Module 1, Lesson 3: Plotting vs. Pantsing
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an outline versus writing spontaneously?
Pantsers, you are my people. I, too, once loved getting to know my characters, throwing them into a new situation, and seeing where they took things.
Sadly this approach led me to many failure-to-launch projects that never made it past the first twenty pages. Now, I fully encourage my editorial clients to go through their ideas scene and create an outline before they sit down to write. If the manuscript already exists, clients aren’t off the hook! I encourage them to make a reverse outline, essentially a synopsis of everything that happens, so they can see a zoomed-out version of their story more clearly. To me, outlining is working smarter, not harder, and I’ve converted the whole Good Story Editing team to team plotting as well. Sorry, not sorry.
Hear from editors Kristen Overman and Amy Wilson as we delve into the hot topic:
“I’m writing a novel. Why should I bother with an outline?”
Kristen will discuss the benefits of thinking about the “tentpole moments” at your story’s beginning, middle, and end, and Amy will provide a bit of a different perspective.
The Plotting Problem
To outline or not to outline? Most writers feel passionately one way or the other. Some say an outline will kill all the organic creative juices and take the fun and discovery out of the first draft. Some say they need the characters to guide them, to show them where the story should go.
Perhaps the aversion to outlining is philosophical—it clashes with our lived experience. So often, we try to plan our futures, but rarely can see beyond a step or two of the path ahead. We might have an idea we’re working towards, but life takes its own unforeseen twists. When we look back, the road looks nothing like we’d anticipated when we set out. And sure, I get that.
But fiction isn’t real life. It’s life … elevated, shaped, made larger than itself. Which is why I think outlining a novel is worthwhile, even if we can’t outline our own existence.
“If you do enough planning before you start to write, there's no way you can have writer's block.”
—R. L. Stine
At Good Story Editing, we’re all firmly Team Plotting. I once had a client who said that outlining was great because “all the thinking is done by the time you sit down to write.” (Thanks for the soundbite, Erik!) I absolutely love that perspective.
For those of you who don’t know about the Plotting vs Pantsing debate, pantsers (because they “fly by the seat of their pants”) are people who just sit down, start writing, and the story reveals itself. Plotters, on the other hand, are people who make an effort to sketch out their story ahead of time, whether it’s just figuring out these kinds of “tentpole moments” Kristen mentions, or whether it’s beating out a rigorous outline, scene by scene.
My advice for new writers is to try your hand at plotting. Start thinking about what happens in your story—the beginning, middle, and end. Even if you don’t end up sticking to an outline, or the story changes as you go, that’s totally fine. Having a basic idea of what your story will be helps you get into the rhythm of writing because you know where you’re headed. It’ll also help you avoid the muddy middle that often strikes when writers run out of steam trying to get from Point A (the beginning) to Point B (the end).
When I do an outline edit for my editorial clients, I sometimes use this Novel Outline Template:
Start here and see where it takes you. Most of my readers know that I’ve been teaching the concept of interiority for years, and so this outline goes into character arc a lot, not just plot arc. (And if you’ve already drafted a project, don’t despair. You can use this framework to think about your existing draft. That’s always an incredibly helpful exercise.)
Learning from Writing
Some final considerations:
If you find yourself struggling with your outline or your characters are begging to steer your story elsewhere, don't let guidelines or the advice of writing instructors hold you back … including ours! Writing is a craft that requires ample time and practice, like any art. Don't let anything keep you from actually making progress. If an outline is going to get in the way, you can open a document and simply let your words flow!
About Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.
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About Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.
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