"Are you a plotter or a pantser?"

I was asked this question for the first time by Laura Espinal Corpeno on her podcast, Softest Lore. It was my first-ever podcast interview, and now Laura has become one of my closest bookish friends. I wasn't sure what she meant and had to ask for clarity.

"Do you plot heavily or do you just write as it comes to you?" she clarified.

I'd never given it much thought, really. Sometimes, I've fallen into one or the other category, but mostly, I always feel like I'm doing a little of both. I plot what will happen chapter-by-chapter, but I don't always stick to the guidelines. Sometimes, my imagination runs riot and the characters take over. There's nothing that plotting can do to stop them, either, so I just let it happen.

Is it possible to be both?

I think if you're sticking to strict definitions, no.

A plotter is someone who puts a lot of effort into backstory, characterization, plot (obviously), and world-building before they write. They keep spreadsheets, charts, webs, diagrams, notes, outlines, and graphics that help them get from beginning to end. They consult these materials as they work through their story to maintain consistency and keep the flow of the story intact.

A pantser has an idea for a story, but does little to no work in the planning phase. They are struck by an idea like it's a bolt of lightning. They might take a day or two to think about it, but they never create any planning materials. Eventually, they open up their computer and they let their creativity take charge. They write without an outline. They let their characters go off on tangents, the story to go where it will, and follow it until the end. Any pacing or consistency issues can be corrected in editing.

By these definitions, a plotter plots without any deviation. They put in the time and effort to make sure they know their world going in to minimize the amount of effort they expend in the editing process. A pantser writes, without a real plan from getting from the beginning to the end. They do not plan, at least not in a way they can continually consult.

I read somewhere that you can only be one or the other. But I disagree.

I put in time and effort to commit my ideas to some form of media. Whether or not I consult those plans as I'm writing is a matter of how stuck I feel. Most of the time, my plotting is just my way of working it out. When I go to write, it's a process that involves nothing but my creativity. I let the characters take me off course frequently. I find joy in not knowing how I'll get back on track.

And it works for me. I write two books a year now being both a plotter and a pantser.

How do I plot?

I use the following tools to plot:

• Audio recorder on my phone - this is my favorite plotting tool. Anytime I drive anywhere without my children in the car, I turn on the recorder and start talking about my stories. Often, there's no real objective. I might start where I left off while writing and think my way through things. I discuss dialogue, character motives, etc. But do I listen to these recordings when I'm writing? No.
• Book outline on Google Docs - I like to write out my cast of characters like I'm writing a play. I write them in order of importance and, if I'm not familiar with who everyone is, I might include a small synopsis of how they're related to the main character. Then I plan each chapter in short snippets of what I'd like to happen. Again, this isn't a strict thing. I'm aware it will change. I also sometimes forget I started an outline and leave it unfinished. Whoops.
• Spreadsheets - This is something I do to keep my timeline clean. I have a hard time accidentally jumping forward in the future too much or time will suddenly drag on in my book (probably due to the pantsing). Keeping a spreadsheet of the timeline of events helps me determine when certain things happen. I occasionally consult this document.
• Research - I'm a Regency Romance author. I can't do this work without a little historical research. I have a couple of important things saved in my bookmarks. Maps of Regency England that I will occasionally consult while writing. Articles about common jobs. Clothing. Modes of transportation. Now and then, I'll look up current events in the year I'm writing about. "Important issues in 1818 England." My research tends to happen in the middle of writing. A character will be mid-sentence, and I'll suddenly realize I don't know what they're talking about, so I Google.

How do I pants?

You don't really require tools to pants, but these are my methods:

• Free writing - Most of the time, I approach a chapter with only a vague inkling of what will happen. Even if I've put it in an outline or talked it over on the audio recorder, I still don't quite know what will happen, because I don't consult my guidelines. When I write, I jump into it with both feet and ignore all else.
• Open mind - Even when I have a solid plan for a chapter, I know it's easy to go off the rails. When it does, I'm more likely to tell myself, "Let's see where this goes," instead of panicking about deviating from the plan. Most of the time, my creative pantser-self has better instincts than the plotter in me.
• Artistic personality - This is something you can cultivate in yourself. I learned a long time ago to see the beauty in something that isn't perfect. That a little asymmetry is endearing. Rigid adherence to a plot outline doesn't work for me. In fact, overplanning tends to stress me out, even given the multiple tools I use. So I embrace the unknown and find joy in the artistry of the creative process.

In the interview with Laura Espinal Corpeno, I was unable to say whether I was a plotter or a pantser. I learned toward pantser. But when I thought about it, all the tools and research I use argue otherwise.

So am I a plotter or a pantser?

I am both.

I plot while I pants.