Pantsing vs. Plotting: How I Finally Figured Out Which Writer I Am

Of course writing is not just about writing.

Originally posted on Substack on April 4, 2026.

“Pantsers” and “plotters.” Not something you’d find at the hardware store, but an approach to writing. Maybe you’ve heard of them? Especially if you read the occasional writing craft magazine, undertake a write-a-novel-in-a-month challenge, or frequent the online community discussions. TLDR: Pantsing means “flying by the seat of your pants.” Pantsing relies on discovery and following a story wherever it leads. Plotters tend to work from an outline, following each beat toward the destination. I have found articles advocating for one side or the other or a hybrid version as the best approach. Most people are somewhere in the middle, and some people lean. I’ve always fancied the panster as the unicorn achievement in writing mythology.

The busy female writer archetype, filled with whimsy and wit, hands flying across the keyboard. She is tireless and writes into all hours of the evening, only taking occasional breaks to stare ponderously at a vase of flowers or contemplate aloud the contents of her life. Everything is effortless, and writer’s blocks are solved in the span of a 30-second commercial. There is nothing that she cannot overcome with the power of her endless well of words. (I’m specifically thinking of the iconic Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail and Sarah Jessica Parker’s dream job/dream apartment scenario of Sex in the City.)

This steady diet of writer protagonists was very good at romanticizing the writing process, but it was bad for my approach to a long-term fiction project (aka the 20-year-in-the-making novel). Pantsing is how I wrote the first 40,000 words of my manuscript, and I felt a certain pride in picking up the mantle of the serendipitous writer. I spent the entire first winter of serious writing chasing inspiration and vibes. I’m glad I spent time writing in this mode, because it helped me get started and encouraged the sit-down-and-write instinct that needed practice. It led to an interesting first draft, and I followed my characters down some weird rabbit holes. My story was rich in descriptions but, alas, also rich in loose ends.

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