There’s a moment in every writer’s journey when they have to choose between control and surrender. When faced with this conundrum, do you grip the steering wheel tighter? Or do you slide over to the passenger seat and see where the ride takes you?
For me, that choice came about 1,500 words into what I thought would be a simple, cheesy romance posted for free on Inkitt. Little did I know, my characters had other plans—even the ones that had yet to make their presence known.
I have a confession: I am a pantser. Yep. I go into every story flying blind. I start with a character, a problem, and often absolutely no direction. But I don’t panic. I let the characters decide where to take me.
When I write, I like to think of myself as a scribe—but a scribe with unprecedented access to the characters’ inner thoughts, secrets, desires, and untold history. Nothing is hidden from me.
Now, this “flying blind” approach isn’t without challenges. Sometimes I hit a wall, and not for the reasons you might initially expect.
With Taming Armand, I hit a wall when the story’s direction completely shifted. I initially jumped on Inkitt intending to write a cutesy love story—something a little erotic and, well… cheesy. But around 1,500 words in, the characters hijacked my plans. After chapter one, the secret history of how Armand’s father became alpha and the complex dynamics of one-sided sibling rivalry took over, kicking me out of the driver’s seat. I was no longer controlling what played on the radio.
I found myself writing Taming Armand thinking, “Wow, I didn’t expect it to go this way,” or clutching my pearls at scenarios that unfolded naturally as I continued writing. It was no longer my story—it belonged to Armand, Amelia, Maximillian, and the rest. I, the scribe, had moved to the periphery, becoming merely a spectator who wanted to record everything I’d seen and heard.
Now, I’m not prejudiced against planning. I see the merits in outlining, but as someone who has tried to plan stories, I have to say it’s truly not for me. What was supposed to be a simple outline quickly ballooned into twenty pages of actual story. During that planning exercise, the little bit I did outline was never referenced (honestly, I think I lost it entirely).
Then there was the time I sat down to write a story with a specific ending in mind—something happy. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and write something, well… uplifting. Instead, the character took me down a dark but humorous path of murder, flaying, and repressed sexual desires. Trust me, I didn’t see any of that coming, at least not for this particular story.
It was with this story that I really evaluated what type of writer I was and am. More importantly, it gave me the courage to embrace who I am as a writer. I don’t write with outlines. An idea comes to me from the ether, I grab hold of it, and let it lead me wherever it wants to go. In simpler, less fluffy terms: I’ve accepted that most writing advice articles aren’t very useful to me because of my approach to storytelling. I’ve learned not to bend myself to fit what a writer is “supposed to do” or how they’re “supposed to approach” story or character development. I’ve learned not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak.
Do I think my writing life would be easier if I planned? Probably. I’d likely have a higher chance of meeting writing deadlines. But flying blind is where I’m most comfortable, and I feel I do my best work. I’m a better writer when I sit down with no expectations other than getting started. After that first line, the characters take over, and I let them run wild.
Are you a planner or a pantser? Or do you prefer a mixture of both?
The Weirdo wants to know!
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