How to Write a Novel Without Plotting (Intuitive Pantser)
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- Опубліковано 15 бер 2022
- Support me on Patreon: / ellenbrock
Brainstorming Questions
What does this character want more than anything else?
What would most motivate this character to take action?
What would stop this character from taking action?
What is the worst thing that could happen to this character?
What is the best thing that could happen to this character?
Who or what is stopping this character from getting what they want?
What does this character need to learn in order to be happy?
Love, Hate, Indifferent Editing Technique: • How to Start Editing Y...
Structural Series: • How to Write the Statu... - Навчання та стиль
What often works for me is to turn off the pc and go for a walk outside, determined NOT to think about the book - and quite often ideas just pop into my head unbidden. Sometimes these ideas don't pan out when I open the doc and start writing - BUT - sometimes it's like an epiphany. The book I'm currently writing has taken directions I hadn't thought of at all at the start - and quite often, a character's motivation, which hadn't been clear, is suddenly revealed.
Diffusive - focus brain modes. I've noticed that too: my thing is to lift and focus solely on the iron. Ideas just pop up. It can also happen when about to fall asleep. 👍
Reading this is how I knew I was this above embarressing stereotypical writer. I have practiced this since as long as I could walk. The writing came much later, as a kid you can manage more words per minute with your voice.
Advice + Timestamps:
1. DON'T PLOT, BUT DO BRAINSTORM 3:13
2. IF YOU NEED MORE DIRECTION, ASK QUESTIONS 6:13
3. ACTIVATE YOUR INTUITION AT THE START OF EVERY WRITING SESSION 8:13
4. READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER TO REORIENT TO YOUR STORY 9:56
5. DON'T TRY TO NAIL EVERYTHING IN THE FIRST DRAFT 11:09
6. START EDITING BY ASSESSING HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FIRST DRAFT 13:13
7. GET COMFORTABLE WITH THROWING THINGS AWAY 15:53
8. EDIT THE BIG PICTURE FIRST 17:41
9. HACK YOUR INTUITION WITH SUMMARIES 20:17
10. WORK DEEPLY ON SMALLER SECTIONS 22:57
11. DON'T BE AFRAID OF A TRIAL & ERROR APPROACH 24:27
12. LABEL AND SAVE EVERYTHING 26:19
13. ACCEPT THAT TWO GOOD IDEAS CAN BE INCOMPATIBLE 28:33
14. REMEMBER THERE'S NO RIGHT ANSWER 30:52
15. IF YOU GET STUCK, IT'S OKAY TO LOOK AT METHODOLOGY 33:17
Thank you
Really good point about the difference between plotting and Brainstorming. As an Intuitive pantser, I'll brainstorm the ending and climax and a few other interesting scenes, and then when I write, I just work on how do I get in that position.
This is how I do it. I have a beginning and ending in mind. And then puzzle events on how we got there.
Yep- me exactly.
Same here, but I often struggle with the middle.
Tip for people who think better when they’re on the move: listen to your novel in a text-to-speech app while you take a loooong walk. Record your revisions, new ideas, or whole chapters in a voice memo app.
I don't think Ellen knows just how much she's helping weary writers.
you're already right outta the gate with "dont plot" and now i know you know what you're talking about. I'm nearly 100% intuitive pantser--if I try to plot it makes me wanna die inside and I never wanna think about the story again--so i'm excited to see what other tips you have!
This is the best writing video I have ever seen. You really capture what it's like to be the 'intuitive pantser' type. We are often made to feel bad about how we function, and we hear a lot that this is the wrong way to write a novel or maybe a childish way or we need to do x, y and z to be serious about our work and that we should basically stop being who we are. I was honestly in tears throughout, so thank you for you sensitivity, your compassion and especially for your excellent advice. I was pleasantly surprised at your in-depth tips and your approach. Thank you!
