Plotster-Panster Combo Revisited

Here is a quote that I would like to share from Noah Lukeman:

…writers are often unwilling to sketch out the action or events of their work in advance; instead they progress by instinct, relying on either vague plot ideas or the characters themselves to answer all their questions. This often works partially but not completely, and can result in alternate bouts of progression and stasis (“fast” and “slow” sections), can result in a general lack of maintained progression and in an ending lack culmination.

 I hear you! This is what I like to call the Panster Method.

Panster alone ends in focus and progression problems for me. But using the Plotster Method (outline and details laid out before you write) alone ends in drab. Where is the fun? You’ve already told the story in your little plotting notebook. Where is there to go from there?

BUT if, you combine the two forces you can end up with something that needs very little editing and is still fun to write. I like to call it the Plotster-Pantster Combo. And by very little editing, I mean less wholesale yanking sections in and out and rewriting half the thing and end up hating it so much you would throttle it if you could. Instead, you end up just hating it. So, if you are like me and are going to hate whatever it is that you write by the time it reaches the ‘good stage’ anyway, try the plotster-panster combo.

So, you ask, what exactly is this plotster-pantster combo? Well, I am glad you asked. This combo involves a little work upfront, but still holds its fun factor. You need to do a bit of character work ahead of time as well as a bit of a plot highlights. Once you have the basics down–a foundation of sorts–you can go to town with your pantster writing. You’ve got the plotster part down, so go for it. You can always add a sunroom on in mid-build, but it isn’t likely that you will have to move the basement!

Yay! Let’s hear it for the plotster-pantster combo!