Plotters
Plotters outline before they write. They map the structure, plan the key beats, and know where the story or argument is going before the first sentence lands on the page.
A plotter's process includes detailed outlines (learn how to outline a novel for a step-by-step approach), character sheets, chapter breakdowns, and sometimes scene-by-scene plans. The work that happens before drafting can take as long as the drafting itself.
The advantage is clarity. Plotters rarely write themselves into corners because the structural problems get solved during the planning stage. Drafting moves faster because decisions about sequence, pacing, and turning points are already made.
The disadvantage is rigidity. Some plotters follow their outlines so closely that they miss better ideas that surface during the writing. The plan becomes a cage instead of a map.
Famous plotters include J.K. Rowling, who mapped the entire Harry Potter series on hand-drawn charts before drafting, and John Grisham, who outlines every legal thriller in detail before writing chapter one.
When Plotting Works Best
Plotting suits writers working on complex projects with multiple storylines, tight deadlines, or in collaborative environments. If you are writing a thriller with layered plot points (see how to write a thriller novel), plotting keeps the threads from tangling. If you have a publisher waiting for a manuscript and a tight deadline, the outline becomes a project plan.
Plotting also helps writers who lose motivation midway through long projects. The outline provides a roadmap when the excitement of the idea fades, and the middle section feels like a slog.
Pantsers
Pantsers write by the seat of their pants. They start with an idea, a character, a first line, sometimes just a feeling, and discover the story as they write it.
The process looks messy from the outside. Pantsers might write 10,000 words in a direction that turns out to be wrong, then throw those pages away and start a new chapter from scratch. The exploration is the point. They find their story by writing through it.
The advantage is spontaneity. Pantsers often produce prose that feels alive and surprising because the writer themselves did not know what was coming. Character development tends to happen organically because the characters evolve through the writing rather than according to a plan.
The disadvantage is structural risk. Without an outline, stories can wander. Manuscripts get longer than necessary. Plot holes appear that might have been caught in the planning stage.
Stephen King is probably the most famous pantser. In his memoir On Writing, he describes starting novels with a situation and characters rather than a plot, then following wherever the story leads.
When Pantsing Works Best
Pantsing suits writers who feel stifled by structure, who work best in a state of discovery, or whose stories are driven more by character than by plot. Literary fiction, personal essays, and memoir writing often respond well to this approach because the emotional truth of the piece emerges through the process.
It also works for writers who produce strong first drafts and enjoy deep revision. The pantsing happens in the first draft. The plotting happens in the revision, when you go back and impose structure on what you found.
Plantsers
Plantsers combine both approaches. They plan some elements and discover others. This is the middle ground that most working writers occupy.
A plantser might outline the first act and the ending but leave the middle open. Or they might plan the external plot but let character arcs develop during the writing. Or they might start as a pantser, write until they feel lost, then pause to outline the rest before continuing.
I fall into this category. When I wrote my five books, each one started with a rough story structure and a clear ending in mind. But the chapters between those landmarks were written in discovery mode. The outline gave me direction. The freewriting gave me material.
When Plantsing Works Best
The advantage of plantsing is flexibility. Plantsers keep enough structure to avoid getting lost while leaving enough room for the writing to surprise them. They get the safety net of planning with the creative energy of discovery.
The disadvantage is that it requires self-awareness. You need to know when you are exploring and when you are just procrastinating the hard structural work. Plantsers who lean too far toward pantsing end up with the same problems pantsers face. Plantsers who lean too far toward plotting lose the spontaneity.
How to Figure Out Which Type You Are
You probably already know. Think about the last time you wrote something long, a story, a paper, a report, or an article. Did you:
Start with a detailed plan and follow it closely? You are a plotter.
Start writing and figure it out as you go? You are a pantser.
Start with a loose plan and adjust as new ideas emerge? You are a plantser.
If you are not sure, try this: write a short story twice. The first time, outline everything before you start. The second time, start with just the first line and discover the rest. Compare the experience and the output. The method that felt more natural and produced better work is your type.
One thing to remember: your type can shift depending on the project. A writer who pantsers through personal essays might need a structured approach when learning how to write a novel with multiple storylines.
I’ve found that paying attention to your emotional reaction during the drafting phase is often the clearest indicator of your style. If you feel a sense of dread when looking at a blank page without a map, you likely lean toward plotting; however, if a rigid outline makes you feel trapped and bored with your own story, you are almost certainly a pantser.
