Pantser Or Planner - Why Not Both?

The best of both worlds

Many writers find that using a combination of "pantsing" and planning can help them achieve their writing goals in a productive way. I spent months developing my first full length manuscript. When it finally came time to actually put my fingertips to the keyboard, I found myself using “jazz hands” - in other words, despite the painstaking note-taking, I still came up with a lot of story details and

dialogue on the fly. The end result was a well-rounded book full of intriguing moments.

Here are a few ideas for how to incorporate both methods into your writing process:

Start with brainstorming and free writing, allowing yourself to write without any structure or outline. This can help you generate ideas and get your creative juices flowing. Mind-mapping is a wonderful technique. Simply write down a central word, then three-to-four keywords around it. From there, write out any words that come to mind referencing the original concept words, each idea stemming from your base words. They form a “map” or tree of various word-association branches. No wrong answers here in the early development stages.

Once you have a better sense of your story or project, create an outline or storyboard to bring structure to your writing.

Use your outline as a guide, but feel free to deviate from it as you write. Allow yourself to make changes and adjustments based on your intuition and creative instincts. As long as you do not deviate too much from your “voice” or tone, the stream of consciousness additions ought to bring a unique flavor to your story.

By blending these two approaches, you can enjoy the spontaneity of writing without a plan while also keeping yourself organized and on track to meet your goals. Best of luck with your writing!