As a strongly intuitive writer, you might also want to check out Lauren Sapala here on youtube. 🙂
3:14 Brainstorm instead of plot
7:16 Brainstorming Questions
8:17 Active your intuition at the start of your writing session
14:06 Break down your novel elements in editing
17:42 Edit the big picture first
30:53 Remember there’s no right answer
* Activate your intuition 😉
Wow... Watching your previous videos on the writer types, I was fairly certain I was a methodological pantser, but now I think I must lean a little more towards this type. Especially the final tip made me chuckle, because I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve discussed problems in my stories with other people, only to suddenly basically tell them to shut up because I got an entirely unrelated idea and I have to pursue it IMMEDIATELY. Anyway, I’d just like to chime in with the chorus of grateful followers and tell you that your videos are invaluable! Thank you so much for the work you put in and the level of (practical and inspiring) detail you go into.
After watching the first video I was thinking, "Intuitive pantser is the rarest type so certainly I'm not that." So I watched the Methodological Pantser and Intuitive Plotter videos. They had some good ideas I'll try but still didn't feel right. Then I started this video and about 5 minutes in, I went, "Nope, totally an Intuitive Pantser." So thank you for this series and all of the tactics to try. It's great to have some ideas for the next time I'm stuck.
Ellen you are a national treasure. I cannot begin to express how much your insights and instructions have helped my writing. Thank you thank you thank you
You are so welcome! Thank you for your kind comment!
International actually. Lol I'm from Europe and this advice applies still lol
I've been writing for many years and experience the death of my intuition whenever I attempt to plot. Speaking with other people they find it puzzling that I have no idea where the story will be going. I usually have a vague idea but find myself surprised by what I've written and where the story has end up constantly.
The advice you've given speaks to me on a deeper level (some of which I've already implemented intuitively, others I might try out), so I would like to thank you genuinely from the bottom of my heart for your work.
Only 10.5K views? Pity. Ellen dumps a bucket of gems on writers for free and so few of us see her presentations. Another home run!
This is exactly what I needed to hear right now - thank you so much for this video! Around the 12 minute mark, when you speak about writing extra material of the character, waking up, going about their day and carrying out mundane tasks ... that's exactly what I've just spent the last chapter writing about, knowing that I'm not going to include it in the final draft of my story, but not knowing what else to write because I don't 'know' my story yet. I've felt down and frustrated about it for the last few days to be honest, knowing that it's not improving the plot line, knowing that it's not serving any real purpose in propelling the story forwards and is essentially just 'extra crap'... but what I've just heard you say about not holding back, giving yourself permission to write these things, even if they don't end up in the final draft, using them to get to know your characters better ... it all just makes perfect sense the way you've said it. I've never thought about it in such explicit terms before, but I definitely do this in my writing, and now I realise I just need to let myself do it, that there's nothing wrong with it, even going into it, knowing these extra bits won't make the final cut... they ARE serving the purpose of getting to know my characters and my world better. Thank you so much! What a wonderful, perfectly-timed revelation.
I've never had someone describe my habits so well as you did. I was feeling so lost, whenever I sat down to plot my ideas, my mind would either blank out or get distracted. But as soon as I'm in the shower, doing chores, dancing to music - I'm plotting away and getting excited. I'm so grateful for this series, I'm definitely going to look at the other types and see where I sit. Thank you so much.
ellen brock, novel editor and renowned author whisperer, tbh 💕
I know this sounds cheesy but watching this was such a relief it brought tears to my eyes. Mostly brainstorming. I have to do this and thought it meant I needed to plot, but when I plot I just think. Story done. I know I need to ask questions about my characters to make them feel real and fleshed out. Again, thought that was part of plotting.
I was trying again because the story in my head is so complex I know I am having troubles wraping my head around how to remember everything. But to hear everything about how I'm feeling is normal for my type is a relief beyond words.
After this, I think I'll go with my gut and just live in my character's head. I've written little notes of what each character needs to have happen, what the story needs to get to the end, and some random subplots.
Just an extreme thank you for your idea of how to organize my brain and not feel foolish for feeling so uncomfortable outlining and staring at plot structures and feeling restricted.
I'm just so happy that UA-cam isn't banned in Russia yet and I have the opportunity to watch your videos! Even though I'm certainly not an intuitive pantser, I still find extremely interesting how different types work
Thank you!
Oh, hi there xD
@@dariakey5318 привет х)
Get VPN while you can
@@5idi I've already got it but officials started blocking VPN services as well
@@kotrena Damn... Well, let's hope this mess will be over soon.
