Yin? Yang? Pantster V. Plotter

Laura:

How to Write Like a Panster

1. Pluck an idea outta the ether.
2. Think, “Gee, I could write a story about that.”
3. Create a character list (because, after all, you want your characters to have the same color eyes all the way through the entire novel.)
4. Just start rioting it down as it comes to you.
5. Feed the muse chocolate and caffeine as necessary.

Now, it should be noted that cobbling those tips together took me less than 5 minutes. Sherry, on the other hand, came up with 2, and IM’d: “I'll work on mine and see what we finally sum things up to in the end.”

Yes. I have visions of her pulling out her dry erase boards, charts, graphs, and post-its and planning her tips. Which is A-Okay. It works for her. (And, yeah, I’ll admit, I do enjoy teasing her about her dry erase markers running out of ink, I should point out that she enjoys teasing me about the predicaments my panstering sometimes puts me in.)

So, the eternal question: Whose way is the right way to write? The answer: YOUR way, the way that works for YOU is the right way to write.


Sherry:

Tips on How to Write as a Plotter

Challenged by this topic, and determined to give it my utmost consideration. I have compiled my list and attached it below:

1. Characters. After due consideration to determine appropriate compatibility and comparable wants and needs, escort them from the Character Lounge and proceed to the next step.
2. Eat Chocolate. After all, the above step was mentally taxing and you deserve something nice to recharge the brain cell.
3. Conflict. After observing the key characters for a bit, the crux of the conflict should be fairly obvious. Use the ‘what if’ and ‘interview’ techniques if this important component is slow to materialize.
4. Pondering Nap ® Do not discount the importance of a good power nap. It doesn’t always solve the issue, but it also certainly never hurts. Heh.
5. Assembly: Assemble various outline notes (there should be a copious number by this point), character sheets (of course you need to know their eye color. And their birthdate, and any particular food allergies), double check your formatting and move on to the next step.
6. Eat Chocolate. Because by this time, you are ready to put apply pants to chairseat, fingers to keyboard, and chocolate lubricant to the Muse.

Easy peasy. A snap.

These are my tips and steps for creating a new project. Different from yours, you say? Sure. Check out Laura’s tip above. See any similarities? (the chocolate parts don’t count, because eating chocolate as part of the process is a given). It doesn’t matter HOW you get there. Just get there. And bring your readers along for the ride, because that’s what its all about in the end.

Happy Writing and Happy Reading!