Quirky Perceptions

Been attempting some outlining exercises in another project idea this week. I came across the idea that there are two types of writers (though I forget where I found it). There a plotters and pantsers.

Plotters plan out their work in detail to know what they are doing and where they are going in as much detail as possible.

Pantsers basically go wherever their writing takes them. They will probably have a good idea of what the outcome should be, but are not perturbed by the idea of deviating.

I always thought of myself as the latter, but if honesty needs to prevail, I would benefit a lot more from the former. Most book projects I have worked on in the past 20 years have died in first 50 pages. Some not even breaking the 10 or even 5 page mark. Several science fiction and fantasy concepts, a noir crime novel, a cookbook, and many many others have come and gone.

And its not for a lack of ambition or creativity, I have that in spades. What I seem to lack is direction and an endpoint, that is what has screwed me time and time again. And I could just be a bad writer, that could also be true.

But this is what this writing thing is all about for me. To figure out if I can write a book, if yes, what I can write, and can I complete it. Publishing it feels like a lark should it ever come to that.

A lot of the reason that I think that I want to write is the idea that “writing” is something fundamental to the human experience. It’s “something you do” as a person. Growing up more or less camped out at the local library and taking weekly, if not daily, trips to exchange my loans for something new, was central. It was something I did with having to have friends involved or even parents. The lack of supervision probably added to the experience. I could choose to read whatever I wanted. So I did. And it ignited something in me. And I hope to brighten it more now.

Just to finish off this post. This week I outlined a 2000 word idea for an adventure novel. Just to see if I could. And you know what? It was exciting and invigorating for me as a creative. Maybe I will do another one next week.

Thank you for reading this short post. If you want to follow my journey, do click the follow button and I will try to keep you updated when I can. Aiming for every 2 weeks or so. Have a great day!