Writers usually fall into two common categories: pantsters (who write by the seat of their pants) and outliners. I'd like to propose here that these two designations might correlate with the writer's driving style. What I propose (and you'll have to help me prove or disprove by leaving a comment) is that a seat of the pants writer is a bit more of a cavalier driver than an outliner just by nature.
Take myself. I'm a seat of the pants writer (who desperately wishes to be an outliner). I am a Left Lane driver. I drive fast, dart around other cars, and hate to follow others. It drives me crazy to sit behind someone's tail lights for too long. I'll pass them, even if they are going a decent speed, just for good measure. I arrive anywhere out of breath and charged up from singing loudly with my iPod.
My theory is that outliners, who by nature are more structured and follow rules, are more likely to be Right Lane drivers. Cruising at the set speed limit, possibly nudging your cruise control a few miles over for kicks and giggles, and arriving at your destination (deadline) on time and completely not winded.
I'm not trying to stereotype anyone, this is just for fun. I posted this over a year ago on my defunct blog and got a good conversation going, which I hope to get going here. All for fun!
So leave a comment and tell me two things:
1. What kind of writer you are and
2. Whether you are a Left Lane or Right Lane driver
(And please forgive any typos or formatting errors, I did this on my iPhone b/c we have no Internet at my new home! Just moved in Friday for an in-town move! Finished decoratng the tree today! Whew!)
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8 comments:
Depends on how loud my music is (which correlates to how strong the idea is flowing).
~ Wendy
I'm a total panster. I've tried outlining, and it just doesn't work for me, at least not before the fact. I write the story first, then go back and outline fill in plot holes, etc.
As for driving, I'm the total opposite. My mom calls me a first born rule follower, and that definately translates to my driving. (Okay, I might push the speed limit by a few miles on the highway on a long trip, but that's it.) I have to be in the lane I need to be in long before I need to be there, or I stress. I can't stand to "sew up the passing lane" which is my Dad's term for driving in the left lane all the time.
My younger sisters and I laugh about it all the time on long trips (they are both notorious "seamstresses")
So maybe birth order has to be factored in?
Sorry girl - I'm a total insane plotter (you know this), but I'm a left-lane driver all the way.
Lol! This makes me laugh because I've thought about it before. I'm a plotter for sure and definitely a right lane driver. In fact, I like structure in a lot of things in my life. But there we times in the past that I didn't plot and there was no organization at all in what I write.
I've been thinking about you--hope you're doing well!
Center lane unless it's a two-lane road. I tend to stay right, but every now and then, when I'm feeling a bit feisty, I get in that left lane and...
2nd lane from the left. And typically a pantser although I usually start off with a loose outline. Hmmmm....
I go both ways! lol
I start off with good intentions and a plan. But then somehow...well, things usually go a bit off-track at one point or another.
Personally I blame it on having kids along for the ride. Changes e*v*e*r*y*t*h*i*n*g!!!
hmm...inconclusive, clearly. thanks ladies!
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Both comments and questions are welcome. I hope you enjoyed your time on the couch today.