Yaaas, I was looking forward to this one. I'm gonna make some tea now 🙌☕️🍀
Methodological pantser here
This video is very helpful! Thank you! I’ll watch it again when I get home so I can write notes
And wow! Some of these tips I’ve done in different books
I have always known that I write intuitively. But, the writing world seems to be run by plotters and their methodologies are upheld as infinitely better, and even the only legitimate writing method that it is so rare to find writing tips and instructions for pantsers, let alone intuitive ones.This video confirmed that the way I write is 'legitimate'. I've been confronted at writing conferences, events, groups, classes, writing forums, etc with 'plotting is the right way' over and over which is disheartening. While I still kept writing, I never tried to publish. This video has bolstered my belief in my own writing abilities. I wish this was an audio file that I could listen to when I start to doubt myself. Thank you so much. Well worth the wait. I will return to this often to remind myself that intuitive pantsers are real writers too!
May I ask you a few questions? I am not sure if I am an intuitive pantser or not. I mean I suspect I am, but feel a bit confused from the video? Do we write the first draft without editing the previous chapter? Are we to ignore word count goals like the methodological pantsers?
I posted these questions as well and would just like an answer. I have listened to the video several times just to remind myself. Thank you.
@@kaylajames9334 - I can only speak for myself. I just write as scenes or dialogue come to me. I do brainstorming and mind mapping when I'm trying to work things out or just write it out and see where it goes; either way works for me. I may go back over something I've written to add to it, but the editing/rewriting phase I leave until I've written the entire story. I don't work well with word count goals; they are too stress inducing. Instead I write for a minimum amount of time - for example 15 minutes. Usually, I write more than that, but the minimum of 15 minutes takes the pressure off and gets me going. Hope this helps. The important take-away from all Ellen Brock's videos for me is to find the way that works for you and do it. Hope this helps.
@@h.s.s.3881 thanx so much
Yessssssss. Ms. Ellen I miss you so much.
Wow, I needed this video! So often I hear people say that plotting is the only right way, so this felt really refreshing and validating. One thing I've found really helpful is that I never *truly* throw anything away. I've gotten more comfortable with throwing things away if it's not working for the story, but I hardly ever delete anything outright. I have a folder full of deleted scenes and bits of dialogue that didn't feel right. It makes it a lot easier to cut out the things that aren't working!
I wish your videos existed fifteen years ago to give my past self a boost. 😂 I had to figure out what worked best for me by trial and error. I love the other videos too because they’ve given me good ideas of different approaches I can try depending on what my current block is. I’m on draft 8 right now because I’ve had to rewrite the book so many times to understand my world and characters better, and develop them, and work out issues with my plot, and now I’m finally adding in my last minute touches. Couldn’t have gotten this far without all your other videos. 🙏🤓
I know that feeling too well! I wish all of authortube existed 15 years ago... 😭 I've lost a great deal of my "beginners enthusiasm", because I started in an era with zero (online) tools, knowlegde, support. But grateful it's available now, fighting through it. We're not the only ones! We'll just do this in our pace now. Because these stories are still worth it.🍀
When you talked about getting ideas in the shower, I felt that in my soul!🥰
Love this! Especially appreciate all the advice you gave about editing as an intuitive panster. The trap of trying to hold myself to the 'right' way of doing things and getting further mired in frustration was hard to escape from. I like how you acknowledge this type can hold to what they feel is most right for their story even if they can't explain why structurally, while also giving practical tips on how to highlight the core of their ideas. Cheers!
20:17 Hack your intuition with summaries.
Thank you. This was very helpful.
Ellen is the best UA-camr on this subject
You know me so well as an intuitive pantser who only focuses on the flow and word choices instead of the big picture. Editing is a disaster and I actually never do it. Very helpful ideas!!! I keep all versions of my novel and now I feel a little bit more motivated to keep writing
This is literally the way I write. For 30 years I've been feeling like I was doing it wrong because NOBODY writes the way I do and frequently things that work other writers don't work for me. I feel validated! Thank you
Have you had any publishing success? Asking because I wrote like this (intuitive pantser) and my novels wandered and were bloated. I’ve adopted several planning methods and seeing better results. Haven’t gotten a publisher yet but way more confident in my most recently project.
