A couple months ago I read a blog written by Goodreads author Thomas Drinkard at his Pinnacle Writing site. He was illustrating two very different writing styles and I was quick to connect with one and was delighted to realize I was not alone in my writing process.

Planner or Pantser is the name of the post where he compares the work method of two successful authors.

Jeffery Deaver is a planner that uses detailed outlines to write. At a conference in 2010, Deaver reported that his book The Bone Collector was published at not quite twice the size of the 184 page outline. That amount of organized preparation amazes me.

Thomas' friend, the late Anne Carroll George spoke to him of being a seat-of-the pants author - a pantser. Among her achievements, she had been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for Some of it is True, a collection of poetry and was honored with the Agatha Award for her Southern Sisters mystery series. Her process was minimal outlining and letting her characters drive the story not knowing where they would lead her. One man she thought was the murderer, suddenly ended up shot one night.

I laughed out loud and clapped my hands in joy when I read this. I have been trying to explain to people that I knew how my story in The Spruce Gum Box began and I knew how the story would end but the characters led me through the twists and turns between. Some characters became much more important than I thought. Others less. I would call my daughter and say, "You won't believe what Jed did last night." As historical fiction, I did use a list of events and dates like the dots in a connect-the-dots puzzle. The puzzle became what the characters would do (or not do) as the story moved forward. They held the clues.

Thank you Thomas for the reinforcement of the method I use as I write the sequel Granite Hearts . It is going through final pains before publishing but the characters guided the story. I can't imagine trying to force them down a path not of their choosing.

I am a pantser .... but then again I confess when it comes to everything else I am a planner . I live by the list - sometimes having lists of my lists. In upcoming events I massage every detail until they scream. I can't remember not having the need to overachieve in every task (except losing weight). It is a curse. After 70+++ years, you would think I could find a cure.

I want to toss away my need to over plan. It would be so nice to know what I would like to do and set a date for the doing. Then go with the flow between point A to point B. Ah yes, I want to live as I write ... as a PANTSER!

Thomas Drinkard is a fellow member of The Independent Author Network. His work includes thrillers Piety and Murder and Where There Were No Innocents and in a new change in genre - a vampire novella V Trooper. He also enjoys spending time in my Maine. We share a love for the coast and all it holds.

Visit his author page at The Independent Author Network http://www.independentauthornetwork.c...