C. Britt's Blog
July 18, 2023
Pantsers or Planners?
So, if you're an author or you're interested in writing at all, you may have run across the terms "panster" and "planner." Or maybe even some variation, like "plotter" or "plantser" or "plotster." You may be wondering who in the world came up with those words and what they have to do with writing.
Well, I couldn't tell you who came up with those, but maybe I can at least shed some light on what they mean.
A planner (or sometimes they'll be called a plotter) is an author who plans (or plots) a significant portion of the story before they actually start writing. (I mean... You probably figured that out on your own, but I wanna feel special, so just pretend like you couldn't. Okay?)
Now, the term pantser might not be quite as obvious. They're basically the opposite of a planner, though. The pantser "flies by the seat of their pants," so to speak. They're the free spirits of the writing world. They want to just figure it out as they go and just see what happens.
Lastly, there's the plantster (AKA plotster). They fall somewhere in between the planner and the pantser. They're the hybrids. They plan a bit, but they allow some room for spontaneity.
Where do you draw the line between each of these categories? Well, it's pretty subjective. Someone I might look at as a "plantster" might consider themselves a pure "pantser." Another person might consider that same writer as a "planner."
Is any particular style better than any other? Not necessarily. (Although, for me personally, I definitely lean more planner/plantster... I can't even imagine trying to be a true pantser. And I've really gotta wrap this up because I've used these planner/planster/pantser terms so much they're starting to lose all meaning and look fake... So, yeah...)
So, that wraps up my brief lesson on the three different categories of author. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to start plantsing my next blog post.
Well, I couldn't tell you who came up with those, but maybe I can at least shed some light on what they mean.
A planner (or sometimes they'll be called a plotter) is an author who plans (or plots) a significant portion of the story before they actually start writing. (I mean... You probably figured that out on your own, but I wanna feel special, so just pretend like you couldn't. Okay?)
Now, the term pantser might not be quite as obvious. They're basically the opposite of a planner, though. The pantser "flies by the seat of their pants," so to speak. They're the free spirits of the writing world. They want to just figure it out as they go and just see what happens.
Lastly, there's the plantster (AKA plotster). They fall somewhere in between the planner and the pantser. They're the hybrids. They plan a bit, but they allow some room for spontaneity.
Where do you draw the line between each of these categories? Well, it's pretty subjective. Someone I might look at as a "plantster" might consider themselves a pure "pantser." Another person might consider that same writer as a "planner."
Is any particular style better than any other? Not necessarily. (Although, for me personally, I definitely lean more planner/plantster... I can't even imagine trying to be a true pantser. And I've really gotta wrap this up because I've used these planner/planster/pantser terms so much they're starting to lose all meaning and look fake... So, yeah...)
So, that wraps up my brief lesson on the three different categories of author. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to start plantsing my next blog post.
July 14, 2023
Why zombies?
So... Why did I want to write about zombies?
Well, I think all the different types of monsters and creatures that you see in movies and books (werewolves, vampires, aliens, mermaids, etc.) are all interesting. They can all make for good entertainment. Some are scary, some are fun, and some are versatile enough to fall into whichever category the writer wants them to be in.
But the concept of zombies is both fascinating and terrifying to me, though. And for the purposes of this here, I don't mean "zombies" as in the dead that have come back to life. What I'm talking about is the very most basic, fundamental thing that makes a zombie, well, a zombie: When a person's actions are no longer controlled by their own brain. Whether it's an infection that alters their behavior, or a curse that brings them back to life after death and makes them hunt more victims, or a parasite that takes control of the host's brain. Whatever is the cause, a zombie is someone who can no longer control their own actions.
Of all the fantasy and sci fi creatures, zombies have the most potential to really happen. In fact, in nature, you can find examples of fungus and parasites that alter the behavior of insects and animals to cause them to do things they'd never normally do. (The cordyceps "zombie-ant fungus", for example of one such fungus.) Then, of course, you can look at the way that rabies will change a mammal's behavior in dark and terrifying ways. Rabies drives its host insane and makes the host aggressive and blood-thirsty – is that really all that different than a zombie?
So, zombies – real zombies – probably aren't ever going to happen. (Thankfully.) But, I'd say they're a lot more likely than werewolves or vampires. And that's what makes zombies a lot more frightening.
Well, I think all the different types of monsters and creatures that you see in movies and books (werewolves, vampires, aliens, mermaids, etc.) are all interesting. They can all make for good entertainment. Some are scary, some are fun, and some are versatile enough to fall into whichever category the writer wants them to be in.
But the concept of zombies is both fascinating and terrifying to me, though. And for the purposes of this here, I don't mean "zombies" as in the dead that have come back to life. What I'm talking about is the very most basic, fundamental thing that makes a zombie, well, a zombie: When a person's actions are no longer controlled by their own brain. Whether it's an infection that alters their behavior, or a curse that brings them back to life after death and makes them hunt more victims, or a parasite that takes control of the host's brain. Whatever is the cause, a zombie is someone who can no longer control their own actions.
Of all the fantasy and sci fi creatures, zombies have the most potential to really happen. In fact, in nature, you can find examples of fungus and parasites that alter the behavior of insects and animals to cause them to do things they'd never normally do. (The cordyceps "zombie-ant fungus", for example of one such fungus.) Then, of course, you can look at the way that rabies will change a mammal's behavior in dark and terrifying ways. Rabies drives its host insane and makes the host aggressive and blood-thirsty – is that really all that different than a zombie?
So, zombies – real zombies – probably aren't ever going to happen. (Thankfully.) But, I'd say they're a lot more likely than werewolves or vampires. And that's what makes zombies a lot more frightening.
July 11, 2023
Hello, Goodreads!
A few days ago, I released my first novel,
Monstra Inter
and it's about the zombie apocalypse! It's so exciting to finally have it out there in the world!
Now what? "Write a blog," they say. Well, what do they know, anyway? But, uh... I guess you're here reading this, so... Maybe they do know something.
So, what's this whole blog gonna be about? Your guess is as good as mine!
Sincerely,
An author whose writings you'll (hopefully) love,
C. Britt
Now what? "Write a blog," they say. Well, what do they know, anyway? But, uh... I guess you're here reading this, so... Maybe they do know something.
So, what's this whole blog gonna be about? Your guess is as good as mine!
Sincerely,
An author whose writings you'll (hopefully) love,
C. Britt
