Plotting for Pantsers in 6 Easy Steps

By Betsy Love

Coming up short in your writing?
Here's some simple solutions to get you going again.
For those of you who have tried to plot only to find you have deviated from your outline by chapter two, this book will explore some methods to achieve a great story writing by the seat of your pants. You will discover how these six easy steps will help to create a skeleton novel that allows the freedom of “pantsing” while following a loose structure. Included are lots of fun writing exercises to get your brain-juices flowing.
I loved it! This helpful and insightful book will help my pantser self write my next book. Betsy Love brought up things I hadn't thought of before. I am excited to be able to have this book as a reference during my writing. – Keri Brooks McWhorter, author of Second Love in New York City

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Electric Scroll
• Release date: Sep 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781940311890

Book preview

Plotting for Pantsers

IN 6 EASY STEPS

Betsy Love

Copyright 2019, Betsy Love

Cover Copyright 2019 Sarah Waggoner, Used by permission

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. Published in the United States of America by The Electric Scroll. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher. For information contact The Electric Scroll, 745 N. Gilbert Rd. Ste 124 PMB 197, Gilbert, Arizona, 85234.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Preface

What is a pantser? What is a plotter?

The Writer's Journey

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

Step Four

More About Characters

Step Five

Step Six

A Few Last Things

Writer's Block

Finally

About the Author

Books by Betsy Love

Connect with me Online

DEDICATION

Dedicated to my husband who loves and supports me. And to my iwritenetwork buddies, Stephanie Nelson, Donna Weaver, Gussie Fick and Ann Hunter who keep me motivated!

PREFACE

When writing my first couple of books, I would come up with a vague idea, sit down to write, but get lost somewhere before I even hit the third or fourth chapter. My first book took me almost seven years to write, some of it because of the extensive research of the time period, but a lot of it because I had no idea what came next.

Since then, I've discovered a few tips and tricks to make writing a novel much more enjoyable for a pantser and releasing the guilt of not being a plotter. Do you sometimes feel shunned by those who outline because you write by the seat of your pants? I used to, but now, I've learned to embrace my pantser-self! And how liberating that is. I can't wait to share with you some of my discoveries.

Some readers who are reading a how to book prefer to read the book and then go back and do the writing exercises. I'm the same way. However, this is meant to be a workbook. Whether you are following along during one of my classes or reading this on your own, you can do the exercises as you come to them, or you can skip ahead and read to the end, then come back and do them later.

Although this is a workbook, I want you to be able to use the exercises over again to help you with each new book. Therefore, you will need your own paper or a computer for writing your exercises, as no space is provided for actually writing in the book.

WHAT IS A PANTSER? WHAT IS A PLOTTER?

Pantser: one who writes by the seat of their pants and is not exactly sure how the story will go or how it might turn out.

Plotter: one who completely outlines the novel from start to finish including knowing exactly how it's all going to end.

Is either of these writers doing it wrong? Heck no!

We have all been blessed with gifts, talents, and abilities. Some people can sing, dance, or play a musical instrument. Some are great at being a friend, while others excel in culinary delights. It's a good thing we were all given different gifts otherwise the world would be boring, and not very functional. But you know and I know that we need storytellers. They are what keep us sane, entertain, and inspire us.

We are writers!

We write because we cannot not write. It's in our blood, our bones, our