PANTSTER OR PLANNER

Today I'd like to share my take on a topic I've seen crop up from time to time on different blogs: pantster or planner?

The definition of pantsing is flying by the seat of your pants, i.e. without a plan, winging it. But, and here I’m sticking my head above the parapet - straight after which I'm flinging myself flat on the ground - and wondering why this phrase is used by writers? (Here writers means novelists, or aspiring novelists.)

What is called pantsing is writing without a formal plan– it’s not writing without any plan. Most pantsters have some notion of where they’re going to start, even if they haven’t planned the entire journey and don’t yet know the destination. They plan as they go, taking up and running with ideas as they arise. 

Writing without a plan is freewriting. And James Joyce’s Ullyses may be written in a stream of consciousness style, giving the impression of spontaneity, but Joyce gave every word he wrote intense consideration.  

Pantsters feel they have the choice to change direction, go where inspiration takes them - at any time.  Doesn’t every writer? Sometimes planning is a way in to the story, and just because you have a written plan, nothing, other than your own reluctance, prevents even the most meticulous of planners with charts, backstories, and detailed scene outlines changing direction. 

My argument is with the terminology. Pantsing implies a closer link to originality and creativity. Planning is a more staid, thoughtful, less inspired word. It is possible there isn’t a great deal of difference - the question is simply one of instant planning, or planning further ahead, and that it's not a choice between the scenic route or the motorway. But somehow I have the feeling that 'informal/instant planner' will never be taken up - it simply doesn’t have that same stylish ring as pantster. 

Writing Update

This week I’ve managed, at last, to put my WIP on the back burner, as it has simply refused to go to sleep, despite efforts to lull it into complaisance by freewriting and working on haikus. 

And with the aim of keeping my writing self as occupied as possible,  I’ve dug out my nano effort from 2012 - genre: soft sci-fi – adventure/romance. Reading a rough draft I wrote over a year ago is a strange experience. It’s like looking at a black and white photo from a long time ago; the memory of the event is fuzzy and details return but slowly. At present, I’m putting chapter one through the pro writing edit mill, with the idea of posting one chapter per month on Wattpad.

Also dusted off, edited, and with a large amount of trepidation, going up on Wattpad later this week are two shorter pieces of writing; one a crime caper short story, and the other a sci-fi flash fiction.

As you see, I’m busy exercising my writing muscle, and the rest of that stuff on the to do list while the WIP rests...well, it'll have to wait!

Today’s haiku 

COUPLE IN THE COFFEE SHOP

they’re tired, jaded,

dulled eyes, mouths turned down, sour smiles –

what murdered their love?

Useful links: 

I posted this the other day, so in case you didn't catch it - it's worth a read. http://theamericanscholar.org/ten-best-sentences/#.UzpmSVfaIkR 

And 40 book promoting sites for the indie author: 
http://bit.ly/12QtGyT 


I'm admitting failure in the 100 Happy Days photo challenge. After the laptop debacle last week, Twitter kept timing out when I uploaded my pics. I couldn’t always come back later to try again, so after almost 40 days of posting happy pics I’ve joined the 70% who drop out. But on the positive side, I did enjoy the challenge.

Join me on Twitter (and check out the happy pics I did post) at: teagankearney@modhaiku

Thanks for visiting my blog, and please do leave a comment.

To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to those of you who write, good writing.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

                                  

WRITING PROCESS BLOG HOP!

I’m so pleased to be participating in my first blog hop as my good friend, Vashti Q Vega, tagged me for the Writing Process Blog Hop. Vashti is the successful author of a brilliant book, The Basement, and writes a popular blog, which I highly recommend you check out.

Here are the Writing Process Blog Hop rules: 

1.) Link back to the person who invited you to this Blog Hop.

With pleasure – here’s the link to Vashti’s blog: 

http://vashtiqvega.wordpress.com/author/vashtiqvega/  

2.)Name four writers who will continue this Blog Hop and notify them.

Here are my four nominations:

Squid McFinnigan is a brilliant short story writer with a unique voice who brings his characters to life so vividly, they take up residence in your imagination.

Paula Pencarrow is a storyteller and writer whose musings and reflections on her writing journey, and on life, are expressed with clarity and precision. Her posts are a great read.

A. Long, is a talented poet and generous soul who has a great sense of humour, and a good word for everyone. You can read his beautiful poems on his blog where he posts short stories, poetry and writes on various topics.

Alys Daniels-Creasey, is a young poet on a writing marathon,who posts her poems on a daily basis. Alys's poems address many topics, and she has a distinct voice. She is definitely a poet to watch, and I love reading her poetry.  

3.) Answer the four questions below:

What are you working on?

I ’m working on a paranormal romance written during last November’s NaNoWriMo, and just finished the first edit. At the moment I’m letting it rest for a few weeks - with difficulty because my imagination won’t let the story go!

It’s the first supernatural tale I’ve written, and I’m thoroughly involved with my characters’ struggles – it’s my twist on the eternal triangle. I have a title but waiting to be sure I won’t change my mind. 

How does your work differ from others in the genre?

Whew! That’s a tough question. Um... because I’m an individual and my stories reflect my unique perspective. (Does that sound convincing?)

Why do you write what you write?

Because I enjoy answering the question of what if, by delving into other, different lives. I think emotions – expressed or repressed – rule our behaviour and I want to explore how this impacts people’s lives. I don’t write in any one genre. My last novel (promo alert) An Unstill Life falls under the commercial women’s fiction banner, and is more character led than the current work, which contains more action.

How does your writing process work?  

Basically like this: 

   INSPIRATION: an idea hits me, and I fall in love with either the character or the premise.

   INCUBATION: Once I have the heart of the story, I incubate the concept for a while,

   returning to the idea over time, thinking about what I have so far, and pondering ideas. 

