From Head to Paper
You are full of ideas. There are so many ideas in your head that you’re considering (or already have started) carrying a notebook to jot things down while on the run. What are you going to DO with all those ideas, though?
There are three major schools of thought on organizing to write a book. They come to us from the early days of the internet, and the terms stuck. They were then popularized by the people at NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month.
The first is “plotting,” which is just what the name suggests, taking the time to plot out major and some minor parts of your novel or book. This gives you a template to follow as you sit down to do the actual writing. There are actually charts (aka Beat Sheets) you can use for the plotting of your story line. The most popular one is called Save the Cat, and it was the first Beat Sheet to exist. You can find more about Save the Cat at Beat Sheets. When you are just starting out, plotting is a good way to deal with making sure you make it to the end of your novel.
The second method of preparing for your book is called “pantsing,” which is a reference to “flying by the seat of your pants.” This method can work well for some types of stories, such as fantasy based ones. The general idea is that you sit down and write the story in sequence, beginning to end, with no particular plot or plan in mind. You allow the story to take you wherever it wants. Experienced writers can and do use this method, but it isn’t as user friendly as plotting. I have found that most people who try “pantsing” for their first novel generally don’t finish it. However, there are always exceptions to the rule.
The last type of preparation is called “plantsing” and is a mix of the above two methods. This is the type I use most often. Plotting is very rigid, and pantsing is incredibly loosey-goosey, but plantsing lands right in the middle. It allows you to plan out major plot points without getting caught up in the minutia of every twist and turn of your novel. You provide yourself with enough plotted signposts to keep your story moving in the right direction, without painting yourself into a corner with details.
Your job is to decide which of these methods you want to use going forward. Remember, though, that your choice can change if your circumstances change. Characters have been known to rebel, and you can go off script anytime you like. The idea of having a Beat Sheet or plot points is to make your writing easier and more effective. If they fail to do that, try something else.
For more information on plotting, pantsing, and plantsing:
Plotter, Pantser, Plantser: What Are They, And How Do You Know Type You Are?
Tools for plotting:
Homework for the week:
There are three major schools of thought on organizing to write a book. They come to us from the early days of the internet, and the terms stuck. They were then popularized by the people at NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month.
The first is “plotting,” which is just what the name suggests, taking the time to plot out major and some minor parts of your novel or book. This gives you a template to follow as you sit down to do the actual writing. There are actually charts (aka Beat Sheets) you can use for the plotting of your story line. The most popular one is called Save the Cat, and it was the first Beat Sheet to exist. You can find more about Save the Cat at Beat Sheets. When you are just starting out, plotting is a good way to deal with making sure you make it to the end of your novel.
The second method of preparing for your book is called “pantsing,” which is a reference to “flying by the seat of your pants.” This method can work well for some types of stories, such as fantasy based ones. The general idea is that you sit down and write the story in sequence, beginning to end, with no particular plot or plan in mind. You allow the story to take you wherever it wants. Experienced writers can and do use this method, but it isn’t as user friendly as plotting. I have found that most people who try “pantsing” for their first novel generally don’t finish it. However, there are always exceptions to the rule.
The last type of preparation is called “plantsing” and is a mix of the above two methods. This is the type I use most often. Plotting is very rigid, and pantsing is incredibly loosey-goosey, but plantsing lands right in the middle. It allows you to plan out major plot points without getting caught up in the minutia of every twist and turn of your novel. You provide yourself with enough plotted signposts to keep your story moving in the right direction, without painting yourself into a corner with details.
Your job is to decide which of these methods you want to use going forward. Remember, though, that your choice can change if your circumstances change. Characters have been known to rebel, and you can go off script anytime you like. The idea of having a Beat Sheet or plot points is to make your writing easier and more effective. If they fail to do that, try something else.
For more information on plotting, pantsing, and plantsing:
Plotter, Pantser, Plantser: What Are They, And How Do You Know Type You Are?
Tools for plotting:
Homework for the week:
- Decide whether you are a plotter, a pantser, or a plantser.
- Read about Beat Sheets at Save the Cat (link above).
- Check into World Anvil and Reedsy.
- Begin working on your plot outline.
