Plotters versus Pantsers

A Historical Fiction Author's Tale of Winging It (Mostly)

If you've ever fallen down the rabbit hole of writing advice (and who among us hasn't, instead of, say, actually writing), you've likely come across the age-old debate: Plotters vs Pantsers.

No, this isn't the title of a forgotten Tudor-era skirmish or a pub quiz team rivalry—though it certainly sounds like it could be. This is the dividing line between two types of writers, each with their own philosophy on how to wrangle the chaos of storytelling.

As a historical fiction author (you can find me at michaeljingramauthor.co.uk), I’ve come to terms with my allegiance in this creative clash. Reader, I am a Pantser. And if you’re not familiar with that term, let’s dive in, breeches first.

Plotters vs Pantsers: What’s the Difference?

Plotters are the strategic generals of the literary world. Armed with colour-coded index cards, mind maps, spreadsheets, and enough post-it notes to wallpaper Versailles, Plotters map out every twist, turn, and tea break in their narrative. Their novels are carefully outlined before the first sentence is written.

Think of Plotters as architects—constructing story structures with all the precision of a Roman aqueduct.

Pantsers, on the other hand, write “by the seat of their pants.” We plunge into the unknown with a vague idea of where we're headed and absolutely no idea how we’re going to get there. We start with a character, a setting, or sometimes just a mood—and follow where it leads, hoping the plot turns up eventually, like a bus in rural Spain.

Pantsers are more like explorers, hacking their way through the jungle of story with a machete, a notebook, and a very loose sense of direction.

Famous Plotters and Notorious Pantsers

Like all great debates—chocolate vs vanilla, Oxford comma vs chaos—this one has its literary champions.

📚 Plotters:

• J.K. Rowling famously plotted all seven Harry Potter books before publishing the first. Her planning was detailed enough to make a military strategist blush.

• John Grisham outlines every legal twist and procedural turn with lawyerly precision.

✍️ Pantsers:

• Stephen King is perhaps the most well-known advocate of pantsing, describing his process as uncovering a story "like digging up a fossil."

• George R.R. Martin (yes, the one with the dragons and that Iron Throne business) describes himself as a “gardener,” planting the seeds of his story and seeing what grows—which, in his case, usually involves bloodshed and heartbreak.

My Pantser Path to Historical Fiction

When I began writing my first book, And the Devil Just Laughed, set during the Battle of the Ebro in the Spanish Civil War, I had only a faint glimmer of where the story might end up.

How would I get a farmers son from Finland to the cauldron of bloodshed that was the fighting for The Pimple, AKA Hill 481? It needed to be credible and engaging.

I needed to get him out of Finland, the inciting incident, so I created his mother, a vain and narcissistic actress (character traits coincidentally inspired by my relationship with a narc). 

It would be improbable that he would serve in a combat unit, so why not make him a polyglot and use him as a civilian interpreter? Great. Credible and leaves lots of room for future stories.

As part of my research I read Soldiers of Von Thoma: Legion Condor Ground Forces in the Spanish Civil War by Lucas Malino Franco, which contained the following passage:

"When the Legion Condor was officially established in the first week of November 1936, an enigmatic 'business' called Bureau Lindhe was also founded on the first floor at No. 4 Espoz y Mina Street in Salamanca."

Gold dust!

It was run by the German Intelligence service, the Abwehr, the head of which was a certain Admiral Canaris, who became staunchly anti-Hitler.

Perfect. Now, not only have I got a credible reason for Mikko to go to Spain, linked with historical facts, I also (through the creation of my favourite character, the wily and cynical Dietrich Roth) have a mechanism for him to get there. 

In addition, I can now map out (vaguely of course, I'm still a pantser, after all!) the path Mikko will take for the rest of the Second World War.

And that’s the beauty of being a Pantser: you discover the story almost the same way your readers will.

Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Be?

Here’s the secret they don’t tell you in writing classes: most authors are somewhere in between. Some plan a little, then pants the rest. Some pants the beginning and then start plotting madly once they realise their characters have staged a coup.

The important thing is to find what works for you—and to enjoy the journey, whether it's mapped to the last comma or improvised like a jazz solo with a typewriter.

If you're a fellow historical fiction enthusiast—or a writer who likes their plots with a side of chaos—feel free to explore more about my work at michaeljingramauthor.co.uk. And if you’ve ever pantsed your way into a fictional disaster (or narrowly avoided one), I’d love to hear about it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a vague idea for Book Two and absolutely no idea where it's going. Just the way I like it.