tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post986448447550793510..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: Accepting Your Writing ProcessNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-7729783063454715442013-07-12T18:01:49.875-07:002013-07-12T18:01:49.875-07:00I lean more towards the plotter side of things.
I...I lean more towards the plotter side of things.<br /><br />In all things, I think it's best to accept who you are, and be that, to the best of your abilities.William Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00331324250821836822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-37259779176864032042013-07-09T09:05:24.139-07:002013-07-09T09:05:24.139-07:00THANK YOU! This is EXACTLY what I needed to hear. ...THANK YOU! This is EXACTLY what I needed to hear. Maybe we need to start a club, Pantsers Unite!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17244475646807937843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-71092320598033306872013-07-09T01:30:25.390-07:002013-07-09T01:30:25.390-07:00Sounds a lot like my process, right down to gettin...Sounds a lot like my process, right down to getting stuck at the end of act one! Happens every time, and takes me a couple of days to move through! <br /><br />I also sometimes wish I could plan things out, and not have to revise so much! Good luck with your next novel, I hope it goes more smoothly.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05651744055513494283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-69305004616385205372013-07-06T15:48:08.644-07:002013-07-06T15:48:08.644-07:00I'm more of a pantster than I'm willing to...I'm more of a pantster than I'm willing to admit. If I showed you one of my outlines, you'd laugh because it's not an outline at all. It's a list of a few things that have to happen and that's about it. Yet, I insist I'm an outliner. I think I've been lying to myself for a long, long time.Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-86469183016708072332013-07-05T10:33:33.748-07:002013-07-05T10:33:33.748-07:00It's so comforting to hear someone else go tho...It's so comforting to hear someone else go thorugh this issue. I've been struggling with my pantser ways - feeling inadequate becuase I can't make sense of the third act. Somewhere I picked up the idea that I'm not legit if I don't plan it all out. But it's not true for me. It's not how I work. I love revising. That's where my stories come alive. I should trust my own process. Thanks for this post Natalie!Writefully Sohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16761211073195336714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-13744321873572828632013-07-04T01:19:57.618-07:002013-07-04T01:19:57.618-07:00I seem to be able to do both, for the most part, b...I seem to be able to do both, for the most part, but I am a pantser at heart. And I love the writerly abandon that it allows me. Of course, I quite enjoy revisions as well. Yep, I'm weird.Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-82568912103841677112013-07-03T07:43:09.849-07:002013-07-03T07:43:09.849-07:00Can't agree more, I keep my outline loose eno...Can't agree more, I keep my outline loose enough to give me space for discovery, but if anything came up that demanded a change in my outline -and this what ususally happens- I just change it, no big deal. But I can't function without an outline :)Haneen Ibrahimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02630051804744173965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-7834097573293879712013-07-03T05:56:46.824-07:002013-07-03T05:56:46.824-07:00I'm confused by everyone acting like diverging...I'm confused by everyone acting like diverging from your outline invalidates it. I've written everything from rough overviews to scene-by-scene outlines and I've never once written a story that stuck completely to the outline. I tend to see getting a new idea and running off with it as a good thing. So what if the outline breaks? I'll just make a new one. *shrug*<br /><br />Anyway, I see what you're saying here. I've been trying to completely pants something lately, and it has not been going well. Think I might have to give in and write an outline. Which means getting out my notecards and pens. *drools*Jennifer Recchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014278070823880063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-24599496365211900782013-07-03T04:06:34.463-07:002013-07-03T04:06:34.463-07:00I love my process. I spend weeks before starting f...I love my process. I spend weeks before starting filling my playlist with specific tracks and imagining scenes I can use. When I start I dive in head-first, then as the story comes to me the more I write, I take notes of the things that I want to have happen later on, eventually building up to the climax.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-56343568558757385722013-07-03T00:02:47.275-07:002013-07-03T00:02:47.275-07:00Fortunately, Cait, the whole pantsing/outlining th...Fortunately, Cait, the whole pantsing/outlining thing is more of a spectrum than an either-or. You'll find what works for you :-)Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-66208963589707989672013-07-03T00:01:21.215-07:002013-07-03T00:01:21.215-07:00I'm a half-and-half. I wish I could figure out...I'm a half-and-half. I wish I could figure out what DOES work for me, so I can stick with it. So far, I'm trying out all the different kinds and styles of writing, rewriting, plotting or not plotting. ;) It's messy. I always feel so encouraged after your posts! CG @ Paper Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14954615708675952085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-33586728681256960682013-07-02T23:16:01.785-07:002013-07-02T23:16:01.785-07:00If it makes you feel better, your pantsing process...If it makes you feel better, your pantsing process has produced at least 400% of the novels my super-structured outlining process has produced (and infinite% more published novels). Ain't nothing wrong with your process :-)Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-4691253945264117012013-07-02T20:26:30.787-07:002013-07-02T20:26:30.787-07:00I went through something SO similar last year. I ...I went through something SO similar last year. I spent months trying to write 2 books by outline and planning and organizing and...it all sounded so good to the type A side of my brain that wanted perfection! I tried to write a final draft instead of a first draft.