Plotters and Panters (or Pantsers)

I’m often asked about how I develop my novels and plot their characters. I’ve learned from a number of best-selling, and some not-so-best-selling authors, that most of us fall into two basic categories: Plotters or Panters (some use Pantsers).

Plotters meticulously map out their novel – they compile pages of comprehensive notes or line their walls with little yellow stickies of intricate details, then write their narrative.

Panters are the opposite – they fly by the seat of their pants, and ‘Ta-Da’, the novel is written. Mind you, it’s usually it’s a long, drawn-out journey to get to the ‘Ta-Da’ part. I am definitely a Panter. When I start a book, I already have a fairly clear idea of how it will end. I write at home, when it is quiet and I am undistracted by other things (except watching Jeopardy).

In The Road to Alright, there are four main characters (and four secondary roles, counting a dog). The Park Street Secrets has many characters, summarized in a chart at the front of the novel. In Follow Polly’s Lane, the unpublished manuscript I just finished at the end of March, there are five main characters (this time a dog is a main character).

When I reflect on all of my characters and plots, I have only changed the trajectory once, which didn’t affect the plot outcome. So, I feel confident saying the panter method works for me.

In the photo, “Happy Pants” represents me when I get to that ‘Ta-Da’ moment. Pure joy (including some happy tears).

Book # 4: Here I come …

Take good care!

Yvonne