I have always been a pantser in that I tend to write the ideas as they pop into my head and worry about it making sense later. It worked for me in the past before I decided to take things seriously as a writer and I decided to give plotting a go. I read a few books on the subject and took a plotting course and I have to admit that, at first, it did not feel natural to me at all. Where is the fun in plotting? The surprise? Well, surprisingly it was still there, it was just different. And plotting had another unexpected benefit; it helped me overcome writer's block.

How did it do that? Well, when I was a pantser, I was looking at the current scene and the current problem without giving much thought to the next few chapters, or the ending or the point I needed to reach with my characters. So, if I found myself stuck in a scene, I stalled altogether. By plotting, however, I already have the book planned out, I know where I have to go and how the story is supposed to develop, so if I stall on a particular scene, I can just move on to another chapter and write it instead, coming back to the block later.

Every plotter is different. Some will plan out individual scenes, others can get by on a line or two to keep them on track. My method is to create a new document, lay out the chapter headings and then add a paragraph or two about what happens, beginning to end in the chapter. By laying it out like this, it is easier to spot plot holes and to see if the story flows well. Where does the surprise come in? Well, while I have to get from point A to point B in a chapter, how I get there is not concrete. Perhaps the MC discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her and walks in on them together. Depending on the story, there is a lot to play with. Why did she go home? Who is he cheating with? Was she planning a big surprise for the boyfriend? How does his betrayal drive the MC forward? She might move out, she might kill her boyfriend...anything could happen. Sometimes the story will go off in its own direction and if it is something that works, then go with it. It leaves you open to both options, while still ensuring that the story moves forward.

If you are a pantser like me, consider giving plotting a try. It is also a great tool to make you write faster because you know where the story is going. There are many great books on the market to help you out. Or you might consider a course to help you learn the basics. If you do, then you may find that writer's block becomes a thing of the past and your work will flow like never before.