There are three types of writers
in the world
– Those who pants
These writers write
by the seat of their pants
i.e. without a plot.
– Those who plot
These writers
have their plots
outlined
and everything thought out
before
they start writing.
– Those who are plotzers
These writers
do a combination
of plotting and pantsing.
There are professional writers,
belonging to each of these
writing types,
who are making healthy livings.
But if you looked at courses,
and listened to discussions with
non-writers
(like publishers or agents),
you would think
plotting is THE best way
and THE only way
to produce books.
Why?
Because plotting
appears to be logical.
There are systems
with plotting.
There are steps.
In contrast,
pantsing
appears magical
and magic can’t be taught.
It can’t be explained.
Magic scares people.
But magic, if you have it,
also can work.
VERY well.
I’m a pantser.
I’ve written hundreds
of books,
created complex worlds
and intricate series
as a pantser.
I can’t explain
how I do it
but I also don’t mess
with it.
And I don’t discount it.
There is ‘magic’
in this world,
things we can’t explain.
There are people
who have ‘feelings’
about product launches
and those feelings
are never wrong.
There are people
who call you
as you are reaching
for the phone
to call them.
There are people
who ‘dream’
of advertising slogans.
There are many other
types of magic.
Never discount that.