Earlier this year, I took a masterclass with Harlan Coben – yes, that Harlan Coben. Along with a couple of writer friends, I spent time absorbing wisdom from a master of suspense himself. This experience has profoundly shaped my approach to my biggest and most daring novel yet, scheduled for release next year.
As a pantser – a writer who discovers the story while writing rather than plotting extensively beforehand – writing without an extensive outline comes naturally. The story unfolds organically on the page, often surprising me as much as it will eventually surprise readers. This approach to writing means discovering the nuances of character and plot during the writing process rather than mapping everything out beforehand.
Being a pantser doesn't mean writing without any structure – it simply means discovering that structure as we go. I've found myself gravitating toward the Three Act Structure, a framework flexible enough to accommodate my organic writing style while ensuring the story maintains its shape. Act One sets the stage and introduces the inciting incident, Act Two develops the conflict and raises the stakes, and Act Three brings everything to a satisfying resolution. This structure has given me a solid foundation while still allowing for the spontaneity that makes writing exciting.
While the Three Act Structure forms my foundation, other storytelling frameworks like Save the Cat and The Hero's Journey offer valuable insights too. Save the Cat, with its fifteen specific beats, provides useful checkpoints for ensuring the story stays on track. The Hero's Journey, with its seventeen-stage cycle, offers a deeper understanding of character transformation and the archetypal elements that resonate across all forms of storytelling.
As I progress with my current project, I plan to share glimpses into my creative process. You'll see the evolution of scenes from rough concepts to polished prose, and how a pantser navigates the delicate balance between creative freedom and narrative structure. I'll even share those midnight inspirations that wake me up demanding to be written – something that happens to even the most experienced writers.
What excites me most about this project is how it pushes me beyond my previous boundaries. By sharing this journey, I hope to demonstrate that there's no single "right" way to write a novel. Whether you're a fellow pantser, a meticulous plotter, or somewhere in between, what matters most is finding the approach that brings your story to life.
Stay tuned for more updates as this adventure unfolds. I'll be sharing regular insights into my process, including how I weave together character arcs, maintain tension, and eventually transform a collection of scenes and ideas into a cohesive narrative. This novel represents my most ambitious and daring project to date, a synthesis of natural instinct and learned craft – and I can't wait to share it with you.