It's so fun to watch this and check off every point like yup, that's what I do! As I go through the editing process I become more of an intuitive plotter, so that video also resonated a lot. But it's so nice to have all the stuff I do affirmed, since I feel like the trend in the writing world has swung to methodological plotter types. Also, in editing big picture stuff, I always rewrite. My project right now I've rewritten 3 times already, and am going into a fourth. Usually so much big picture stuff needs to change so I don't bother editing initial drafts.
I’m a fairly hardcore methodological plotter and I don’t like the swing 😩. It takes the JOY out of writing for so many people. I ENJOY plotting thinking about structure and editing the outline first, so it doesn’t diminish my desire to write. But I’m *constantly* telling my pantsing friends not to try and be me unless their system isn’t working for them. The writing world is trending to this “one true way” of writing, and it’s a disservice to us all.
yay, finally the video for me!!!!!!
edit: the problem with deleting anything I write is that each scene and action evolve from each previous scene and action, and removing a thing is like pushing a domino that affects everything after it...
This one hit home for me. Right smack in the center. Thank you so much.
Ellen, you are truly amazing. I feel reinvigorated, validated (I hate that word and concept, lol, but it's so apt here), and like my process really is a method, after all. Everything you said in that video, literally everything, spoke to me. I ended up smiling and laughing a lot, as if I was getting my personality read, like way back when I hired a career counsellor in my twenties. You are outstanding at what you do. Your information and knowledge is on point, and your delivery is perfection (another concept I don't actually believe in, lol, but it applies to you!) As everyone else has said so poignantly, thank you for seeing us, helping us, and being so gracious with your time and energy.
I will have to support you on Patreon. I don't have an account there, but you deserve to be paid for this, my dear.
I love this, thank you so much. So many writing advice channels tell you their way and only their way, and they lack the ability to see how each person has their own way to organize and make sense of something. You have such a good understanding how various people work without judging people. So helpful
Brainstorming and writing a summary sounds helpful to me.
I admit, I was thinking of skipping this one, since I relate most to the methodological plotter process, but it proved insightful. Particularly the part of saving different versions of your story
I was really convinced I was a methodological plotter, but now I’m unsure, again. What a world. But, long as I keep writing…
I'm (mostly) an Intuitive Pantser
if I want to do a "big picture" edit on a section, I've worked out that I like to copy and past that section into its own document, so that I can do that work without the whole novel surrounding it (almost treating it as its own "short story" or arc), then when it's done, put it back in and read it back in context
This only has 700 likes so far because intuitive pantsers all have ADHD and we all bookmarked it immediately intending to watch it after our lunch and will forget about it until we find it again by accident in 6 months time.
Amazing work Ellen
Thank you so much!
Erin, so many of the things you mentioned in this video ring true for me. I appreciated the validation for those of us who mean to follow the traditional processes, but a thought takes us off somewhere before we can even write down an outline.
The 'permission' to look at methodology when I'm stuck was a relief, kind of the opposite of the shaming I might put myself through. ('If you would have just followed this in the first place...')
I also write short stories about my side characters, just as you mentioned, to figure them out--what drives them, etc. It's much better than making lists of traits.
Thank you for 'getting' us intuitves, and for making us feel welcome!
Ellen is very thorough & helpful!
Yes. Motion while brainstorming helps me so much!
This video is so helpful----and in ways you may not even realize! Some of your tips I've been intuitively doing since I began writing as a kid. (And you've added more to my repertoire! Thank you!) BUT, we "pantsers" constantly hear from writing instructors and critique groups that' we're doing it the "wrong" way and that we must change our methodologies. While I've always pushed back against that, having some "backup" in the form of pointing to your videos will be really helpful and save us a lot of energy.
Thanks again Ellen! Your comprehensive videos are always so helpful. And you seem to be the only person on UA-cam who has broken down the two main writing types into four different groups. You explain them so well. Your advice has been brilliant. Thanks to you, I have recently discovered that my writing type is somewhere between a methodical pantser and an intuitive pantser. The former being the best fit. 🤗👍😁
1. If you're using a doc program (Word, or Google Docs [which is free!]), add a one-liner label to every independent scene/description/fragment/whatever, and put this label in a Heading style. Insert a Table of Contents at the top, and the ToC will pick up all of your labels, including page numbers (which tells you at a glance approximately how long each piece is). The Table of Contents is like getting your "outline" for free, and it can be refreshed as needed to update live.
