There are essentially two types of writers: plotters and pantsers. Basically plotters are exactly what they sound like. They plot and plan. They have an outline – a clear path. Pantsers on the other hand, write by the seat of their pants (thus the term pantser). Generally, writers are either one or the other, and there is an ongoing debate as to which one is more effective. I won’t go so far as to say better, for that would elevate the issue to new levels.
Do what I say, not what I do
I’m an English teacher – the kind who teaches non-English speakers to speak, read, and write in English. Have you ever thought about how complex the English language really is? I mean seriously – English has got to be the most ridiculous language on the face of the Earth. But I digress… I teach English. That means I teach people to be plotters. Essay writing is a process that requires careful planning, from brainstorming and categorizing to organizing an outline, to filling in the gaps with extra details. I make my students show me each step, because if I leave them to it, and let them pantser their way through, the result is a convoluted meandering of thoughts that has no focus, point, or coherence.
Outlining doesn’t come naturally to me though. I am a pantser, pure and simple. In all honesty, I don’t have an ounce of plotter in me at all. I try. I really do. Brainstorming is fairly easy, but anything after that? Not going to happen. My inner muse is as stubborn as the day is long. If I try to coax her in a specific direction, she’s bound to balk and dig in her heels.
How hard can it be?
So, as I sit each night this week staring at the writing prompt from one of my blogging groups Blogging & A Beverage, a branch of Gin&Lemonade, I come up blank. The theme shouldn’t be difficult. A sepia-toned fall memory… How hard could that be? I mean really, I’ve experienced 45 fall seasons in my life – you’d think I could come up with a single noteworthy memory. Right?
Ummmm… Nope. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
Actually, I’m quite impressed by how blank I’m actually coming up on this one. I even tried to ignore the poetic connotation of the sepia-toned requirement. It didn’t help. Apparently I have had no memorable fall moments sepia-toned or otherwise. Or perhaps it is simply that I am blocked by my aversion to having a theme set before me.
I’m going to go with that one.
Time will tell. This is the very first of our prompted writing projects, after all. In any case, as I sit here facing my third empty coffee cup, I curse you Lorna. You have crushed my creative confidence.
No.
That’s not right.
You’ve angered my pantser demon. Like any self-respecting coward, I must now let it flow unfettered, or face the wrath of inner turmoil.
It’s not you, it’s me
Luckily my demon actually loves the fall. The leaves turn gold then crimson, and the air takes on a sharp chill that calls for thick knit sweaters and steaming mugs of coffee. I can order hot drinks again without the raised eyebrows of the barista, questioning my preference for hot drinks even in the stifling heat of summer. Long walks through the woods suddenly seem like a good idea.
Once again I marvel that for all the feelings the fall evokes, I cannot coax a memory onto the page.
What happens if you give a pantser a writing prompt? Absolutely nothing – which is entirely the opposite of the desired result. I wonder what would happen if the prompt was anything at all…
I’m a panster too! I just happened to get lucky with this prompt because falling is my specialty, so it was more a matter of deciding what story to tell. The current prompt about fall foods has been hard, but I think I’m going to squeeze one out in the nick of time. I have been in that staring off into space trying to get my muse to eek out a blog post when it is convenient for me, and all that generally ends up happening is that I realize ten minutes in that I’ve been awkwardly staring at someone and now they won’t talk to me anymore. Oh well… 🙂
Ohmigosh! I totally know how that feels (suddenly realizing that you’re awkwardly staring at someone). My muse has been obstinate lately, locking herself in her cave and refusing to come out. I’m not sure what I did to deserve it, but I’m now 2 prompts behind…
Oh I would much rather consider myself a ‘panther’! Maybe then I’d get more done! I’m honestly quite impressed that I manage to get through each day without forgetting too many major events. Somehow I manage to come off as organized and well-balanced to the kids’ teachers, so I must be doing something right.
Oh dear…That was a first…It told me my comment was the S word…Was it pantser it didn’t like ?? Love this post 🙂
Forever a pantser…Loved this post although I am loving all the posts and not many are depicting autumn leaves…I can’t relate to fall unless it is me going for a burton…Autumn all the way 🙂
I love this post. I have been rolling it around in my head for days, being a card carrying, dyed in the wool, life long pantser myself.I just didn’t know it was a ‘thing’ I thought it was just me being crap. I absolutely didn’t know that English teachers could be pantsers, that is a revelation and I thank you for it
Sonia, I’m so glad you were able to find some self-justification in my musings! I bet there are a lot of closet-pantser teachers out there. One day we will be free to declare ourselves without fear of social repercussions! One day…
The title immediately hooked me!
Great post
Love that I was able to draw you in! Thank you for reading!
I always start by pantsing, I very rarely plot
This a prime example of what I do a lot
Occasionally I plan ahead, but pantsing is my curse
I let the story write itself for better or for worse.
Until I joined writing groups, I didn’t realize that my pantsing method wasn’t “normal”… I get scenes in my head and I write them down. I’ve started with a ‘plot outline’ in my head, but by the time I’m done writing, my characters have taken me in a totally different direction! I thought it was normal – maybe it is. Maybe WE are the normal ones! YES!!
Lord, no!! Anything at all would find me a week later, nails bitten to the quik, bits of hair about, and a blank page. Never ANYTHING!
Hehe…Yes, that’s about how I felt about it as the words slid onto the page!
Another panster right here
Yay pantsers! We need to stick together you know!
Fellow pantser over here!