To Plot Or Not To Plot

I hear other writers talk about detailed plot outlines, a long detailed synopsis, all done before page one of the manuscript is typed in.

Now there have been plenty of times when I was stuck in the sagging middle of a novel that I wished I had some kind of plotting map to go by, so I’ve tried. Even when I was stuck in the middle I’ve tried, and it’s hopeless. This is one thing I just have to say uncle on. There’s no two ways about it, I’m a write-by-the-seat-of-my-pants author.

That’s okay though. I think that's the way I write because that’s the way I get the most joy out of my writing. And even when it’s not joy, it’s still the way I write.

I like the journey. I like finding out things about my characters that I didn't know, slowly, one page at a time. I like it when the plot takes a turn that I would have never thought of if I hadn't just been letting things go how they would. I guess I like the surprises.

Now don’t get me wrong, I do know how things will start, who the characters are, how things will end, and even have an idea, or a few, about what will happen along the way.... but most of the fun is putting all of that together with all of the stuff that I find as I go.

At least it is for me.