Plotter, Pantser… and Proud Plantser

Lynda DuBois
Feb 18
4 min read

Finding the writing path that fits your personality

Writers love a good label. We define genres, name tropes, and—if we’ve spent any time around other authors—eventually find ourselves in the long-running conversation:

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

For years I listened to that debate and quietly thought, Well… neither, really. Somewhere along the way I discovered there was a name for writers like me.

Plantser.

The moment I heard it, I felt seen.

Plotters and Pantsers: The Classic Divide

In simple terms, the writing world often separates creative process into two camps.

Plotters outline and plan. They map story arcs, chart character journeys, and often know the ending before writing the first chapter. Structure gives them confidence and direction.

Pantsers write “by the seat of their pants.” They begin with a character, a situation, or even a single image and let the story unfold organically. Discovery is part of the joy.

Both approaches produce extraordinary novels. Both have devoted followers. And both can look at the other with a bit of wonder.

Plotters may ask: How can you write without knowing where you’re going? Pantsers may counter: How can you create if everything is already planned?

Then there are those of us happily standing somewhere in between.

The Rise of the Plantser

The term plantser—a blend of plotter and pantser—began circulating in writing communities and conferences in the early 2000s as more authors admitted they didn’t fit neatly into either category.

It stuck.

A plantser uses both structure and spontaneity. We might begin with:

A loose outline
A sense of beginning and ending
A few key turning points
Strong character sketches

And then we allow the story to breathe.

Scenes appear we didn’t expect. Characters shift direction. A carefully considered outline may get nudged aside by a moment of creative truth that insists on being written. We plan enough to feel grounded, then wander enough to feel inspired.

For many of us, it’s the perfect balance.

Personality and Process

What fascinates me most about the plotter-versus-pantser conversation is how often writing style mirrors personality.

Writers who enjoy structure in daily life frequently feel at home with outlines and planning. Those who thrive on spontaneity often prefer discovery writing. And many of us carry a blend of both traits into our creative work.

Being a plantser often reflects a personality that values:

Structure—but not rigidity
Creativity—but not chaos
Direction—with room for surprise

In life, we might keep a calendar… but still leave space for adventure. We like knowing the destination… but don’t mind a scenic detour.

That middle ground is where many stories—and many writers—truly come alive.

Learning from Both Sides

Over the years, I’ve explored a variety of writing approaches and craft books. Each offered insight into how stories can be built.

Stephen King, in On Writing, describes himself as a classic “seat-of-the-pants” writer, allowing story to emerge naturally through character and situation. Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird celebrates messy first drafts and the freedom of discovery.

On the other side, structured approaches like James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure and K.M. Weiland’s Outlining Your Novel provide clear frameworks for writers who thrive on planning.

One method that particularly intrigued me was Evan Marshall’s The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing, which offers a detailed blueprint for structuring a novel—from pacing and character arcs to scene organization. It’s an excellent resource for writers who appreciate strong narrative scaffolding.

Studying these systems taught me something important: I value structure… but I also need room to wander inside it.

That realization is what finally led me to embrace being a plantser.

The Freedom of the Middle Path

The beauty of the plantser approach is flexibility.

Some books require more planning—especially historical fiction, fantasy worlds, or multi-layered timelines. Other stories arrive more intuitively, guided by character and voice. Over time, many writers find their process evolving with experience and with each new project.

There is no rule that says you must choose one method and stay there forever.

Writing is not static. Neither are we.

Finding Your Natural Rhythm

If you’re still discovering your preferred process, try experimenting:

Outline a short piece before writing it.
Write another with no plan at all.
Notice which approach energizes you.
Pay attention to where momentum feels strongest.

Ask yourself:

Do I feel calmer when I have a roadmap?
Or more alive when I don’t know what comes next?
Does structure inspire me—or stifle me?
Does discovery excite me—or overwhelm me?

Your answers will guide you toward the process that fits both your creativity and your personality.

When I began writing Wolf Coat, I thought I needed to choose a lane—plotter or pantser. Historical fiction, after all, carries timelines, research, and real events that beg for structure. I outlined. I made notes. I even convinced myself I had a plan. And then the characters began speaking, shifting scenes, and revealing truths I hadn’t anticipated. That’s when I realized I was writing exactly as I always do: with one hand on a map and the other reaching into the unknown. Wolf Coat wasn’t written by a strict plotter or a fearless pantser—it was written by a proud plantser, trusting both structure and instinct to guide the story home.

Final Thoughts: There Is No “Right” Way

The writing world loves definitions, but creativity rarely fits neatly into them.

Plotter. Pantser. Plantser.

Each path leads to the same destination: a finished story shaped by imagination, persistence, and heart.

I’ve learned to appreciate structure without being confined by it, to welcome surprise without losing direction. For me, story works best when there’s both a compass and a bit of wilderness.

So if you find yourself living somewhere in the middle—planning a little, wandering a little—you’re in very good company.

Some of us simply prefer to travel with both a map…and a sense of adventure.