Fiction authors get asked whether they’re planers or ‘pantsers’. This means does the author, before setting fingers to keyboard, plot out their entire story, and the characters arcs, and settings, and the themes/conflicts – and then stick to this plan until the work is finished? Or do they just start writing with only a vague idea of their destination and let the story develop organically (i.e. write ‘by the seat of their pants’)?
The question is reductive. In fact, trying to distil the creative process for something as complex as a novel – or short-form fiction – into a dichotomy misses the nuance and intricacy of the creative process. Incredible ideas that completely upend the original story elements may arrive before, during, and after the first draft. So, many (most?) authors don’t fall on either extreme of the planner/pantser continuum; instead, they do a fair bit of planning and research ahead of the first draft and then start writing while being open to new ideas as they write.
For myself, I’m both a plotter and a pantser – and rarely trouble myself with the distinction between the two. By that I mean that I start out with a plot outline and character arcs and whatever themes/ideas I want to explore in the story. I also do a lot of research on setting before launching into the novel. However, I don’t lock myself into a strict outline that can’t change.
For example, in my latest novel, THE LORDS OF THE SUMMER SEASON, a modern fantasy set during the ‘Summer of Love’ in 1967, I added an entirely new subplot about the main character’s experiences on the academic scene during this period because a lot of the drama that summer happened on campuses (Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3xhythv ). I hadn’t even dreamed of this as I planned the original novel.
If you’re writing well, the characters may start doing their own thing and the original, linear plot may twist itself into a pretzel shape. That’s fine – if the story benefits from improvising. The author needn’t adopt every spontaneous notion that pops into their mind, but they can at least be open to modifying their original story.
The author is the god of their little world, but that doesn’t mean they have to be a tyrant!
Tyrants aren’t flexible enough to change their original plans.
I write modern fantasy novels that are hopefully both exciting and literate. These novels include an on-going series about a near-immortal magician who grew up in Camelot and grew famous in San Francisco's 'Summer of Love'. He's still having adventures to this day described in The Lords of the Summer Season, The Lords of Powder, and The Lords of Oblivion. The books can be read in any order.
As author S Alessandro Martinez has stated about the series:
"Lords of Oblivion
A 1500-year-old wizard. A pair of savage druids raised from the dead. Modern day San Francisco. A wolf that takes no gruff. Blaisdell creates a fascinating world in this magical realism novel with smart writing, complex characters, and clever use of history and mythology. I was sucked in from the very beginning. I look forward to more of Bradan and Tintagel's mystical adventures.
Lords of Powder
Merlin's former apprentice, Bradan, is back! The 1500-year-old wizard, who is sometimes too smart for his own good, returns for another exciting adventure, this time in 70s Miami as he takes on the criminal world of drug trafficking. Blaisdell's smart, fast-paced writing and use of fascinating history and mythology keeps you on the edge of your seat as Bradan uses his wits, charm, and illusions to navigate the modern era and get himself into plenty of trouble.
Lords of the Summer Season
Being Merlin's former apprentice and living for 1500 years is bound to make you a few enemies. Travel back to the 60s with Bradan the wizard and his otherworldly wolf Tintagel. As Bradan juggles careers as a professor and musician, he must defend himself from his greatest threat yet: a literal god. Blaisdell continues with his clever, skillful, and imaginative writing that will keep readers eagerly turning the next page. My favorite of the Bradan books, Blaisdell dives deeper into the Arthur mythology, and brings the reader even more elements of magic and folklore, all the while weaving an entertaining tale of gods, wizards, ghosts, and 60s acid rock. Thoroughly enjoyable!"
Besides the literary side of my life, my background includes membership on a scientific advisory board for a non-profit professional organization promoting the biomedical and digital health business community in the greater Los Angeles area.
I’ve authored both basic research publications and business management articles focusing on the bio/pharma industry. My Ph.D. is in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota where I also conducted post-doctoral research in microbiology. And my BS is from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) with a double major in chemistry and cell biology.
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