The Methodological Pantser: Tips for Writing Success

🖋️Treat your writing process as fluid and flexible, allowing for exploration and refinement of your ideas.

🗺️Plot in advance only when it helps you, but be open to a more organic and intuitive approach to storytelling.

📝Expect to run out of steam in the first draft and embrace the editing process as soon as you feel stuck or unsatisfied.

⌛Avoid measuring success by word count and focus on the time spent on your novel as a measure of progress.

🌟Embrace your identity as a methodological pantser and trust your unique creative process.

Should I plot my entire novel in advance?

—As a methodological pantser, you thrive with a more fluid and flexible approach to storytelling. Plot in advance only if it helps you, but be open to intuitive and organic storytelling methods.

What should I do if I run out of steam in the first draft?

—Running out of steam is common for methodological pantsers. Embrace the editing process and start refining your ideas as soon as you feel stuck or unsatisfied with your progress.

How should I measure success in my writing?

—Instead of measuring success by word count, focus on the time spent on your novel. Set goals for the amount of time you dedicate to your writing each week or each day.

Can I combine plotting and pantsing in my writing process?

—Absolutely! As a methodological pantser, you can take a mix-and-match approach to different writing techniques. Find what works best for you and embrace your unique creative process.

Is it normal to constantly edit and refine my ideas?

—Yes, for methodological pantsers, it is common to continuously edit and refine your ideas as you go. Embrace this process and trust that it will lead to a stronger and more satisfying novel.

00:00Introduction to the concept of methodological pantser and how it relates to different writer types.

04:00Tips for treating your writing process as fluid and flexible, and refining your ideas before writing the first draft.

06:30Advice for methodological pantsers on when and how to plot in advance and when to embrace organic storytelling methods.

09:30Understanding and accepting the fact that running out of steam is common in the first draft, and the importance of embracing the editing process.

15:45Why it's important to avoid measuring success by word count and instead focus on the time spent on your novel.

18:20Encouragement to embrace your identity as a methodological pantser and trust your unique creative process.