To get a clearer picture of your habits, I recommend tracking your writing velocity and friction points over your next few sessions:
Plotters usually experience a high initial speed because the "what happens next" is already solved, but they may struggle with character voice or organic dialogue.
Pantsers often have slower starts but find that their characters take on a life of their own, leading to unexpected plot twists that feel more authentic.
Plantsers typically spend their time "re-calculating" their route, often stopping every few chapters to update their loose framework based on new discoveries.
Another practical test is to look at your editing process once the first draft is finished. I’ve noticed that plotters usually spend more time on line editing and polishing prose, whereas pantsers often face a heavy structural edit to fix pacing issues or plot holes that emerged during their discovery writing.
If you are still stuck in the middle, try the "Headlight Method" for your next project. Plan only the next two or three scenes in detail while leaving the rest of the horizon dark; this allows you to test if you prefer the security of a plan or the thrill of the unknown in small, manageable doses.
Common Mistakes Each Type Makes
Plotter Mistakes
Over-planning to the point where drafting feels like transcription
Refusing to deviate from the outline when a better idea appears
Spending so long on the outline that they never start writing
Pantser Mistakes
Starting too many projects and finishing none
Writing past the natural ending because momentum feels good
Avoiding revision because the discovery phase was the exciting part
Plantser Mistakes
Switching between plotting and pantsing at the wrong moments
Using the "hybrid approach" label to avoid committing to either method
Not recognizing when a project needs more structure or less
Knowing your type is about understanding your own process so you can protect it, improve it, and stop wasting energy on methods that work against how your brain is wired. Every type produces great writing when the writer leans into their strengths and manages their weaknesses.
I’ve found that Plotters often fall into the trap of "world-building disease," where they research every minor detail instead of writing the actual scenes. To combat this, I recommend setting a hard deadline for your outline phase; once that date hits, you must start Chapter One regardless of how many gaps remain in your notes.
The "Placeholder" Technique: If you hit a plot point you haven't fully researched, write [INSERT DETAIL HERE] and keep moving to maintain your momentum.
The 20% Rule: Allow yourself to change at least 20% of your outline during the first draft to keep the story feeling fresh and organic.
For Pantsers, the biggest hurdle is often the "middle-of-the-book slump" where the initial excitement fades and the lack of direction leads to a dead end. I suggest identifying your climax and resolution early on, even if you don't know how to get there, so you always have a North Star to write toward.
Reverse Outlining: After finishing a messy first draft, create an outline based on what you actually wrote to identify plot holes and pacing issues.
Character Motivation Checks: Every five chapters, ask yourself what your protagonist wants right now to ensure the story isn't just drifting aimlessly.
Plantsers frequently struggle with "process paralysis," where they spend more time debating *how* to write than actually putting words on the page. I’ve learned that the best way to manage this is to plot the major milestones (the "tentpoles") while leaving the connective tissue entirely to discovery writing.
The Milestone Method: Outline only the inciting incident, the midpoint, and the ending, then "pants" the journey between those three points.
Weekly Process Audits: Take ten minutes every Sunday to decide if your current project needs more structure or if you need to let go of the reins to find the story's heart.
Related Resources
FAQ
Here are answers to the most common questions about the 3 types of writers.
Can you change from one writer type to another?
Your default type tends to stay consistent, but you can develop skills from other types. A pantser can learn to outline specific elements. A plotter can practice freewriting to loosen up. Most writers benefit from experimenting with all three approaches.
Is one writer type more successful than the others?
No. Published authors exist in all three categories. Success depends on execution, persistence, and the quality of the final product, not on the method used to get there.
What type of authors are the most bestselling?
There is no reliable data on this. Bestselling authors span all three types. The public perception that plotters dominate is due to outlines and charts making for more interesting behind-the-scenes stories.
How does your writer type affect revision?
Plotters need less structural revision but may need to add life and spontaneity to flat sections. Pantsers need more structural revision, but their prose has stronger energy. Plantsers fall between the two.
Should beginning writers start as plotters?
Not necessarily. Beginning writers should try all three methods and pay attention to which one produces their best work with the least resistance. Forcing a pantser to plot can kill motivation early on.
Does genre matter when choosing a writing type?
Genre influences but does not determine type. Mystery and thriller writers often benefit from plotting because of the complex mechanics involved. Literary fiction writers often lean toward pantsing. But exceptions exist in every genre.