If you are hoping to write a novel, you may be wondering how to begin your first draft. Do you need to keep a journal and follow a specific set of steps? Or should you develop a vague idea and run with it by typing whatever comes into your mind?
Although there is no single formula for creating the first draft of a novel, authors typically fall into two camps: pantsers and plotters.
Pantsers are those who "fly by the seat of their pants," thereby the name. They may spend years hatching a story within their heads before committing it to black and white, and once they start clicking, they hand the wheel over to their creativity and inspiration without the need for any formal preparation. (A couple of renowned pantsers are Margaret Atwood and Stephen King).
I started out as a pantser, but a third of the way through the story I got lost and ultimately abandoned the project. This was deeply disheartening, as I had cherished for years the idea of writing a novel, and my failed pantser attempt led me to doubt my abilities.
Then I learned about the way of the plotter.
Plotters prefer to work from an outline, and they will spend significant time in preparation before attempting to write their first draft. Typically they will pre-determine the basic elements of their novel including theme, plot, setting, character development, and chapter summaries. This helps to avoid any holes in the story and reduces the chance of encountering writer's block along the way. (Renowned plotters are John Grisham and Sylvia Plath).
Plotting my novel and creating an outline gave me the structure that I needed to build my confidence in completing the task. By working on one segment at a time—creating characters and their backstories, devising a setting, deciding upon plot points, and paraphrasing scenes for each chapter—I knew that my story was complete before I even started.
Most writers embody elements of both styles, tending to favor one over the other. Neither approach is superior: both have pros and cons. You just need to test the waters and discover which style works best for you.
Regardless of whether you decide to pants or plot, remember that a first draft is just a rough foundation and requires multiple revisions and self-editing to morph into the masterpiece you envision.
Comments