The Problem With Pantsers: You Should Plan Your Novel

When it comes to novel writing, there are two main kinds of writers: Plotters and Pantsers.

It’s more complicated than that, of course. There is a spectrum within each camp and some writers fall closer to the middle than others. But in my opinion, the two sides are not created equal.

Plotters outline their works to varying degrees, with the most serious plotters going so far as to write out detailed scenes throughout their plan. Some of the most intense outlines can stretch out for 30 or 40 pages.

Pantsers focus less on planning or plotting their novels, preferring to let their stories and characters play out organically with in-the-moment inspiration. In the most extreme cases, some pantsers will write their stories with no outline at all.

The Problem

Flexibility is important for a writer, and I think that the best authors can roll with a new plot idea or change their characters when they need to for the sake of their story. From this perspective, I think every writer should be a little bit of a pantser.

The problems crop up when writers have no plan and let their characters roam freely in a world without direction. Stories without a plan lose focus and betray their character arcs. It’s important for a book to follow the basic three-act structure to make sure all your story bases are covered. But the biggest problem I see in writing without a plan is that your characters will suffer.

The Characters Create Themselves

I hate this phrase. Every time a writer says their characters create themselves, I gag a little. Not only do I believe it’s a poor approach to character design, but it’s simply not true. Even when your character seems to come to life, they came from your head. They are not autonomous beings and they need your help and direction to thrive.

Here’s an example:

If you were a choir director, would you let your singers come in late or hold notes longer than they’re supposed to? Would you let one of your singers pick a new song in the middle of your performance because it felt right to them? The obvious answer is no. But hopefully you can see the parallels I’m drawing between choir and writing.

In the choir director analogy, the singers are the ones performing. They each have unique voices and talents, but it’s your job to take that talent and shape it into something meaningful for the performance. As the director, you can hear when one voice is too loud or when your singers of off-key. You can watch them from a distance and make sure they are all singing in unison and that the audience can understand the words.

As a writer, it’s your job to direct your characters. Like students, they depend on your vision to help them communicate whatever story you’re trying to tell. And the only way to get solid character arcs that complement and drive the plot is to plan them out.

Good Characters Feel Like Real People

I think what many writers mean when they say the characters write themselves is that sometimes a character is so fully realized that it feels like they are acting autonomously. But this is different than writing themselves. A character who is primarily motivated by their own self-interest will continually make selfish decisions, so it may seem like the choice was made before you got there as the writer when in reality, certain choices were taken off the table when you wrote a selfish character and there are only a few logical choices left.

My point here is that characters should feel like real people. But some pantsers go wrong in thinking that the key to a realistic character is to give them free rein of the page. But when you give your characters the ability to make any choice in any given moment instead of the ones that fit their motives, personality, and goals, you betray their arc and make them feel too random.

A certain amount of predictability in a story is a good thing. And predictability requires planning.

Pantsing Your Novel Can Lead to Plot Holes

The other obvious problem with not having an outline is that your plot is likely to suffer. One of your characters might show up in Chicago when last chapter they were in California and you simply forgot to arrange their travel plans. Or your villain’s major scheme could fall through because you forgot to account for something on the hero’s side.

Hopefully, you’ll catch these errors and the worst that will happen is you’ll waste time re-writing something that might have worked with a little more forethought. But chances are some of these plot holes will make it into your final product and embarrass you in front of your readers.

Building a sensible plot that delivers whatever message you’re trying to send is only the first step to writing an unforgettable story. If you want your readers to be hooked, shocked, or changed, you need to plan out the intricacies of your plot so you can see how everything fits together before you start writing. That ridiculous side quest in Star Wars Episode VIII might never have made it onscreen if someone had thought to say wait a minute. This doesn’t make sense.

Don’t let your story fall prey to plot holes because you weren’t interested in making sure your invention worked before you turned it on.

The Real Reason I Don’t Like Pantsers

My biggest problem with pantsers is that they don’t take into account their readers. Your book is not about fulfilling your dream or satisfying your own whims. It is about providing readers with an experience that can touch them, fulfill them, and transform them.

Fulfillment is a very simple concept: you make a promise and then follow through. Promises are made at the beginning of a novel. When you introduce a character, you introduce their problems:

• What does your character lack?
• What do they hope to find by the end of the novel?
• Will they accomplish their goal?

These questions need answers, and when an audience reaches the end of a story and feels dissatisfied with the ending, more often than not it is because the author failed to plan accordingly. Reading is an investment, both of time and interest. Your readers trust you to take them on a journey and it’s not fair to have them board your bus when you have no clue where you’re going.

Unlike some other professions, writing does not provide readers with a product they can simply return if they don’t like it. Books can be returned, yes, but the reader’s time cannot. Neither can they take back the hope they placed in your characters when you introduced them. Unmet expectations cause more misery than anything else, and it is emotionally painful for your audience to be betrayed by your story. Just look at the outrage sparked by Game of Thrones.

Plan Your Story and You’ll Avoid Most of These Problems

Most problems in writing can be solved with a good plan. The more you write, the better your next plan will be because you’ll know what to expect. It takes a lot of practice, but you’ll find that if you write an outline, even if it’s just a quick one, your writing will improve faster and your books will be noticeably better with each draft.

Like I said at the beginning of this post, you don’t have to stick completely to one side or the other. I believe the best writers pick up all the strengths of plotters and pantsers to create stories that are both fulfilling. and surprising. Sometimes you’ll think of a new idea in the middle of writing your story and even if you had a plan it’s great to add in changes when they will improve the final product. Give yourself enough wiggle room to be flexible when the story calls for it, but have a plan so you know where you need to end up.

It’s all about finding a balance, and I hope you’ve read something today that made you think. Whether your agree or not, make sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments! I love connecting with my fellow writers. And don’t forget you can always reach out to me on Twitter. Happy writing!