2. This method works well up to a point, but after 20K-40K words (or "too long a table of contents"), there are better tools for the job.
"A 300K first draft that took 8 years", I feel attacked! lol
I do plot, but I've found out that I should never hold myself to it, and I use it more or less as a means to flesh out the story a little, basically it gives the story some goals to aim at.
While I can just write, I'm learning that it is better to spend more time fleshing out the world of the story, the characters and their motivations. I would agree with what you said, that the most important thing seems to be, why am I writing this story. Case in point, I started a comedy fantasy, but after 20K words, I'm not feeling drawn to write it; it's more or less something that I can write, rather than really want to. So I've gone back to a sci-fi I've obsessed over for ages.
I use scrivener to have an accessible research area, a list of character names, places, science/fantasy elements, and so on (basically an appendix). because so much is done on the fly, it is incredibly helpful to have a side note to say, what the weather is, or what the name of the Inn is that the people are staying at, etc. small details that are needed for continuity.
For me, what helps the story flow, between sessions, is that I list out the bullet points for each chapter, and the next several, that gives me a direction I know the story is headed in, noting of course that 3 expected chapters can turn into 9.
Thanks for the video, it's definitely informative.
great advice. now i know what kind of writer i am. i always make an 'outtakes' file with lines and passages i've taken out but may want later.
Finally. I've been waiting for this.
Been waiting for this entry of the series for month, and it’s as helpful as always. Thank you!!
I just started a completely unplotted & unplanned story like a week ago. Going super well so far.
Thank you so much for all of your insight, advice, strategies and tools. You have no idea how helpful this is. Keep being awesome!
Thank you, and thank you for coming back to us...been a while.
I just finished my first draft this month, largely thanks to your videos. Thanks so much!
Where are her videos for writing a first draft please?
I am definitely this type of writer, and you nailed it! Great job on this video!
This is so helpful and reassuring! The point about having good ideas that are incompatible is such a revelation and will save me so much time and stress. Thank you for posting this :)
I’ve been activating my intuition before I start my writing sessions and it’s helping me SO MUCH. Thank you!!!!!
Ellen, these videos are so clarifying and helpful. I love the last tip on this one about trying methodological options when you get stuck intuitively. I think this is exactly what I do. And I used to think that if I'd started off using more of a plotting approach I wouldn't get stuck like that but the idea that I need to do the discovery writing first and then use the other approach when I get stuck is reassuring as to my process. Also, as an intuitive writer, I often use dreams and the tarot.
FINALLY! I've been looking forward to this one 😁😁
You seriously hit all of my issues and thank you for your insight, there are tons of great tips I’m going to try to use! I like the trial and error, and saving different scripts, and then also trying a different methodology to help me. And also summarizing, although summarizing may be a tad tricky, small summaries sounds like a good idea!
I've been so hyped for this video! Was not let down. Thank you so much (3/17/22)
8:16 Activate your intuition at the start of every session: Immerse myself in the world in whatever way suits me best. Maybe reread more of what I've written or a brainstorm a certain feeling or scene will help me get there. Create scenes that either push the ch. closer or farther from his super objective. Brainstorm scenes that best pressure and test the protag.
11:10 **Make as many mistakes as possible
24:27 Don't be afraid to invest time on an alternate path if a scene, location, or character motivation is changed. Save as much versions of my projects as needed bc edits could be v drastic.
Editing
13:13 Do I personally love or hate each scene? (editing tech. link in des.)
15:54 Get comfortable throwing/replacing things away, even if it's painful and even if it's of things I really loved.
17:42 **Edit the big picture first (character motive; logic; simplify) (this type can get v distracted)
20:17 Hack my intuition with summaries (esp. with complex narratives/structures)
22:57 Polish characters, world, and increase the enjoyment w reader and self in mind
30:53 **"You're not going to write a version of this novel that's the most correct;" enjoy the (cohesive) story for myself. It's okay if people hate or dislike my stories. Every author has received criticism.
I think this was one of your most helpful videos. I listened to you to get in the right headspace before writing before this video.
