Plotter, Pantser, or Something Else?

I hated doing formal outlines in English class. It felt too overblown and detailed when all I wanted to do was write. When I wrote my first mystery series, I was pretty much a pantser (I wrote by the seat of my pants).

I wrote myself in a lot of corners and had to go back and rewrite large swaths of chapters to make sure the mystery flowed. I also had days when I was stuck and didn’t know what to write next. It took me over five years to write the first novel. I knew I had to write faster, and I had to find ways to make that happen.

I’ve been in IT for the past twenty years, and I decided to apply some of the tools to my writing life. I love spreadsheets and project plans. Since I have limited writing time, I have to make the most of each session.

Now, before I start a new book, I spend a few weeks plotting out the entire book chapter by chapter. It’s an outline, but it’s a narrative of what happens in each chapter. I make sure I have motives, clues, and a story that flows. When I start to write, I have each segment defined. I also do a lot of my research during this time, and that keeps me from getting bogged down when I’m writing. I usually stick to my outline, but there are times when I change something, so my paper copy always has some handwritten notes and scratch outs.

This is the process that works for me. It gives me a plan for each writing session where I’ve done the basic research and already worked for the plot holes.

You need to find a process that works with your style and schedule. Give it a try to see if it makes you more productive.