Plotter vs Pantser vs Plantser

Feb 1

Written By Emma Villafano

How to Find Your Writing Style

(No Matter What You Write)

If you’ve ever sat down to write and thought, “Why does everyone else seem to know exactly what they’re doing?”

You’re not alone.

One minute, a writer online is swearing that outlining every chapter saved their novel. The next, someone else insists that outlining kills creativity and you should “just write and see what happens.”

And then there’s that third option you keep hearing about… plantser.

Plotter. Pantser. Plantser.

Which one are you supposed to be?

Here’s the truth of what I wish someone had told me earlier: you don’t have to fit neatly into any of these boxes. Writing styles aren’t rules. They aren’t personality tests. They’re tools, plain and simple.

And the best writing style for you—no matter what genre you write—is the one that actually gets words on the page. That is the point of being a writer: to get those amazing, yet bane of our existence, onto the page.

So let’s talk about what each writing style really means, the pros and cons of each, and how to figure out what works for your brain—without burning yourself out or feeling like you’re doing it “wrong.”

What Is a Plotter?

A plotter is a writer who plans their story before they start writing. The ones who for them they need to know every little detail of their story before writing a single word.

This planning can look different for everyone, but often includes:

Outlines
Beat sheets
Character arcs
World Building
Chapter breakdowns
Knowing the ending ahead of time

Some plotters plan every scene. Others keep things loose but still want a clear roadmap before they begin. If this style is your jam, then don’t change a thing. Keep doing what works best for you and you alone.

Why Plotting Works for Many Writers

Plotting can be incredibly helpful if you:

Feel overwhelmed by big projects
Like structure and organization
Struggle with finishing drafts
Want to avoid major rewrites

Plotters often feel more confident starting a project because they know where the story is headed. That sense of direction can make writing feel safer and more manageable.

Plotting can be especially useful for writers working with:

Complex plots
Multiple character arcs
Long-form projects
Tight deadlines

When Plotting Can Start to Feel Limiting

That said, plotting doesn’t work for everyone. They have spent so much time deep diving into the world they have created and lose the excitement of writing.

Some writers create a detailed outline and then discover:

The writing feels forced
The characters don’t surprise them
The excitement disappears

If you’re someone who thrives on discovery, too much planning can make writing feel like homework. Instead of telling a story, you feel like you’re just filling in blanks. You push new ideas that you didn’t have before away because you want to stick to your carefully thought-out outline.

I liked this writing type as it was a way for me to have a road map so that my story didn’t derail and crash into the oblivion of plot holes or side quests that appeared from nowhere and didn’t really add any value or make sense within the storyline.

But each time that I would be in the zone writing and a sudden idea of inspiration would strike me, I felt as if I was failing. That since it was not in my outline that I had meticulously thought out that it couldn’t be a part of my story. To me, that was disappointing as I felt like my creativity was being punished because I had to stick to the outline I had done.

If outlining drains your motivation before you even start drafting, plotting might not be your natural fit. Again, this is perfectly ok, everyone is not made from the same cookie-cutter.

What Is a Pantser?

A pantser writes by the seat of their pants—no outline, no roadmap, just an idea and a blank page.

Pantsers often discover:

The plot as they write
Character depth mid-scene
Themes and emotions organically

This writing style is fueled by curiosity and momentum. They love the thrill of discovering something new and rolling with it.

Why Pantsing Feels So Good

Many pantsers say writing feels like reading their own book for the first time. There’s excitement in not knowing what happens next, even as the writer.

Pantsing can lead to:

Natural dialogue
Emotional authenticity
Unexpected twists
Strong character-driven moments

For writers who feel boxed in by structure, pantsing can feel freeing to their mind and not feel as though they have to be stuck inside a boring square like others.

Where Pantsing Can Get Frustrating

The downside? That freedom can sometimes turn into chaos.

Common pantser struggles include:

Plot holes
Wandering middle sections
Stories that stall out
Drafts that never quite come together

If you’ve ever written tens of thousands of words and realized you have no idea where the story is going—or how it ends—you’ve likely felt the darker side of pantsing. I know I certainly have, and it was a nightmare trying to figure out where it went wrong or how I thought of this next great scene, only to think how it doesn’t even go with the rest of the plot. I found out very quickly that this was just not my vibe at all.

