Everyone familiar with National Novel Writing Month knows there are exactly two types of participants: the planet and the pantser. Each group is simply doing what works for them, whether that is extensive character sketches, maps, and 3,000 word outlines, or nothing but a vague concept of this character in that place.
Me, I’ve typically been a planner. Even the year that I started my novel over on Day 4 with the same characters in a very different story, before I dove into it I had to sit back and think about where the action of this story was going to lead. (The NaNovel I wrote that year is my favorite one, ever.)
This year, however, I haven’t planned. I just sat down last night to figure out what my character names are. Writing begins at midnight tomorrow and I haven’t the slightest idea what my opening scene is. My outline, usually a humble of events and actions and scenes that I know need to happen in sequence but also want to write is merely a structural shell. (I’m attempting to use an adapted three act structure for the first time this year.) Simply put, between work, Halloween, dewallpapering and degluing our bedroom, and still finding time to play with the dog, I’ve become a panser.
I’m not entirely comfortable with this.
If you’re reading this and you’re a pantser, please give me your best advice! And if you’re a planner, I welcome your pity. I’m also open to advise about writing middlegrade, which I’ll also be attempting for the first time. Whatever your NaNo strategy, I salute you. Have a fantastic month!