Allowing Characters To Come To Life

The Joy Of Being A ‘Pantser’

Photo by Adrian Moise on Unsplash

When it comes to writing stories or novels, writers generally fall into one of two categories:

1. Plotters
2. Pantsers

Both categories have their positive aspects and their downfalls. It boils down to what kind of writer you are. I, for one, am a pantser.

I always have a general idea of my plot line and how I want my story to end. I have a vision in my head of the setting. What I love though is by not being completely tied down to an outlined plot, my characters grow and flourish and do things that I never expect them to do.

Now the downfall of being a pantser is that occasionally your characters jump the rails and go way off what you thought your story was going to be. As much as you want to give them freedom, you also have to keep in mind the ending that you want and help guide your characters towards that.

Also, without a strict plot to follow, sometimes you find yourself stuck. Your characters have gone and done something, or are sitting there, waiting for you decide what their next step is. This is an easy fix though. What I like to do at that point is stop writing, and make a list. I think worst case scenario and write down anything and everything that could possibly happen to them…