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Writing the Pantser way
Welcome to Dlobookstore, where Larry, our expert Pantser writer/poet/Instructor, will explain and offer advice on Pantser writing.
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Many years ago, I used the term Plowing as a method of unplotted writing. Things have changed, and now Plowing is called Pantser.
So, what is Pantser writing?
In general, a Pantser is an author who “Writes by the seat of their pants,” i.e., utilizing spontaneity, without a plot. They are usually, but not always, fiction writers and poets.
Many writers utilize the Pantser style because it allows them to entertain the reader with the distinctive and engaging use of passion, cleverness, absurdity, and often, (my favorite), humor.
One of the purposes of Pantser writing is to entertain or shock the reader with unexpected twists and turns of the narrative. These surprises are created through scene development rather than storyline or plot. Pantser writing is situational and often meandering. This allows the author to connect scenes, as an erratic journey, with or without a predetermined ending.
Pantser writing is spontaneous, evolutionary, and often experimental. The tone may be lighthearted, absurd, dramatic, insipid, or horrifying. The writing is grammatically clear, yet can be loaded with puns, wordplay, double meanings, and distractions. The style often evokes admiration from the reader regarding the author’s unique style and linguistic prowess.
Generally, the writing is completed spontaneously, scene by scene, where one scene transfers meaning, intent, or objective to the next scene without a predetermined destination or plan. As a caveat, without a plan, the Pantser often sets the protagonist’s goal at the beginning of the story, leaving the journey a labyrinth of events and the ending a mystery.
There are risks associated with the Pantser technique in writing:
1. There may be scenes in the story that do not contribute to the storyline.
2. There may be issues with understanding the purpose or connection of a scene to the story.
3. Editing this style of writing may be challenging.
4. Some writers may struggle to finish the story due to their inability to connect numerous multilayered, multidirectional scenes that lead to a logical ending.
In my opinion, Pantser writing places more emphasis on the journey and less on the destination, but when you get to the book’s/poem’s end, you will say, “it’s been a Hell-of-a-ride”!
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Creative types often thrive as Pantsers. If you are a conservative ‘textbook-type’ author, you might have problems writing the Pantser way.
Good Luck & Good Writing
