the method that sounds the most professional. The goal is to find the method that helps you finish stories.
What Is Plotting?
Plotting means creating some kind of plan before you begin writing.
For some writers, that means a simple list of major events:
The protagonist discovers a secret.
The conflict escalates.
The final confrontation happens.
For others, it means detailed chapter outlines, character arcs, scene breakdowns, and timelines. There is no single "correct" amount of planning. At its core, plotting is simply answering one question before you begin:
Where is this story going?
The Strengths of Plotting
One of the biggest advantages of plotting is that it helps you see the bigger picture.
Stories are not just a collection of interesting scenes. They need movement. Characters need goals, obstacles need to increase, and decisions need consequences. Planning ahead can help you identify problems before you spend months writing a draft that needs major changes.
Plotting is especially useful for complicated stories. Mysteries need carefully placed clues. Fantasy stories often have extensive worldbuilding. Multi-book series need long-term planning to make sure everything connects. An outline can help you keep track of all those moving pieces.
The Weaknesses of Plotting
Planning has its own dangers. Some writers spend so much time outlining that they never actually write the story. They create maps, character profiles, timelines, and worldbuilding documents—but never move on to the part where the story exists.
Planning is useful. Planning is not the same thing as writing.
Other writers struggle because too much planning removes the excitement of discovery. If every twist, conversation, and scene is already decided, drafting can start to feel like filling in a form. A good outline should provide direction, not remove all possibility of surprise.
What Is Pantsing?
Pantsing means writing without a detailed plan and discovering the story as you go.
A pantser might begin with a character they want to explore, a fascinating situation, or a single scene they cannot stop thinking about. Instead of deciding everything ahead of time, they follow the story and see where it leads. For many writers, this creates a feeling of discovery that makes writing exciting.
The Strengths of Pantsing
One advantage of pantsing is that unexpected ideas can emerge during the writing process. A character may make a choice you didn't anticipate. A small detail may become important later. A scene may develop in a direction you never planned.
Some writers find that this creates more natural characters because they are allowing those characters to surprise them.
Pantsing also makes it easier to begin. Instead of waiting until you know everything about the story, you can start with the pieces you already have and discover the rest along the way. Sometimes the only way to understand a story is to write it.
The Weaknesses of Pantsing
Discovery writing can also create problems. Without some sense of direction, a story can become a collection of events instead of a meaningful journey. Interesting scenes are not enough. A story still needs conflict, progression, and purpose.
Many pantsers also discover that revision becomes more complicated. They may reach the end of a draft and realize a character's motivation needs to change, entire sections need to be removed, or the ending no longer fits the beginning. Revision is always part of writing, but a completely unplanned story can sometimes require more structural work.
The False Choice of Plotting versus. Pantsing: You Don't Have to Pick One
The biggest mistake in the plotting versus pantsing debate is thinking you have to choose a side. Most writers are somewhere in the middle. A writer might know the ending, the major conflict, and a few important turning points—but discover the scenes between them. Another writer might draft freely and then create an outline afterward to help organize revisions.
Some writers plan their plots but discover their characters. Others know their characters completely but discover the events of the story as they write. Your process does not have to fit into a category. It just has to work.
Finding Your Own Writing Process
The best writing process is the one that helps you finish. If you constantly abandon stories halfway through, you may need more planning. If you spend months preparing but never begin, you may need less planning.
If your drafts become impossible to untangle, an outline may help. If your outlines make writing feel boring, leave more room for discovery. Pay attention to where your process breaks down. That is where you need to adjust.
Practical Exercises
If you are unsure what method works best for you, try experimenting.
Outline a short story. Choose a simple idea and plan the beginning, middle, and ending before writing. Notice how the structure affects your confidence and creativity.
Write without a plan. Start with a character or situation and write several pages without deciding where the story will go. Pay attention to what surprises you.
Try a hybrid approach. Plan only the major pieces: the protagonist's goal, the central conflict, the ending, and a few turning points. Then discover the scenes in between.
Many writers find that this balance gives them both structure and freedom.
In the end, the question should not be:
"Am I a plotter or a pantser?"
The better question is:
"Does my writing process help me create and finish stories?"
A method that works beautifully for one writer may frustrate another. The goal is not to copy someone else's process. The goal is to understand your own creative habits well enough to build a system that supports your writing. Stories are not created by inspiration alone. They are created by writers who develop a process—and keep showing up long enough to finish.
Next in The Writer's Workshop Series: Editing Your Own Novel
Finishing a first draft is a major accomplishment—but the first draft is only the beginning. In the next lesson, we'll explore how to revise your manuscript with a clearer perspective, identify what isn't working, and make changes that strengthen your story without losing what made it unique.
Comments