When I began writing my first manuscript the thoughts took shape first in my head, and then onto sticky notes. This makes me a plotter, though I am a bit of a hybrid, but let’s sort out the plotter part of me first.

A plotter is a writer who is proactive in predetermining the direction of their storyline. Twists and turns are mapped out well in advance, along with character names, temperament, and the interactions between them. These all take shape on what I call my office’s sticky noted “murder wall”, an idea stolen from almost every crime solving show I have ever watched.

Now, since I know that I definitely lack in the mathematical department, dates of birth and sometimes death end up written there as well, so my timeline stays in chronological good standing. I research the time periods and again preplan how it will work into my novel’s journey, well before I begin to type.

Perhaps, it is my birth order as an oldest child that promotes my need to follow rules, make lists, and strategically place my Post Its, in an attempt to thwart off any possible unpleasant surprises down the road. And for me, all surprises are unpleasant.

Now, having said all that, I am a good 80 percent plotter, leaving me 20 percent pantser, which I think makes me a hybrid.

So, 20 percent of this author does fly by the seat of her pants, but that really only happens when it comes to writing the dialogue. That is when I am totally free range and winging it.

While my storyline’s direction is always thoroughly planned, my characters’ verbal responses can and often come to me in that moment, flying from my head and off their tongues, reacting instinctually, thus making a very small part of me a free spirited pantser.

Stephen King is a famous pantser. John Grisham a famous plotter.

So, whether your writing style steers you down King’s alley or keeps you in the same lane as Grisham, throw it in drive and step on the gas, knowing that both will get you across the finish line.