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Michael Seidel, writer 
A plotting pantser!
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Intriguing hybrid, isn’t it? Cheers
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Just like me😊
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Hello Michael. I am not a writer or author. The most I write these days is long replies to comments or intros to a post. With that background said, I have a question for you as a real author. Does the above meme work? I have often heard what writers first thought a book would be or become often changed as the book / characters written took over and changed the plots to fit their own “story”? That plot outlines often changed to make a much better story. I often read authors when asked why a certain character was killed off instead of another answer that they had not planned that but the story took over and wrote it as what happened. Is this the way it works for the author? As a reader who loves to become immersed in the universe of the story I often feel everything flowing seemingly just as it would happen, nothing forced or jarring you out of the story. Hugs
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Oh, Scottie, so much more complicated than a simple yes or no. See, it works different for each author, and they need to explore and define what works for them. Then, some say that their process changes from book to book.
I tried elaborate story-boarder and outlining when I first began, but found the process ends up depleting energy from the story. Now, I’m typically a pantser — writing by the seat of pants, feeling it through — but I’ll often pause at some point to plot some complicated transitions and plot points. This last novel in progress was the first time I’d not done that, simply blow through it all just to get it down, as others often suggest.
And yes, for some, such as me, characters take over. They resist direction and declare other paths. It is a blast to just follow their lead. It’s a great feeling when something totally unanticipated happens, and I pause to laugh with giddiness. More times than not, too, in revising, I’m surprised by turns I’d written.
Thanks for your interest. Hugs ‘n cheers
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