Outlining: On being a "Plot-ser"

Have you ever been block while you are currently in the mood to write simply because you're suddenly lost on track?

Well, I do...most of the time, actually. Take note, I'm not just talking about my on-going novel here but my entire blogging experience.

And I put the blame to myself, being a "plot-ser".

So, what is a "plot-ser"? I bet you find this word unfamiliar or probably familiar because you've seen it before in any newsletter on writing tips that you unknowingly sign- up with then you end up with that same question.

Plot-sers are writers who are both a plotter and a pantser which means, they write both with a guide and at the same time, freely. How is that possible? Well, it isn't hard to identify yourself between the two. If you find yourself thinking of an idea of what to write about or let say, what will be the concept of your novel and you head on to outlining, intricately meaning all the tiniest detail that you wish to appear in each chapters of your novel, hence, you are a plotter.

But.

Once you thought of a story that you've been craving to write about and you already have this complete visualization of the entire story: the setting, characters (and their roles and contribution to the story), the downfall of the protagonist on each chapter and the plot twist, that urged you to go ahead and begin writing without anything to follow, then, No doubt...you are a pantser.

However, if you've planned out a novel and you outlined each chapters, think critically on what the roles of each character will be, their back-story, the antagonist and its wicked plan to ruin your protagonist, and yet when you started writing your first draft to test how the outlined chapters will turn out, you suddenly thought of something that you think will create a huge impact on the story so you end up contravening your outline, therefore, you are a plot-ser. Like me, you create numerous outlines to make vivid details on a piece but as you go along the writing process, you tend to just abandon it because, either a sudden bright idea poked you or it's just yourself or your hand leading your writing to a much better storyline. Pantsers are good in determining whether their writing's getting worse or not so they could easily come up with a quick turn of events just to make it better. Of course, it's never that easy but pantsers have this gift of flexibility to just move forward once part of an outline just doesn't seem right because the story sticks to their mind. If you classify yourself as pantser, I think it is way easier for you to be a plotter, if you wish. 

Why? Because one of the cons of being a pantser is the tendency to get stuck along the writing process and the only effective way to keep going is to begin plotting your way out of the writer's block. That's when you become a plot-ser.

So do I.

I do blogs, like this one, and before I begin tap tapping my fingers on the keyboard to start, I make sure that I know what exactly to write and what would be the outcome of that certain blog and that is only through creating a simple outline which I never fails to do and FOLLOW except from that situation where all of a sudden, a better idea pops up my mind that I can't help but to accept and ditch my outline for a while.

The pros and cons of being a plot-ser to me;

**I will never get stuck. NEVER however, I will always be interrupted by my own mind due to excessive "bright" ideas (I really hope it's always that bright) that would eventually lead me to revert back on where I left once I slow down or get a little lost. Worst case scenario? Be more lost. (And it happened for, I can't recall how many times. Few of those pieces end up into my trash section, some has been successfully saved through thorough revision) **

Given these points, if you would ask me whether I should just stick to one writing method (plotter or pantser) or just be a plot-ser for life, I would say that it'd be better to be a plot-ser. First of all, being a plot-ser is my default writing method so if I would try to be a full-plotter or full-pantser, I assure you it'll be forceful. I might even get worse.

Just a single advice, whether you're a plotter or pantser, write freely. Let your hands, fingers and mind lead you to an unpredicted yet interesting storyline. It may sound quite foolish but I don't see anything wrong from just letting yourself be. Once you let yourself write without limit that’s the time progress and creative writing is easily perceived.