Plotter: One who organizes, plans, plots, outlines, synopsizes, characterizes, takes copious notes, makes a storyboard, researches, figures out scene and sequel before putting pen to paper. They have read, understand and make regular use of Vogler's Hero's Journey, Swain's Techniques of the Selling Writer or other detail-oriented paradigms. They run terrified at the thought of having no idea what will come next in their stories. Before they sit down at the computer, they know exactly what's going to happen in their story and feel confident that every scene flows into the next and all loose ends are neatly tied up.
Pantser: One who writes by "the seat of her pants". A writer who gets an idea for a story and/or characters and who might do some early thinking about basic story plots or characterization, but who for the most part, gets terrified and runs for cover when someone mentions outlines, synopses, or other detail-oriented writing preparation. Ultimately, they sit down, take a deep breath, and begin writing, letting the story and characters flow out as they will. They work off the "leap of faith" principle: "the characters will take me where they want me to go and everything will work out in the end."
This month, our Plotter and Pantser will discuss goals. Do they set them? What kind of goals do Plotters set vs. Pantsers? And how do they use goals to motivate them?
Plotter: Okay, I've got a list of questions.
Pantser: (laughing). Fine, go ahead.
Plotter: Do you set goals?
Pantser: Yes.
Plotter: Wow. I'm surprised (smile).
Pantser: Oh, stop it.
Plotter: All right, all right. What kind of goals do you set?
Pantser: I often, but not always, set writing goals - long-term and short-term. Short-term goals might be -- write 30 pages this week. Long-term might be -- finish two books this year. But I don't go so long-term as to say things like, "I plan to be published in the next three years." And I don't get so specific as to say things like, "I want to break into the writing market by doing short stories, then getting into category writing and within five years I want to start writing single title" etc., etc. That's all too structured for me. I'd rather go with the flow… go with whatever opportunities present themselves along the way.
Plotter: What about life goals, beyond just writing?
Pantser: I set some short-term life goals, but not usually specific long-term ones. Again, I just go with the flow. How about you?
Plotter: I definitely set goals - with my writing and with other areas of my life. About three years ago, my husband and I sat down and went through Steven Covey's First Things First. It talks about the different areas of your life - spiritual, family, work, hobbies. It really helped me clarify what was important in my life and how to balance the different goals I want to achieve. I'm incessantly making lists and writing down what I need to accomplish. Those would be short-term goals like -- write thank-you notes to contest judges, do the laundry, rewrite chapter two, etc. I mix my writing goals in with my other daily goals. Then I also have yearly goals - which I've broken down into monthly goals. As far as long-term, I don't have any control over when I get published, so I can't set the goal of "being published in xxx amount of years". But I do have written goals for a five-year plan and even a lifetime plan. It's more of a balanced plan, though, not just writing related. Where I want to live, what kind of lifestyle I want to have, etc.
Pantser: I tried this once with a computer program, setting up short and long-term life goals. That was two years ago and I haven't looked at it since (laughing).
Plotter: I admit it. I'm anal.
Pantser: That's okay. I still like you.
Plotter: (laughing) Thanks. What motivates you?
Pantser: Do you mean what motivates me to meet the goals I've set? Or what motivates my writing in general?
Plotter: Both.
Pantser: Writing my goals down on the calendar where I can see them and telling my goals to someone else helps me stay accountable. What motivates my writing in general? As a Pantser, the absolute most wonderful thing is finding out what's going to happen next! We usually have a general idea of the kind of story we're writing, but each day when we sit down to write, it's an adventure.
Plotter: Argh. This would scare me to death.
Pantser: For me it's fun. It's like I'm reading the story for the first time, just like a reader would be. So, when the writing is going well… the motivation is the thrill of seeing what journey my characters are going to take me on in the next chapter, and the next.
Plotter: Hmmm… interesting. What motivates me is getting done. I really like finishing a chapter or a book. I've accomplished something. And I suppose I can cross it off my list, too.
Pantser: Ooooo… fun.
Plotter: Watch it.
Pantser: (laughing) What happens when things aren't going well? When you aren't motivated to do anything?
Plotter: Everybody feels this way sometimes. Even Plotters (smile). I used to really get down on myself for not accomplishing everything I'd set out to do. I have a perfectionist streak in me, and I'd get really mad at myself if the house wasn't clean, if the book wasn't done on time, etc. I've worked at this a lot lately. I'm getting better at letting go. Like you say, "going with the flow". But for me, having an outline and a list of goals acts as a safety net. When I sit down at the computer and look at my outline, I know where the scene is taking place and what I want to accomplish. I think this frees my mind to concentrate on the dialogue, the hand gestures, the small things that bring a scene to life. I don't have to worry if this scene fits into the overall scheme of things. That's already been thought out. What about you? What do you do when the writing isn't going well?
