Writing Tips for Pantsers

Not everyone likes to plot their books in detail, therefore let me share some tips for writing that maybe more suitable for pantsers than plotters. Perhaps I should describe them as those who prefer to write in a more relaxed fashion than a detailed plot may allow. Anyway, a few writing tips coming up.

Even if you are a pantser, before you sit down to write your book, or brief outline, it makes sense that you should know which genre you plan to write and who your main characters will be.

Also be aware of the hook you plan to use. This will comprise of the genre you have chosen, the protagonist, the primary conflict. You should also know how your book will end. These few details will allow your story to flow readily tfrom your head o your page without detailed plotting.

Having said this, any experienced author knows that it is a long way from a vague idea to a cohesive story line. A thirty word plan should allow you to jot down what your protagonist wants, what your antagonist wants and the stakes involved. Also remember to include a compelling twist and a time frame.

To make your story immediately interesting to your readers, something should happen right away that results in change for your main character. This inciting incident requires your character to make a decision or take an action that will change their circumstances. Of course, to accomplish this you need to make the reader aware of enough of this character's life to make this change evident.

This change or challenge must be accepted by the protagonist, or you will have no story! The acceptance should also happen quite quickly because you want to retain your readers' interest.

As the story progresses the main character may make alliances or undertake actions that help them to accomplish their goal. You will then want to ensure that they have some success or you reveal additional information to your reader to drive the story forward. Make usre your character has an element of success. It is a point of pleasure for the reader. Unfortunately, loss or disappointment will follow to keep up the tension.

A false final plan will usually follow where the protagonist feels strong and in control but there is still a twist in the tale to surprise the reader before the ending is revealed.

The ending should reslove the primary challenge and tie up all the smaller lose ends so that your contract with the reader is kept and your main character, having realised what they have to do to overcome thier challenge, should meet their objective and bring your book to a satisfying conclusion.

While it is not necessary to create a detailed plot for every book, you as the author must cover the key elements of your story, retain the interest of your readers and meet their expectations.