There is no right or wrong way to write a story, as long as it gets written… right?
The first bit of writing seems to be similar for most of us. A notion of a character grips us. A setting materialises and a conflict or antagonist is mulled over. And once we have those whisps of ideas floating around our heads it is time to sit and write the thing. And that’s where we hit a fork in the road.
Seemingly, there are two camps of writers; those who pants it (just start writing and hope for the best) and those who plan, plot and prepare. Because we all sit down to write with our own temperaments, personalities, time commitments and working styles, we are all naturally inclined to sway one way or the other. But am I the only writer out there that feels the other troop might have it better? That their way must be more effective?
I’m a born pantser – for those who haven’t heard this term before, it means I write by the seat of my pants – and rarely know where I’m going until I’ve been writing for a while. I just keep putting words on the page until something like a story emerges.
How often have I thought enviously of those plotters and planners, sipping tea genially, surrounded by well-ordered post-it notes and index cards? Some brain-stimulating classical music playing in the background. Okay, logically I know that can’t be true… But planning does seem to offer a safety net, a step-by-step guide of what you might write today.
Arguably, pantsing offers a certain freedom and feeling of spontaneity. It also allows people who become easily overwhelmed at the notion of planning to still be creative. However, it’s much easier to lose sight of your project’s merit and give up if you don’t know where you’re heading with it. It’s also much easier to veer off course, spend a week on a subplot that might not make sense in a few months’ time. And while creating the first draft might feel more losey-goosey, the hard work ramps up in the editing. There’s possibly more wastage in pantsing, more darlings to be killed than if the author knew the route they were taking from the get-go.
If you’re a natural planner then this exercise is for you. Instead of a well-crafted prompt with a scenario, character and setting I am going to offer you some ‘word bundles’. Choose one and start writing. Don’t worry if your plot idea changes halfway through as you write – that’s all part of the pantsing process!
High/ Steam train/ Casket
Wave/ Crash/ Floorboard
Radio/ Meadow/ Philanthropist
Grass/ Bubble gum/ Rope
Aunt/ Electricity/ Canada
Dripping/ Eagle/ Laundrette
Sari/ Printer/ Shitake mushroom
Tractor/ Bone/ Skyscraper