Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Seat-of-the-pants writing?


I have to admit, I got the Idea for this post from Pat Dilloway. His post got me to thinking, why do I struggle with the content of what I am writing sometimes.

Via Quickmeme


I  have a idea of what I want to write. I start...I go here, I go there, HOW THE HECK AM I WHERE I AM NOW!! Ok I need an outline to keep my wandering ADHD in check. That helps for a while, then I can't find out how to end it. 


Via Wifflegif


Sometimes I get a pleasant surprise in how things turn out. It's times like that when I just shrug, and go on. When it is all said and done I like the challenge of writing Seat-of-the-pants. Just not the results sometimes.
 


Are you a structured, or a Seat-of-the-pants writer?




29 comments:

  1. I used to be a pantser, but got myself into all sorts of mess. Now I outline. I still manage to create a mess, but it's a slightly more ordered mess ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I plan an outline, then it just kinda wanders off when I'm not looking.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sophisticated seat-of-the-pants technology. That's a reference to something. I can't remember what right now, but it's a reference.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm a dedicated outliner. Takes me longer to plan the outline than to write the first draft. And I guess I always know where I'm going because the first idea that hits is the end of the story. The rest is planning a route to get there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. well, at least you have some nice lacy polka dot purple underpants......

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yay I inspired someone...sort of.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I get too easily distracted, the outline is just a suggestion. Kinda like the speed limit.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like that. As long as the character knows what their doing. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. It must be the Grumpy Bull Dog effect.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It helps to know the general ending -- if only the last words of the characters or the last scene. How you get there can all the turns in the world which allows you a tremendous amount of freedom, yet allow you to plant foreshadowing along the way, too. Fun post today!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am very structured. I have to plot the course, or I get lost and don't finish. Of course, things don't always go exactly as I planned, but I can make changes if necessary.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was never a structured blog writer unt recently. It's more fun flying without a net but the results are better with a little more planning. Great post David and I'm sure Pat loves the bulldogs.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Plot the course...I tend to have plot holes.;-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I always need a plot outline to follow. It helps me to make sure I am writing a full story, and to keep me on track.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I thought your new book only took you 00:30 seconds to write. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. HAHA! I wish!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gary Philip PennickJuly 4, 2014 at 6:55 AM

    Good grief, structured writing is way too unnatural for me. I fly by the seat of my pants. I mean, with the cost of air travel these days :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Pants travel is the only way to go!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am SUCH a pantser… I WISH I could outline and I'm actually trying my best to right now. I feel like it would save so much time!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I outline just to look at it later and wonder what was I thinking...

    C'est la vie

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm an outlined. The more I write, the more I realize I work best on an outline. I hate when I'm writing and have to stop because I have no idea where to go next.

    ReplyDelete
  22. The Blue GrumpsterJuly 6, 2014 at 5:49 PM

    So THAT'S where my pants are..

    ReplyDelete
  23. I prefer shorts to pants, My mother always called them short pants.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm a mini-outliner. I timeline the high points and the ending. I know most of the characters. I usually know the next little bits. Then I sort of outline as I go while I'm writing.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I've never heard of a mini-outline, that might actually help.
    One day I will learn the fine art of the outline.
    Thanks Carol.

    ReplyDelete