I'm really glad I discovered your channel. It's like having someone to talk to about writing. I've been published in newspapers several times. I have a novel bouncing around in my head and I really feel like your videos will help me get to it. Thanks so much.
This was the most helpful writing video I've ever seen! Thank you so much for this. I love your breakdown of the different writing types, and I think it's so much more helpful than the way people usually just discuss plotters and pantsers. I'm so glad I found this channel, your advice is not only helpful, but motivating and inspiring.
Wow! Timely information that had me laughing out loud, as it's clear I'm an intuitive pantser. I have literally used each of those 'hacks' along the way. Heading into my first revision, I'm deeply grateful for your patience with the I.P.'s sensitive psyche ;) and appreciate this gentle nudge. My opening will undergo a major overhaul, as the story took some twists along the way, and I'm eager to get (re)-started now. Thanks Ellen, may be seeing you later this year for some editing... if I can avoid tripping over all my loose ends.
This is soooo meee!!!! It's such a pain! I've tried plotting before but I always go outside ittt!!! Thank you for this, Ellen!
Yes, so true, while hands are busy, the mind is still free, and I've "written" while doing simple, repetitive, familiar tasks. Washing dishes and gardening are especially inspiring.
Thank you so much, this is just what I needed. I haven´t heard many yet speak about intuitive writing so thoroughly, clearly and in such a heartfelt and helpful way. What I also like to do and what helps me a lot is speak with my characters or let them speak through me, and as they speak I write what they say, this can be anything, what they are feeling or thinking.
One thing I've had a lot of luck with is jumping around some when you're stuck but have good ideas. The other day I was a bit blocked up trying to finish a chapter of basically just travellers talking to one another. Then one night I woke up at one AM to get some water and when I did an idea hit me for a scene that would be great once they arrived at their destination. By four I'd put down three thousand words and within a day or two I'd gone back and finished the original problem chapter. Just helped me to get some momentum again. For plotter/pantser reference this is a full length novel where I started with zero ideas and in total have come up with about two events right at the end of the story to serve as my entire "outline"
Something that helps me with letting things go (because in the first draft I tend to circle around an idea for three or four scenes when it could just be one more focused scene) is saving the cut material in an excerpts folder on my computer. I've never gone back to change it back to the original but I know I always could if I needed to. It frees me up to build something much better and that ends up being so satisfying! Taking something that makes me cringe and reforming it into something I love is the best feeling. Even better than when I get it right the first time. Thanks for the video!
Great vid - really useful creative approaches
Thank you, Ellen! I recently heard the suggestion of approaching writing sequences in a story as if they were short stories! I'm going to try this now! 💖 - Intuitive + Methodological Pantser Hybrid
i feel so seen ahhaha, it kinda comforts me that my process kind of settled into what you're suggesting on its own - but that last one, the feeling something is off, but being unable to pinpoint it... oh it's so real ahhahahahhaha
Okay so...all the advice you're giving here for this writing type is stuff that worked very well for me as a teenager. Then I quit writing for a long while thanks to severe depression. Now that I'm doing a lot better...perhaps I should see if this is still my writing type :)
So many good points, thank you!
Thank you, Ms. Brock!
your advice is godsend
I've watched your videos over and over again, you are by far the best resource on youtube on methods, etc. I would love it if you could record some examples where you edit someone's draft, how you go through it, methods, what you are thinking about etc etc.
I struggled for a long time with my writing process. Cause everyone said it should be like this or that and plotting is everything and so on. After watching your video i finally realised that i'm the intuitive pantser and it seems like pretty normal that my process is very chaotic. So thank you very much for your encouragement and the tips!
Great video! One thing I'll add is that sometimes if I get stuck, the best thing for me is to write down multiple different options for how the scene goes, and then following those conclusions all the way through in my head/on paper to see if it's the right move. I've found that doing this can really help, especially if you get stuck on a particular part and can't figure out what to do next. Just start considering all the possible outcomes and pick the one that flows the best.
I sure do appreciate all the time and effort you put into these videos, Ellen! As a mostly intuative pantser, who gets creatively bogged-down if writing in a highly structured way; it's really helpful for me to know from you that there are different and valid approaches to writing. Makes me feel more comfortable and confident that the path I'm taking, which is really seeming to work well for me, is a valid approach. P.S. I wonder if you might do a short video about creating an effective book title? I'm finding this a challenge, to convey and interest readers in the topic and spirit of my autobiographical novel, "The Grand Canyon Chronicles". Thanks again!