<br /><br />Neither of those books are finished. I think I've so tarnished them it will be months or longer before I can go back. Then I finally scrapped my "write faster/better" plan and went back to pantsing. I'm so with you - I think I can beat the system or something. Really, I just have to trust that the book will be all right, even if it takes a sh*tty first draft! Daisy Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17735098333414333404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-61189777269839230932013-07-02T11:57:06.700-07:002013-07-02T11:57:06.700-07:00I know what you mean! I'm always trying to imp...I know what you mean! I'm always trying to improve my process too, but I can't help being a pantser (though I prefer the term "discovery writer"). Maya Prasadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13095006683729632047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-111480357098569072013-07-02T10:58:14.469-07:002013-07-02T10:58:14.469-07:00I'm an outliner, especially for what I'm w...I'm an outliner, especially for what I'm working on right now. But there are times I wish I could be a pantser. I wish I could sit at my computer and just write, but that never works for me.<br /><br />I love this reminder that all writers need to do what works for them! Thank you!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12268407996242055175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-44477382658378957132013-07-02T10:51:58.403-07:002013-07-02T10:51:58.403-07:00Great post! I can definitely relate to this, even ...Great post! I can definitely relate to this, even though I'd describe myself as more of a 'plotser'. I work to a flexible outline, but I hate the outlining process with a passion, even though I know I need it otherwise my draft will be a meandering mess! Sometimes I wish I had the patience to do a full outline, but whenever I've done that in the past, the story's ended up going in a different direction anyway! But you're completely right that everyone has a different process, and it sometimes takes a while to remember that!ELAdamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11390894357209056149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-91061372575740750412013-07-02T10:15:39.058-07:002013-07-02T10:15:39.058-07:00Oh Yes! we need to own our writing process. I’m an...Oh Yes! we need to own our writing process. I’m an outliner, I work by chapters, I need some points in advance, I need to brake chapters into smaller points sometimes in order for things to work, I can’t jump into a book without planning, it’s simply doomed to be thrown in the drawer, and still I need my space of exploration because I get bored easily AND my characters are VERY demanding and moody and-just like me- they must have their way, do I know this by now? yes. Do I follow it and save myself a lot of unnecessary trouble? NO! haha. Thanks for the post.Haneen Ibrahimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02630051804744173965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-43608166421045727522013-07-02T09:34:11.652-07:002013-07-02T09:34:11.652-07:00Ilima the even is NOT ticketed! Hope you can make ...Ilima the even is NOT ticketed! Hope you can make it:)Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-85021936992726138582013-07-02T09:30:59.824-07:002013-07-02T09:30:59.824-07:00So funny, because I'm the opposite yet struggl...So funny, because I'm the opposite yet struggle with the same thing. I'm a plotter, but sometimes I get a shiny new idea and want to just write and see where it takes me like a pantser...and it NEVER works. I either end up shelving it early on or have to stop and outline the whole dang thing before going on. Oh well, I've learned to accept my method, too. <br /><br />Do we need tickets to the Provo library event? I really want to go because I missed Elana's AND Jenn's launch this year. Plus I want a pop tart charm. :)ilimahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17899071063752311737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-81487197408491073292013-07-02T09:14:12.143-07:002013-07-02T09:14:12.143-07:00Yes! Thanks, here, too. Totally need to own my own...Yes! Thanks, here, too. Totally need to own my own process and stop wishing for someone else's.fairbettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-35621155816691991102013-07-02T08:45:25.508-07:002013-07-02T08:45:25.508-07:00It's lucky baby hedgehogs are so cute.It's lucky baby hedgehogs are so cute.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-81739868178985819342013-07-02T08:42:28.513-07:002013-07-02T08:42:28.513-07:00I actually really needed this today. Thanks! :)
C...I actually really needed this today. Thanks! :)<br /><br />CVCharlee Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10099462071003630195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-70971889671459685452013-07-02T08:40:58.654-07:002013-07-02T08:40:58.654-07:00Yup, even pantsers have completely different proce...Yup, even pantsers have completely different processes :) mine hinges entirely on character's emotional arcs. My first draft scenes look very clean/fleshed out, but I stutter through them, often not writing for weeks at a time until I know what they want next.1000th.monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16835988128285459745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-70736572719003652792013-07-02T08:40:22.221-07:002013-07-02T08:40:22.221-07:00Without wishing to sound distasteful or bizarre, I...Without wishing to sound distasteful or bizarre, I could use some of your pants right now.<br /><br />I tend to outline, believing that all I'll have to do once my master plan is hatched is to "know exactly what [I'll] be writing that day".<br /><br />Hmmm. Not happening right now.<br /><br />What all this tells us I suppose is that each new book is like a new baby hedgehog, and you have to learn each one from scratch.Whirlochrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09846196906206886945noreply@blogger.com