   I do this alongside whatever I’m currently working on, letting my subconscious share some

   of the work. 

   For example, my WIP is a trilogy and I’m incubating ideas for the second book in the 

   series. The characters are established and I have the basic plot, an notion for a subplot 

   and the conclusion, but the plot outline isn’t clear in any detail yet. Similarly I know how 

   the third book in the series opens, and how it needs to end but the rest is still hidden.

   PLANNING: Writing is a journey of discovery and I’m learning, that for me, the clearer  

   the outline, the freer I feel to expand and enlarge on it when I start writing the story. And 

   I’m discovering that what worked for my writing in the past, doesn’t work for me now, 

   and what works for me now, may not always work in the future. 

My writing process is not orderly; ideas come in bursts and I grab and expand them. One aspect or another is always churning around in my mind, and I jot down bits and pieces on scraps of paper or in various notebooks, so I'm a bit disorganized. Sometimes I think writing is similar to participating in an extreme sport – lots of hard work and discipline are necessary, but the thrills and the results are worth the effort. 

Writing Update

While I rest the WIP, I have a ton of plans to execute – first being to catch my breath, have a day off, and do nothing but read...the rest can wait! On the list is: research on background details for the current novel, see if I can get the WordPress site up, sort a few pieces to put on Wattpad - writer with GSOH seeking friendly readers etc., etc. It’ll be interesting to see how much I accomplish...

Today’s Haiku

past melodies lead

down hazy tunnels of time

to places I’ve lost

Useful Links: Check out these amazing bloggers – you're in for a treat!

http://vashtiqvega.wordpress.com
www.squidmcfinnigan.blogspot.com 

http://paulareednancarrow.com/

http://ajwrites57.blogspot.com/

http://80000words.blogspot.co.uk

I’ve hit a glitch in the 100 Happy Days challenge, as my laptop is moodily refusing to upload my pics, but please join me on Twitter and check out the ones I've posted at: teagankearney@modhaiku 

Thanks for visiting my blog, and please do leave a comment.

To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to those of you who write, good writing.

CONSTRUCTING CHARACTER

Some writers feel that characters are found, and, as with new friends, we discover their personalities in stages. I know mine are definitely incomplete at the beginning of a story. Generally I have an idea of the characters, setting and plot, but the protagonist’s inner conflicts emerge as I write. I find it takes time to know and understand the individuals I’m creating.

People often present different facets of themselves depending on who they are interacting with; a man is subservient to his boss, dominating with his wife, and is a Jack the Lad in front of his friends.

I came across an interesting exercise recently which is helpful when constructing characters: 

       

       Find a place, the post office, a restaurant, the ER, where people are gathered and 

       scrutinize their faces. (Don’t do the bug-eyed stalker thing; be circumspect as 

       you've no desire to end up explaining your actions to the security guard.)

      

       Look for distinctly asymmetrical faces  - most people’s are to some extent, so this 

       shouldn’t be too hard.

      

       Study the two halves separately - as best you can - and assign a separate identity to each 

       half. 

A wee warning as this isn't the easiest writing exercise I've ever tried, but I went to my local library yesterday and gave it a go. I did spot several faces which I thought had the following attributes: melancholic poet/friendly shop assistant; disinterested teenager/helpful nurse; intensive journalist/outgoing tour guide. 

This assignment isn’t a guessing game, but an aid in constructing distinct aspects of a personality that demonstrates how someone can be in conflict with himself, and/or at odds with the world. For example, a man becomes an accountant because he is excellent at math, yet he’s frustrated as he wanted to be an engineer. You create a pressure cooker situation - he puts up with his circumstances till the day comes when he decides he’s had enough, and walks out on his life. What happens to him, and to those he left?

Fiction revolves around, and loves, conflict. A writer can create as much tension in a nervy newlywed anticipating a visit from a critical mother-in-law as in a fighter facing an opponent. If you add the unfortunate ability to burn anything the young wife cooks, you have inner and outer conflict, plus the opportunity for tragedy, or comedy - or both. Make the fight for a title which the older man wants to retain against an up and coming challenger, and you’ve heightened the stakes for your protagonist.

Having both internal and external conflicts are crucial. Readers become emotionally involved with characters, and how your character perceives the threat is what draws readers in - and keeps them captivated.

Writing Update

Editing continues and my plucky heroine is battered and bewildered, but like all true heroines, keeps going despite adversity – and the worst hasn’t even happened yet... 

Sometimes when editing, and I’m unsure of my choice of words, I leave the word in place thinking that if I need to change it, I'll do so after the next read. Other times, I’m correcting one thing, notice other points, and follow that chain no matter how long till I’m satisfied.

I have four and a half chapters to go – starting to get excited now the end of this edit is in sight. 

And my head’s buzzing with plans to keep me busy while I rest the story. I’m itching to move An Unstill Life closer towards publication, which means working on the cover; I want to plan part two of my supernatural trilogy (I have the main outline in my head - the devil will be in the details); hoping to make progress with setting up a WordPress blog, which I did start, but it slid down the list. Bottom line at the moment is as long as I’m writing, or planning about writing, or thinking about writing – life is good.

Today’s Haiku

tip of finger buds

stretch from skeletal branches -

Persephone comes

Useful Links

An interesting article which I’m still digesting:

http://shahwharton.com/2014/03/why-i-suck-at-book-marketing-why-you-do-to-indielife-iwsg-amwriting/

I’m participating in the 100 Happy Days challenge, which I find a genuine mood lifter, so please check out my happy pics, and join me on Twitter: teagankearney@modhaiku 

Thanks for visiting my blog, and please do leave a comment.

To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to those of you who write, good writing.