Holy cow you just gave me a LOT of help!
Exactly this, thank you thank you thank YOU!!!! I can't find anyone else who talks about just not feeling it anymore once you plot. It drives me crazy that I've planned and planned outlines and have lost interest in each one the moment I knew it all. It took me way to long to realize I was not going to be able to know everything in advance and needed to discover it. It's a comic rather than novel too, so complicated.
Yes. It came. I am trying this method right now, I think. I am writing questions as I go and noting character traits as I see them. I am also editing the previous day’s work. I will make a music playlist.
This video is awesome. Thank you.
I get over the pain of throwing stuff away by copy pasting it into another document so that I can still use it in the future if I want to and I won't feel like my time has been wasted or something that I felt inspired to write and for which I have an emotional attachment has been lost.
You are getting better at your teaching🙂
Just what I needed right now!
didnt realize theres terminology for the way I write. love your videos!
I have pantsed short stories and novellas before and I really really loved it. But anything longer than, say 30k, and it becomes straight up impossible for me to do it. I just lose the plot halfway through and end up with a huge mess of a first half. I kind of love trying different things and while I haven't the perfect way for me, I keep coming back to your methodological pantser video.
This one was very interesting, but I guess I'm not an intuitive pantser when it comes to novels. I wish I was because it IS fun when I do it with shorter stories, but alas, it's not meant to be. Thank you so much for your videos, they've been very helpful.
Very much the same. Pantsing short stories is so much fun, I often go right into it with an idea of what the plot is but nothing else, and it turns out great, while plotting a short story doesn't work as well, but for longer thingsI need planning, both for the story and to just make me motivated to keep going. I think it has to do with longer plots being harder to get a good grip on, and generally, plotters do end up having to rewrite less than pantsers as a result
You're obviously quite intuitive. Thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Very helpful. Thank you !
Have been waiting for this!
You keep the good work and effort, Ellen
Differ from Intuitive Plotter with Methodological Pantser, Intuitive Pantser its just complete write-on-whim kind of writing process.
This helps a lot. Great advice
For me, I can't plot because honestly feel like how am I supposed to know what happens? It hasn't happened yet. It happens when I write it. I can come up with the beginning and I know the basics of the ending, like happy, sad, etc. So if you know the destination, then you should probably be able to get there without going off course too much. As I write, I figure things out, but I basically only know what happens next, or I might know very abstract things like they figure the big bad at the end.
But one tip I can give people is to do as much worldbuilding and character work as you can before you start. Also, know story structure. IMO, books need structure, but we see structure every time we watch a cartoon or see a movie. It's ok if it's just internalized and you're not thinking about it, but you should know what it is and how it works, even if you don't spend time trying to fill in plot points. A story has to build to the ending so the ending's earned, that's why it's so important for me to know the basics of the ending. I need that destination.
Thank-you so much for this.
Thank you this was brilliant perfect for me.
I’m definitely at Intuitive type between pantser and planner. I take light notes (bullets) but then heavily improvise off of them to keep it creative and loose for experimentation. So I do plan, but I try not to overdo it.
Plantser.
@@kaylajames3098 makes sense, thank you
thank you so much for this series! I have been watching videos by abbie emmons...and she makes a lot of great points and videos, but i just CANNOT plan and plot my story or focus on story structure. i've always been one to get a scene in my head and just begin writing. my last novel i tried the snowflake method and it's the biggest writing mistake i ever made. i ended up with a story with two major plotlines with no connecting point between the two, basically making it 2 separate stories where one plotline has no influence on the events of the other. total disaster, and to this day (5 years later) still not finished with that story and have no solution to fix the disconnected plotlines. i'm learning a lot from your breakdowns and a lot of your advice really resonates with how i write. i'm somewhere between an intuitive and methodological panster. i think intuitive for the write through of the first draft and then methodological for the next iterations.
Throwing away is… so difficult. Even at over 200k.
I’d like a deeper dive please (or a link to an existing video) for deciding what to toss, what to shorten, and what to keep.
Especially when you feel like almost everything can be either shortened or kept!