Plotting: a Perspective

I have had a story percolating in my brain for months.  It all started while preparing for a New Year's Eve event.  I looked down at a locket I was making and there is was; a new story wanting to be written.  The weeks that followed more bits and pieces came to me and finally the main character wanted a name.  I kept wondering when this story would really happen, when would the full plot come to me.  Last night I quit waiting.  So many of the characters were chomping at the bit.  More of them had names.

I put on music that would clearly be in the soundtrack if this was a movie.  I sat down with the bits of information I had already gathered and then fought with a plot for a half hour or so.  Finally I pulled up a blank page, laid out three spots for three books to make it a series and then I started typing.  I typed and typed.  Ideas flowed and scenes flipped through my head.  I would stop and ponder a point then continue with hardly any breaks.  By the time 1am rolled around I had three books plotted out enough to stop.  More scenes will happen and more twists will appear as I write.  I expect that.  What is good is that I feel I have a better grasp on this story than the others I have written before.  I have a map to follow even if the paths change once I get there.  I will let you know if this solves any of my problems and struggles I tend to encounter when I am writing my books.

This test will let me know what kind of writer I am.  I recently heard the terms "plotter" and "pantser".  A plotter is someone who plots out the story ahead of time.  A pantser dives in and flies by the seat of their pants.  I had never heard this set of terms before and now that I have I understand writing better.

So... wait with me and see if my plot proves more useful then a free for all!

Keep on reading!  Keep on writing!