Many pantsers rely heavily on revision to shape their story after the fact, which isn’t a bad thing—but it can be exhausting.

What Is a Plantser? (And Why So Many Writers End Up Here)

A plantser is a blend of both plotting and pantsing. This is where I found myself after researching story structure and realized this was more my style.

Plantser writers plan some elements of the story, but leave room for discovery while drafting.

This might look like:

Knowing major plot points but not every scene
Planning character arcs instead of chapters
Knowing the ending but discovering the middle
Letting the story evolve naturally while still staying on track

If plotters love structure and pantsers love freedom, plantsers love balance.

Why Plantsing Works for Many Writers

Plantsing gives you:

Direction without rigidity
Structure without suffocation
Freedom without getting lost

For many writers, this middle ground feels sustainable. You’re not staring at a blank page with no idea what’s next—but you’re also not locked into a plan that no longer fits the story.

This style works across all genres, from romance to fantasy to thrillers to contemporary fiction.

How I Found My Writing Style (The Honest Version)

When I first started writing, I thought I should be a plotter.

I tried outlining everything—chapters, scenes, major beats. On paper, it looked great.

But when it came time to write?
I stalled. In my mind, I had already figured out how the story would end.

The story felt stiff. The characters felt flat. And I lost interest faster than I wanted to admit.

So I tried pantsing. And at first, it felt amazing. I wrote quickly. I felt creative. I was excited again.

Then I hit the middle of the story… and got completely lost, or I discovered a major plot hole and had to go back and do a TON of revisions, which to me felt like taking two steps backwards.

Eventually, I realized something important:

I don’t need to pick a side.

I don’t have to fit into some neat cookie-cutter or be wild and spontaneous and just go with the flow.

What I actually need is:

A sense of direction
Emotional clarity
Space to explore

That’s when plantsing clicked for me. I plan the bones of the story, then let the heart fill itself in as I write. As with being a busy mom of 4 and working a full-time job, there are some days I am not in the same headspace I was since the last time I wrote. This gave me enough room to still know the major points that I wanted to happen in my story, but I wasn’t stuck with changing things up a bit if I thought of something new to add.

How to Figure Out Your Writing Style

If you’re unsure where you fall, ask yourself these questions.

You Might Be a Plotter If:

You feel anxious without a plan
You like knowing where the story is going
You enjoy organizing ideas
You struggle to start without structure

You Might Be a Pantser If:

Outlines kill your motivation
You write best when surprised
You discover characters through drafting
You enjoy revising more than planning

You Might Be a Plantser If:

You want direction but not rigidity
You like flexibility while drafting
You plan emotions more than scenes
You adapt as the story grows

And here’s something important to remember: your writing style can change.

Different projects, different seasons of life, different energy levels—it all plays a role.

You can also try writing in each style to see which one clicks with your brain and how you think. This is what I had done, and it helped me to become the writer I am today, because I learned and adapted to what makes sense for me.

Your Writing Style Doesn’t Have to Look Like Anyone Else’s

One of the biggest mistakes writers make is forcing themselves into a method that doesn’t fit—because someone online said it was the “right” way. I am one of those “rule follower” type that I like to follow directions exactly how they are meant to be, so even now I still have to tell myself when I see another writer that is doing it differently than me, that it is ok as my journey doesn’t have to look exactly like theirs.

Another mistake is assuming your process has to look aesthetic, polished, or productive every day.

It doesn’t.

Your writing process doesn’t have to be pretty.
It doesn’t have to be fast.
It just has to be sustainable.

If your method helps you keep showing up—even imperfectly—it’s working.

You Don’t Have to Choose Just One

Here’s your permission slip:

You’re allowed to:

Plot one project and pants another
Change your process halfway through a draft
Experiment until something clicks

Writing styles aren’t permanent labels. They’re tools you can adjust as you grow.

Final Thoughts: Find What Works for You