Plotting for Pantsers-How I write
Many people have asked me how I come up with my stories and how I write. So I wrote a book on how I write. Inside this book, you’ll find all my ideas plus plenty of exercises for your creative imagination! You can get a copy here.
I’ve taught several classes on my method. I’m a true pantser through and through, but I do have a few things I “plot” out before I start writing. A lot of it I just make up as I go along. But here’s my method in a nutshell.
So here’s my six easy steps:
- The idea: I use lots of different methods for coming up with ideas. I have a Pinterest board called Story Starters. Lately, though, I’ve used a method by Abbie Emmons. Check out her YouTube Video.
2. Begin with the end in mind. For me, I almost always know what the end of the book is going to be. In my book Losing Grace I had a vague idea that it would be a happily ever after, but I wasn’t sure how she was going to resolve the issue of her daughter’s death, and could she go back in time to save her? It wasn’t until I got to the second to the last chapter that I knew because of the lessons my character learned along the way. Sometimes, you just have to write until you get a clear picture of what you’re writing towards, but it’s definitely easier if you know how you want your book to end.
If you want to know whether I wanted to save Janae’s daughter, you’ll just have to read the book! You can grab a copy here.
3. Pick a theme. It will drive your story forward if you know what you want your reader to come away with…whether it’s a feeling, an idea, or a call to action. In my book The Penny Project, the theme is You love who you serve. Jake, the bully, must learn some hard lessons through his service to the girl he treats horribly.
Check out how Jake turns his bad situation around! Click here.
4. The Cast of Characters. You’ll want to make the people in your story intriguing enough that your reader will either cheer them on, can’t wait to see them get their just desserts, or change in a satisfying way. Give your character flaws to overcome, then throw all kinds of rocks at them to prevent it or make them face their flaws in satisfying ways.
5. Setting. In all of your stories, you will need to world-build. “Whoa, wait? I’m not writing Fantasy or Sci-fi, why do I need to create a world?” Is an office part of your character’s world? A forest with a cabin, the city with its skyscrapers, or a small town with a corner store and gas station? All of the places your character visits, also need to be seen by the reader.
6. The last step. Just write the darn story! Nobody can tell it like you! So what are you waiting for?