Pantser: I've learned to treat writing like a job. When you work for someone else, it doesn't matter if you feel like going to work or not, you have to go. I use that same discipline for writing. And I sometimes take a quick read through Natalie Goldberg's Wild Mind. It reminds me all over again that it's okay to write crap if I have to. That it's okay to just sit down, let go of my control, and just write my first thoughts.
Plotter: This is like… free writing, right? I tried that once or twice. I always felt I was wasting time. And it didn't seem to help me with my regular writing.
Pantser: To each his own.
Plotter: Right. How do you think being a Pantser helps with your goals?
Pantser: I think there's something to be said for Pantsing in that you give yourself the freedom to explore. You tend to be open to new experiences, new plot twists, new characters. As a Pantser, you don't get in your own way. There's a real sense of breathless freedom and that makes it easy to come back to the computer each day and work towards your goals.
Plotter: I don't think that being a Plotter necessarily means you're not open to new twists and turns in your writing. I just do most of my thinking and dreaming before I write the book. So, a lot of the stuff that happens to you "on the way" has happened to me in the planning stages. And I am willing to go off my outline if something fabulous comes to me. I'd never get rid of a fantastic character or plot idea just because it wasn't in my outline. But it has to be pretty spectacular for me to change the basic outline of the story. I don't want to go down an avenue and then find after 100 pages that it won't work. That would drive me crazy. And it also would get me way off track with my goals. And that's important to me.
Pantser: I can see that (laughing).
Plotter: (laughing) How do you think being a Pantser hurts with goals?
Pantser: As a Pantser, I have certain periods of time where instead of actively writing, I need to percolate a little. I can sit down and write and write, but every so often I'll reach a point where I need to do some thinking about what I've just written, because I need to decide generally where the story's going to go next. This is when I put the pieces of my plot together, figure out my red herrings, my surprise twists, etc. For me, this "percolation" can last anywhere from a few hours, to a couple of weeks, and there's no way to predict when these times are going to come. So, I may set a goal of writing 100 pages this week, but 35 pages into it, I may need to percolate. And if I'm still percolating at the end of the week, well, I didn't meet my writing goal. But I know this happens sometimes and I accept it.
Plotter: That's the key. To know what works for you.
Pantser: How about you? How does being a Plotter hurt with setting goals?
Plotter: Actually, the whole concept of goals was probably designed by Plotters just to make Pantsers mad and frustrated.
Pantser: (laughing)
Plotter: I'm kidding. Hmmm… how does it hurt? Well, again, I think sometimes I get too rigid with my goals, they don't work for me, they work against me. They become these self-imposed deadlines that loom large and take the joy out of writing. Not good.
Pantser: Not good at all.
Plotter: And that's something I've really worked on. Even when I've got this great outline, there are still small things that need to be worked out in my head before I can write them down. If my goal gets in the way of this creative process, than it isn't helping me, it's hurting me.
Pantser: So, you kind of have to learn to balance the goals and the creativity?
Plotter: Yes. What about you? Do you do the same?
Pantser: Sure, I have to. The thing about being a Pantser is that the creativity tends to flow well most of the time. My challenge is to remember that sometimes, no matter how creative I'm feeling, there are still deadlines to be met.
Plotter: It sounds like the secret for both Pantsers and Plotters is to find what mix of goals and freedom works best for them.
Pantser: Yep! Okay, I have a question for you now. If you had to pick a word or a phrase or a quote that best epitomizes the Plotter way, what would it be?
Plotter: (laughing) This sounds like a Pantser kind of question.
Pantser: Humor me.
Plotter: Hmmm… "Figure out where you want to go, figure out what you have to do to get there, and then do it." And you? Is there something that you think epitomizes the Pantser way?
Pantser: But of course! (grin) I have this quote taped to my computer and whenever I need to ground myself, or forge ahead with my goals, I read it and try to live by it. It's from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, "Leap and the net will appear."
Plotter: Yikes! Talk about high wire acts! But then, I suppose that's why you're a Pantser (laughing).
Pantser: And you're a Plotter (laughing).
Plotter: The important thing is being comfortable with how you set goals and make them work for you instead of against you. Use the method that's best for you.
Pantser: Amen, sister!
Plotter: Until next time…
Carolyn studied political science in college and backpacked through Europe and the Orient. She's been a ski bum, a waitress, a bookkeeper, a loan processor and an accounting software trainer. Finally deciding that she couldn't ignore her dream anymore, Carolyn started to write. A life-long reader of romance, she's written five books - fiction and non-fiction, one which finaled in the prestigious Orange Rose contest.
Karin's a Colorado native with a degree in English from The Colorado College. She likes to think her liberal arts education has come in handy for something -- like the ability to quote T.S. Eliot on demand. She's been a reader, writer, and dreamer all her life, along with several other occupations which she's very happy she doesn't have to do anymore. She has four completed fiction manuscripts, two children's book stories, and has published numerous non-fiction articles and some poetry. She recently finaled in the PPRW's Top o' the Peak contest.
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