This is a guest post by Laura Venecia Rodriguez, MBA (George Washington University), MA (American University), BA (Wellesley College). She grew up outside Philadelphia, PA, went to college in the Boston metropolitan area, and then worked and lived in Washington, DC/Silver Spring, Maryland for 44 years. After completing her federal career as an international trade analyst and writer in 2020, Laura moved to Charleston, SC in 2021 and launched Intuitive Advising and Writing, LLC to write and speak about ancient and contemporary wisdom and practices that enhance the body, mind, and spirit. Her book, Gentle Yoga After 50: Get Fit, Flexible, and Feel Fantastic was published in February 2023.
Some authors say that the hardest part of writing a book is just getting your butt in the chair to sit down to write. That old Nike adage–“just do it”–often comes to mind.
Writing a book is no small feat. Authors often fall into two camps in how they write and complete their books: “plotters” versus “pantsers” (also known as “discovery” writers).
What’s the difference? Is one better than the other?
An author who creates a detailed book outline and methodically writes chapter by chapter while sticking to the outline is known as a “plotter.”
This more “regimented” approach does not appeal to some authors who bemoan that it stifles their creativity. They prefer to plop down before the computer with a general notion about their topic and start writing. They write by the “seat of their pants” and let their writing unfold as they “discover” where their muse leads them.
Admittedly, my natural inclination is to be a pantser. I like to sit down and jump into writing. But, when it comes to working on a book, I have learned that creating a comprehensive blueprint and taking the plotter’s approach saves a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and especially time.
What I have found, though, is that if you are a discovery writer or “pantser,” you can still operate that way. However, there’s a way to do it while being more fast and effective, and also staying within the helpful framework of your book outline.
As you start writing your book draft based on your outline, you can still allow room to “discover” new ideas and revelations that spontaneously come to you as you write. This happens naturally if you make sure that when you write, you stick to writing and do not allow yourself to veer off into editing mode. You can incorporate the new elements into your manuscript or use them instead of what’s already in your outline.
An outline is like a road map. As long as you know where you are headed, you can make such adjustments and follow new paths that are still going in the same direction to get you to your ultimate destination.
By using a “hybrid” approach of following your outline while also allowing room for your intuition and muse to suggest additional or alternative ideas, you will enjoy the best of both approaches. And then your book will get done.