It's been said that authors are divided into two camps: Planners and Pantsers.
A planner outlines her book. A pantser works by the seat of her pants.
I do a bit of both. Right now, I'm 25,000 words into Kiki Lowenstein Book #6. When I proposed this book to my publisher, I had one idea of where it would start and how it would go. But after giving it more time to percolate, I decided that I needed to follow up on the last book before I could move ahead.
Right out of the gate, I could see Kiki and the impact the climax of READY, SCRAP, SHOOT had on her. I could tell she wasn't the same woman who was my protagonist at the start of the series. In the first few chapters, I wanted to show how the constellation of characters around her had also changed. So I did.
I knew where I wanted to go, what dangers were ahead, and where each character was in his/her life journey, but after 25,000 words, I needed to orchestrate what would happen to each person and when it would happen. I also needed to figure out the clues and the resolutions that would provide satisfaction to my readers.
So I stepped away from my keyboard. On full-sized sheets of paper, I started flow charts, detailing each individual thread of the book, who was involved, what happened, and so on. When I finished, I had three major flow charts. I also wrote down the theme of this book, as all my books have a social theme. This one is bullying.
With that in mind, I reviewed the flow charts. Where did I need to emphasize the bullying? Where did I need to clearly delineate the bully and the victim?
Next, I cut paper into narrow white strips. On these, I wrote snippets of scenes, comments, revelations to characters, and actions.
What you see above it all those small strips laid out on my dining room table. Once I had them all in front of me, I gathered them into days of action, working to sequence them logically--and also to swing the action from one character to another for variety. Now I have six stacks of slips. From these I'll write the rest of my book.
Any questions? Thoughts? How do the rest of you write if you do?
14 comments:
Just make sure you don't have an open window and a fan blowing! lol
I generally plan loosely enough to put a synopsis together, Joanna, but my characters usually tell me the specifics of what happens next as I follow that synopsis. As always, you sound so organized!
I am a tried and true pantser. Look at all those cards--I say whatever works, Joanna!
I work with computer files, adding, deleting and moving as necessary. I have a feeling all those slips of paper would be a cat magnet!
Katreader, something like that happened to Jeff Deaver, so I've tried to be very, very careful.
Linda, the characters do talk to me, but so many voices in my head can be distracting!
Julie, I have tried computer files, but they don't work for me. I don't know why. I think I'm too tactile?
Mollie, they aren't cards. I'm too cheap to use index cards. Every time I try to use them, I can't write on them! So I use slips of paper. If pantser works for you, great!
I have used index cards on occasion, when a plot get complicated and I need events to happen in a certain order. But usually I'm a pantster.
Exactly, Monica! When a lot has to happen in a certain sequence, the slips of paper/index cards are helpful.
I got used to writing a synopsis to show my editor. Now I really like working that way. Things change as I'm writing, but I feel like I have a map.
Betty, I'm amazed at how much things can change even with a map. Somehow though, a map makes it easier to sit down each day, especially when you aren't feeling particularly "smart", and still be productive.
Like you, I start with an outline but then my characters and story take over and there I go, by the seat-of-my-pants. While some would suggest I stick to the outline, I've found I like the direction the story and characters are taking me in much better.
Great blog. I just joined and, as a new mystery writer, I plan to read more of your posts.
M.J. Macie
MJ, I don't think an outline should be a strait jacket. Rather, it's a road map that you can use to help you to get to your destination.
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