How do Pantsers pants? I'm a big plotter and don't like to start writing a story until I have the main beats and a sense of the beginning, middle, end, and how scenes could flow together. Do you know how pantsers write? I feel like if I do it, the story could ramble and go off course and I'll end up with unnecessary scenes and an uninteresting story. 

I love this question!

First, I think it's important to say that there's no right way to write a story. Every writer is different, and every story is different. 

When we talk about pantsers and plotters, we usually speak in binary terms. Either you're one or the other, the logic goes. But I think of it more like a spectrum. At one end, there is a writing process where writers outline their stories down to the smallest details before they start their first draft. At the other end of the spectrum, there's a process where writers confront the blank page without any outline at all. But between those two extremes, there are many ways to practice a hybrid approach.

I started as a pantser, became a plotter, then went back to pantsing. I may very well go back to plotting someday. But I'm not so rigid about how I write. In fact, I often make a deliberate choice for each story about whether to pants or plot. 

So, why would I choose pantser? What I've found is that pantsing usually requires more rewriting. I rewrite as I go, so that's not as overwhelming as you might think. The upside to pantsing, however, is that I think it makes for a more character-driven story. 

When I begin a new project, I may not create an outline that lays out each story beat, and I may not have a clear sense of the beginning, middle, or end. But here's what I do have: a character. I have to have that character in mind to get going. In fact, I can't write the first sentence without a strong sense of character. 

Now, it may be the case that I end up writing pages that go nowhere at first, but that's OK. I need to get to know the character and their world. Eventually, you either find the narrative thread or you don't. Usually, I give it about 50 pages. If I like where it's going, I'll begin rewriting. If I don't like what I have, it's usually a sign that I'm not as in love with the character as I thought. (By the way, that's the best sign you'll ever get that you should move on to another story).

How do I proceed after I've written that first 50 pages? Well, I've found that there are two possibilities. 

Create a loose outline

When I wrote Not Safe for Work, I created a beat sheet after I had written the first 50 pages or so. I kept that outline loose and the ending vague. But since it was a mystery story, I felt it was important to work out the details of the murder so my main character could solve the case. The outline process didn't take very long since I had already gotten to know the characters quite well. Some writers describe this as their characters speaking to them, telling them where the story will go. I certainly experienced that. 

But, and I think this is important to remember, not every scene comes out perfect on the first try. Usually, I write a chapter, kick it around in my head for a few days, then rewrite it. Sometimes I have to cut the chapter altogether and figure out an alternative scene. To some writers, this can feel like you're spinning your wheels without a map. For me, it feels a little more like hacking your way through a jungle with a machete—the key is to keep going. What I like about this approach is that the story becomes more interesting as I write it. That's because I'm not trying to hit the plot points of my outline. If anything, I'm judging my story through the eyes of a reader, always asking myself if the story holds my interest.  

Wing it

Another option is to proceed without any outline at all. This was the approach I used when writing Peter's Little Peter (easily my most popular story on Wattpad). The reason I chose this approach was that early on, I knew two things about the story. First, I had a really clear sense of character. Second, I knew exactly how I wanted the story to end (that's rare for me). Knowing those two things made it possible for me to lean into pantsing more than I did with other stories. 

Pantsers plot and plotters pants

OK, this might be controversial, but I honestly think all writers end up plotting and pantsing to some degree, it's just that some of us pants first, then plot, while others plot then pants. Let me explain that.

The very last line of this great question stated: I feel like if I [pants], the story could ramble and go off course and I'll end up with unnecessary scenes and an uninteresting story. 

OK, that seems like a valid fear. But isn't it possible for a plotter to ramble, go off course, and end up with unnecessary scenes and an uninteresting story? You bet!

The question is, what do you do if you have these problems? The answer, of course, is rewrite. Every writer I've ever met has a different process, but ultimately, everyone rewrites. To me, plotting versus pantsing is actually a question about when and how you rewrite. 

Personally, it's easier for me to see a problem with the story when the scene is written. It just feels off, and so I know I have to rewrite it. But I don't think that experience is all that different from a plotter looking at an outline and realizing that a story beat just doesn't work. In fact, the more of a plotter you are, the more rewriting you'll do in your outline.

Don't be afraid to experiment

When I first started writing, I was a pantser. I enjoyed the first draft, but rewriting felt like agony. I often kicked myself for not starting with an outline. So, a few books later, I tried writing an outline first. What I found was that I had moved the agony to the beginning of the process. I also made my peace with the fact that I probably lean more toward pantsing than plotting because it's more important for me to keep the process as free and light as possible in the early going.

The important thing is that I am a better writer because I understand my process and I can adapt it to each new story. I got there by experimenting, and I urge you to do the same. If you're a plotter, try pantsing. If you're a pantser, try plotting. I guarantee you'll learn something about your writing process that you can apply to future stories. And if the experiment screws up your story, don't worry; you'll end up rewriting it anyway.