Patrick Alan

I’ve been in a few conversations about writing process lately. I have to discount my lack of writing. Technically, not writing for stretches of time is currently part of my process, but not part that I am proud of. I have semi-good excuses, I swear!

But on the subject of Pantser(person who writes by the seat of their pants) vs Plotter (Detailed Outliner) I have to say neither.

I’m probably closer to Pantser, but not so close as to not know what comes next.

I do have to base most of my self-evaluation on the few short stories I have completed and the several started novels as well as my current WIP. So, it’s hard for me to say I have a clear, defined process.

What I do know is that I have tried all sorts of strategies. That’s really the only way to figure out who you are. Many long time pros have said that it’s different for each book. I can see that, but with at least hint of your personal preference.

I don’t take notes. I just type. But I never type without knowing the full scene in my head. I don’t know the words, but I know the events and emotions that I want to show in the scene.

I sometimes think of myself as an undocumented Plotter. I have a plot/theme for the overall story, just it is in my head. I know the keystone scenes of the novel/story before I begin writing. When I start writing a scene, I know what I want to happen, but sometimes, the scene I envisioned in my head doesn’t play out on paper. Sometimes I have a great line for a character to speak, but the action and dialog never really allows me to get that. Sometimes the scenes in my head are far more complex than what I am currently able to get on paper.

I attended a synopsis writing workshop this year and that was something that helped me. Even a quick 2-4 page synopsis could become an outline for me. From that workshop I have 3 novels that I want to write.

From there though, I have to imagine I am writing the worlds worst story. No one will ever read it. I don’t need to go back and fix anything. If something changes and I need to change a character name, I might make note of it, or simply hope I catch it in my revision process. I have two scenes that I want to expand upon in my current WIP as well as three scenes that I think I hate all together. I’m ignoring them. I hope they magically fix themselves. Actually, I plan to fix them once I finish. I’m not sure I still hate all the scenes. I sort of feel better about some of them due to the writing that has come after. Who knows. I think about them after I write “The End.”

Anyway, just thought I would refresh myself on my process. I love to talk about it and hear similarities or differences in other writers’ processes.