I'm A Pantser - I Write Without A Net
"I'm a panster, I write without a net."
by H.C. Brown
So what does this mean? I know a lot of authors plot and plan every chapter in their books. I commend them for being so well organized. My method is completely different. The only thing I plan and stick to it is the time I allocate to write. I organize my day doing promotion, emails and edits in the mornings and then at midday I write. I write every day.
My stories start with an idea or a character. First I like to find my characters names and the places they will visit. I make a very short list of their characteristics as a reference.
I always write the first chapter first, this may be a strange thing to say but I write scenes in no particular order and then put them together. If a scene comes into my head, be it a battle scene, love or conflict I write it and then slot it into the story at the appropriate place.
I have tried to plot but I've found it becomes boring and hell, haven't you read a book where you want to skip over a boring bit? Well I do that when I write. I can change the story at a whim, or if I feel my hero needs a coffee break he can have one. J
Saying this, I read all my stories aloud and my editing process is extremely rigid. I am a stickler for continuity. I like my books to be fast paced and leave the reader panting for more at the end.
I may have five or six works in progress at any one time. I am often asked how I keep all the information in my head. Well, do you watch more than five or six T.V shows—can you keep them all in your head? I'm sure you can, so it's not very different.
So that is how I write no plans, no plot—no net.
H.C. Brown
Keep in touch with Heather.
Her newest book is an anthology and will be released on Monday, October 25, from Noble Romance .
Bite Here, Too Anthology
Enslaved by H.C. Brown
At midnight on All Hallows Eve, the Gates between the realms are wide open. Good and evil in equal measure seek to slake their desire. Be careful for what you wish for Humans, once the Gates shut, there is no going back.
Blood Sacrifice by Stormy Glenn
Being a demon isn't always fun. Being a demon summoned to a satanic ritual is downright miserable. Isaac Braden spends most of his time being a rich recluse but every so often he's introduced to someone new when he's summoned… a blood sacrifice. And tonight Jory Daniels has been chosen to be that sacrifice.
In a satanic ritual summoning gone bad, Isaac finds himself eternally bound to Jory. He has to have the man's blood in order to survive. But when Jory wants something in return, can Isaac submit enough to allow it or will his demon nature take over and cause him to lose the best thing that ever happened to him?
Thanks for coming by, Heather. It's always a pleasure to see how the other side lives. And I LOVE that cover.
Until the next time,
Margie
Categories: guest blogs, writing education, writing help, guest bloggers
Tags: guest bloggers Margie Church writing technique Noble Romance Bite Here Too writing help H.C. Brown
I have a good friend that writes that way and I can't understand it. I'm too anal, though I don't use charts. I just kinda come up with the whole idea at once. She likes to brain storm with me when she's stuck but usually she deviates from my ideas and writes something better with her panster style
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Deanna, I think it just goes to show, we all have our own styles and have to do what works best. I think a blog like this helps someone see that there are other ways and if what you're doing DOESN'T work for you, then try this. Thanks for stopping by! It's nice to hear from you.
Margie
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I'm with ya, H. C. My story ideas sprout from a bit of dialog or mood that I'm in and I let it flourish. I do a rough outline, mostly character, that's about it. The rest of the time, my Muse speaks to me and I type. I edit as I write. It's laborious and time consuming, but I feel it works for me. The final editing process with an editor then goes soo much smoother.
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Hi Heather
I was discussing with Margie yesterday how before I write I've often gone over the whole thing visually in my brain. Particularly if it is a short story. Have you ever done this? In other words before you write one word see an entire scene?
hugs
Alison
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Hi Alison,
Yes I see the whole scene at once all the time. Sometimes the entire story won't leave me alone until it's written.
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I'm a pantser myself, but I do write in order. I like the idea of working the scenes as they come to you though. DH always says what's happening next and I say I don't know THEY haven't told me yet. I feel like the character reveal themselves as I go. But I wonder...
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That happens to me, too. As the characters become more real to me, I hear them...readers think we're nuts. Maybe we are, but this is a common phenom for authors. Thx for coming by, Kate.
BTW, Heather is under the weather today and I know she'll come by as soon as she's able.
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Hi Kate, To be honest I was really pleased to know that others hear their characters. Let's face it we know everything about them, especially the heroes, their scent, their doubts . . .it's wonderful.
Yes I'm battling a 102 temp, head feels like it belongs to someone else.
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Feel better, Heather, and thank you for coming by even though you are so sick!
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Die-hard pantser!!! Looking forward to Nanowrimo this year- who's with me? The characters do become real to me as well, Margie- I hear their voices, see what they see- I dream their dreams...
Keep Dreaming!!! You're not crazy, just creative!!!
xxx
Indigo
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I'm in, Indigo, even if you are a Pantser! LOL, thanks for swinging by and for being a guest at Romance with SASS!
Hugs,
Margie
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Sometimes I think the difference between an author and a really crazy person is that we write it down and get contracts for it lol. I would miss my characters if they found a cure
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Hummmm, Kate, you got me thinking. Now, says the plotter, if I write it down, it can be found and used against me in a sanity hearing (or lack of sanity hearing)....*smacks forehead* NOW I KNOW WHY THEY USE PEN NAMES!!!!
I, too, miss my characters when I'm done with a book. You really get to know them intimately if you're writing romance.
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Hope you feel better, Heather. It's a shame our characters won't bring us soup and a warm, soft blanket when we don't feel well.
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Is it possibble to be alittle of both? I think I lean more to the Panster side of things... great article.
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Hi Dominique. I definitely think so. There are times I'm more of a pantser but when I'm writing suspense, I'm a plotter all the way. Guess what I'm writing makes the difference for me.
Best,
Margie
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Hi Margie - this subject really interests me and I never knew the word "pantser" until I discovered I was a thorough one - 100%. I recently blogged about it too.
Sue
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Hi Sue, Thanks for coming by. Send me the link to the post. I'd love to read it!
Margie
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Hi Heather, great blog. All this time I thought I was the only one who wrote like that. When a scene pops in my head, I have to write it, while it's hot. Then weave it into the story at the appropriate time. Happy Halloween!
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Some great comments. I'm glad you are like me Cassie now I know I'm not crazy.
Have a great Halloween everyone.
HC
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