Plunging into the thick of it
Creating a new novel
June 2026
Starting a new manuscript can bring the competing emotions of sheer terror and giddy excitement. The promise of building a new storyworld, complete with a fresh cast of characters navigating untold romances, quests, and plot twists entices the writer’s imagination. At the same time, the daunting task ahead can be the fuel of nightmares.
Authors approach their craft in a variety of ways. The pantsers go with the flow, writing by the “seat of their pants.” This style allows for creativity, flexibility, and originality. Writing freestyle, so to speak, can be more engaging and help writers stay motivated to keep going when characters surprise them in unexpected turns.
The risk to the pantster method, however, includes getting stuck in the sagging middle of a story with no clear path forward. Another problem comes from a messy first draft that requires heavy editing to bring coherence to the plot which can lead to burn out and abandoning the whole thing.
Plotters, on the other hand, tend to create intricate outlines of the story, even mapping out the scenes along the way. Each character’s role, physical description, personality, goals, mannerisms, backstory, as well as internal and external conflicts can be carefully detailed ahead of time.
Downsides to the plotter technique tend to be contrived storylines and cramped character development. The upfront work also requires an enormous amount of time and commitment before any of the writing fun can begin. Talk about discipline and delayed gratification.
Most authors are apparently plansters, a combination of the two. This process takes some up front outlining of how the story will unfold, but gives enough space for spontaneous changes in direction for when a character insists on doing something hasty and unforeseen.
Planster best describes my style, but with my latest manuscript, I’m leaning toward the plotters. It turns out the plan for my latest urban fantasy involves dozens of characters in multiple storylines. With that kind of complicated plot, it takes quite a bit of forethought to link it all together.
Remembering all the characters' names, descriptions, relationships, goals, and emotional journeys creates a whole different level of challenge. Without a catalogue of those details, I’d get hopelessly lost and confused.
My earlier novels sported more simplistic plots and fewer characters. This new work in progress will be my most ambitious yet. It started out as an idea for a single character, Anna. I wrote a first chapter for her before I realized Anna would be an important, but more minor character in the bigger story.
I’ve managed to create profiles for about fifteen characters so far, including humans, dark elves and high elves. Next up will be the fairies and the dualies or mixers (half human and half elf creatures).
I can’t wait to fall in love with my new characters as I lead them down the harrowing perils of fictional storytelling. They’re in for a high adventure. Join me as I continue to chronicle the journey along the way.