The other kind makes stuff up as they go along. They have different names but one of the most common is "Pantsers," for "seat of the pants" writers.
I am the second type, though I find that name rather obnoxious. Why does one group get a name that sounds very writer-ly and the other gets a name reminiscent of grade-school humiliations? I don't know; "Improvisers" sounds nicer to me.
I almost wonder if these names are a way to imply that there's only one right way to go about writing, and that everyone should eventually graduate from that amateur-ish title and become a Plotter. I don't know....I'd be very interested to see statistics as to the percentage of Plotters that finish writing their books, versus Improvisers.
Is there a type of writer that is both? Because sometimes I'm actually both whenever I write. I plan in advance for plots, but when it comes to backgrounds and other such things, I kind of randomly write as I go. Most of the time, it fits almost perfectly to the advanced plot from months, or even years, ago.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that makes you a Plotter. Plotters do not have to plan EVERYTHING but they have a solid idea of where they're going before they start. (I usually have ideas, but they change so much along the way, I don't think I can say I plot in advance.)
ReplyDeleteThough in fairness, since Plotters think that's the only way to write, they tend to be pretty generous in declaring everyone with a solid plan a "plotter."