tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post4424992845129357856..comments2024-03-18T04:40:38.214-05:00Comments on Murderous Musings: PANTSER OR NOT?Chester Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07155257451021065218noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-85412159385656439042016-02-19T16:16:21.650-06:002016-02-19T16:16:21.650-06:00I'm a pantser who also outlines things. The re...I'm a pantser who also outlines things. The reason I am a pantser has eluded me for a while until I realized how much of my stories are in my head. This does create the unfortunate expectation of it all flowing out in one glorious computer session. Unfortunately, being a pantser has often led to me running out of steam, so I have incorporated planning as a rule. But I have yet to work in a very linear fashion, and rely more on unconventional methods of building worlds and character. I'm working on a murder mystery now (my first ever, at the age of 20!), and having a fairly rough idea of the victim and the first few chapters, I let myself write a chapter which was good. I wikl now go back and sew up the plot, possibly using a colour-coded flow chart. But I feel more confident with some chapters behind me. For a romance short story I am writing, I am struggling to plan- literally staring at a nearly empty notebook, and filling it with functional words (i.e- character names), to make it look like I am doing something. But I literally have no clue and might need to watch an episode of the show or read something else before starting. Very hectic- but I do pants along. ABDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02363024972920041211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-53822262063056329582016-01-11T15:29:00.744-06:002016-01-11T15:29:00.744-06:00Bill, it's wonderful that a character who hadn...Bill, it's wonderful that a character who hadn't been important suddenly helped and turned your story in a new direction. Trusting your characters to take you where you need to go is wonderful. I think non-writers would have no idea what we're talking about when we say things like that, but it is a great thing to happen to our writing.<br />June Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11634658458716422436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-28307860762127636562016-01-11T15:26:15.332-06:002016-01-11T15:26:15.332-06:00Thanks, Jackie. I'm trying to outline more, to...Thanks, Jackie. I'm trying to outline more, too. Sure hope it works out.<br />June Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11634658458716422436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-12919372967523097682016-01-10T07:52:01.781-06:002016-01-10T07:52:01.781-06:00I've always been a pantser, June. In fact, a r...I've always been a pantser, June. In fact, a recent experience with my WIP showed me why. There are 2 main threads which, I suddenly realised, were both coming to a head at the same time and there were parallels between them which I hadn't planned. It changed the way I was writing about them and (I hope) made each stronger. Then a character who'd not featured very much said something which suddenly threw a light on the crime and helped make the resolution of it much stronger and more authentic. I always trust my characters to take me where I need to go. The only time I didn't was when I imposed my will on the characters in a radio play to suit what I thought of as my 'vision'. It was reviewed by a well-known reviewer in a quality journal and he review began 'This is a tiresome play about tiresome people'. Anmd I agreed with him.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-47147405769458688792016-01-09T14:59:49.130-06:002016-01-09T14:59:49.130-06:00Enjoyed your post, June. I'm a panster, who wi...Enjoyed your post, June. I'm a panster, who wishes she were an outliner. I've tried and tried, but for me outlining just doesn't work.Jackie Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16276062715832103428noreply@blogger.com