Spontaneous ideas are the best: Discovery writers benefit from these advantages when they write their book without a plan.
Stephen King’s thriller Misery, like many other stories by the bestselling author, is hard to beat in terms of unpredictability. The storyline of the obsessed reader who holds the author of her favourite books captive in order to force him to write knows how to shock. However, the development of the story was a surprise even for the author. Because Stephen King, the king of the horror genre, describes himself as a so-called discovery writer.
Discovery writers are the pioneers among writers. They see their work as a single journey of discovery–for themselves and their readers. Instead of committing to the meticulous creation of a plot, they allow themselves to drift in the vastness of their imagination like a ship on the ocean. They often only know the beginning of their story, or it is an idea without clear contours that tempts them to write. They only realise the end of the plot shortly before it happens. This is another reason why discovery writers are often referred to as ‘pantsers’, because they are flying by the seat of their pants.
Representatives of discovery writing can be found in almost all genres. As you might expect, however, they are particularly common in the fantasy genre. J. K. Rowling, George R. R. Martin and Neil Gaiman, for example, are all self-confessed discovery writers. This is surprising, as discovery writing is said to involve considerable risks. For example, there are warnings of inconsistencies in the storyline, writer’s block, dead ends and the massive amount of time needed to revise and improve the story. There is also a latent danger of lazy storytelling. Readers can see through it if a story is not well thought out. Plot twists that suddenly appear on the scene and have not been carefully developed come across as inauthentic and quickly bore the audience.
However, the disadvantages that are said to be associated with discovery writing are quickly dispelled by the numerous examples of best practice. After all, neither Harry Potter nor the legendary Song of Ice and Fire have any flaws in their narrative structure. On the contrary, the novels of the authors mentioned above are highly praised by critics for their complexity and the consistency of their plot structure. However, considering George R. R. Martin’s writer’s block, which has left fans hoping in vain for a sequel to the fantasy epic for years, some of the weaknesses of discovery writing seem to have been exposed. It almost seems as if the author has lost his way in his complex plot structure. Nevertheless, discovery writing offers considerable advantages, five of which we at novum publishing would now like to present to you.
Incidentally, most writing coaches recommend a combination of both methods: The development of a basic plot structure, combined with the fantastic wanderings of the imagination, can create a story that will not only amaze you but also your readers.
Creativity
Clichés are boring. We encounter them all too often in everyday life. Books should break with clichés and offer us stories that are really interesting and worth reading. When we plan a story, we often get lost in structures and patterns that seem like a repetition of something that has already been told thousands of times. But in discovery writing, we break through familiar patterns. Suddenly, our characters do something that we would never have expected of them. Perhaps the controlled, stylish director of the company is a pyromaniac who secretly lights fires in his spare time. Or perhaps the classic love story develops into a liaison with a ghost. Discovery writing allows us to discover completely new facets in our characters and plots, allowing us to write something truly unique.
Spontaneity
Plans are boring. Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans. It’s the same with writing. If we plan our story to the letter, we lose the ambition to see it through to the end. Only spontaneity, that which cannot be planned, gives writing its appeal. After all, writing is always a journey of self-discovery. ‘What is it that lies dormant inside me?’ is a question that drives authors to write. Escaping everyday life is just one of the many motives that lead authors to write. Anyone who swaps their spontaneity for plans is sure to lose the fun of it all quickly.
Flexibility
Discovery writing literally increases your room for manoeuvring when writing. Perhaps a scene is perfect for a twist that you didn’t see coming. But if you follow a strict plan, you have to discard ideas, no matter how ingenious they may have been. As an author, however, you should definitely leave yourself room for flexibility. Spontaneous ideas are usually the best–even if this can entail considerable reworking of the manuscript.
Authenticity
If something is written according to a plan, it often loses its vitality. Characters or ideas based on patterns often seem dry because there is nothing new to discover in them. Only the imperfect is really interesting. Discovery writers allow themselves to let go of control and write authentic plots, characters and stories.
Efficiency
Which work is easier for you? The one you have to do or the one you want to do? Writing without a plan entices your inner child to play. With discovery writing, you avoid classic problems such as procrastination or writer’s block because playful writing turns the work of writing into pure pleasure. The fun of it all has a positive effect on your writing speed, as you go to work out of pleasure, not obligation.
Personal relationship
Discovery writing is a form of intuitive writing in which we unconsciously write many things from our souls. As a result, we develop a very special relationship with our story–in a sense, it comes directly from our soul. In discovery writing, we write with our hearts, not our heads. This personal relationship has a positive effect on the quality of a book because nothing is more interesting to read than a real, honest story.
And what is your favourite way to write? Do you prefer to plan or discover when writing? Share your impressions and experiences with us in the comments!
Let your fingers roam freely over your keyboard!
Your team at novum publishing
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