Is Stephen King a planner or panster?
which one is best for you? what does it mean to plan or pants. what to choose that works best.
There has been a long-standing question in the world of writing if you should plan your novel in great detail before writing or “just write.” The good old question of “planner or pantser.”
In this blog, we will be answering is Stephen King a planner or panster?…
IS STEPHEN KING A PLANNER OR PANSTER?
Table of Contents
But what does “Planner and Panster” mean?
A “planner” is someone who goes into great detail planning every aspect of their novel before writing. They will break down every chapter. Make notes on how the novel develops from chapter to chapter. They’ll make notes on the characters and their background. They know how the novel will end before they even write a single word.
EVEN THEY ARE SURPRISED BY HOW IT ENDS
A “Pantser” however will make up the novel as they go along. “Flying by the seat of their pants.” They have no idea where the story will go or how it will end. They start off with an idea and just start writing. Even they are surprised by how it ends.
The question is then asked, what style of writing is better? Is it better to be a pantser or planner? It depends on who you ask. If you ask a planner they will say planning is the best idea. If you ask a panster they will say planning makes it boring. Making it up as you go along is the best idea; it gives you a thrill to go along for the ride as the story plays out. Let the characters drive the novel. knowing all the details you lose your energy for the book.
THEY QUIT WRITING AT THIS STAGE
Whereas planners will say panters have it all wrong. When you plan your novel out you know where it’s going so you can correct it in the development stage. Pantser have a ton of work to do in their 2nd rewrite. They have to read over their story and make sense of all of it. A lot of panters quit writing their novel at this stage because they see it as a mess.
This leads the question back and forth about what is better being a planner or pantser. Which leaves everyone looking at Stephen King, the guy who sold over 300 million books in his life, who can write 2 to 3 books a year. Books that critics love. These books are not bad in fact everyone loves them.
DOES HE PLAN HIS NOVELS?
So what is Stephen King’s style? Does he plan his novel in great detail before writing? He says no, he makes it up as he goes along. Leaving the writers who are pantser saying, “see told you, pantser is a better way of writing. I’m going to copy him and make it all up as I go along.”
But is this true? If Stephen King is a pantser why don’t all pantser novels sell as well as his does? Does Stephen King really make it all up as he goes along? Does he plan his novels in any way?
HE DOES PLAN HIS NOVELS
But in truth, he does plan his novels. Well, somewhat. He may not know it, but he does plan his novels. It’s done on a subconscious level at rapid speed.
He studied writing in university. He was an English teacher. He’s been writing his whole life, even back as a teenager. His success is not “luck.”
HE WORKS AT A SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL
His subconscious mind understands all the rules of writing. Writers are told, “to know their character inside and out before writing”. When you read a Stephen King novel you can clearly see he knows his characters. But he didn’t have to take notes or fill out a character bio card. He figured them out in his head instantly before starting writing. But he does have an idea of who the characters are.
Your average up-and-coming writer has to read books on how to write a novel. Learning about character arcs, plot developments, introductions rising tension, leading to the climax. When you look at a Stephen King novel all those things are there. He puts them in right away on the first draft. He doesn’t have to be told about “showing, not telling” he knows. It’s been within his subconscious for decades. He’s been practicing writing his entire life.
YOU NEED TO READ AND WRITE A LOT
Stephen King says you need to do two things to be a writer. You need to write and read. No two ways about it. You can only get good at something when you practice, that’s what he does. Every time he writes a novel he gets better. But reading other authors has to happen as well. You can learn a lot from reading other books. That’s what he does. He reads every day. His day is broken into two things, writing in the morning and reading in the evenings.
His brain is constantly taking in information on how to be a better writer. When he sits down to write he doesn’t have to remind himself of the rules of writing. They are embedded into his mind from years of reading and writing. He knows all about character arcs and rising action. Everything a book has to teach about being a better writer is embedded into his mind long ago.
YOU’LL SEE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO LEARN
If you read books on how to write and look at Stephen King’s novels you’ll see everything the book had to say about writing well is within his pages.
Stephen King isn’t really a “pantser.” He’s more of a planner but he does so at lightning speed in his mind. When he comes up with an idea he knows right away the ending will have to be a big climactic ending. No one has to tell him. He knows about the three-act structure. He knows all major characters have to be introduced in the first act. No one has to remind him. He knows about villains and heroes having to battle at the end with the good guy changing for the better by the end. About “showing not telling.” He knows about sub-plots and character arcs. Something He learned decades ago and applies it all without realizing it.
HE WROTE ON BOOK ABOUT WRITING
He wrote his own book on how to write a novel titled “On Writing.” It doesn’t have the basic fundamentals of grammar but does contain amazing tips on how to make your writing better. The best bet for a new writer is to learn the fundamentals of grammar and after reading Stephen King’s book on writing. That way you learn the fundamentals and get tips from someone who sold millions of books.
Stephen King is similar to Mozart, in the sense that Mozart did not have to read books on music theory while he was composing music. He had all the rules of music theory in his subconscious. Most people fail to remember Mozart’s father was a great music teacher. He said if a child is taught music theory properly at a young age they could become a great composer. He applied beliefs to his child and look at what Amadeus became. Mozart isn’t guessing when writing music, he understands music theory, therefore, gets it right. He knows all about music theory as he writes at a subconscious level.
IT WAS BUILT INTO HIS SUBCONSCIOUS
When Mozart sat down to compose his mind applied all the rules for music as he wrote. He didn’t have to stop and question anything about scales or keys or what notes sound good with another. He was built into his subconscious.
If you practice anything enough you can become great at it in time. Think of all the things you do well now. Were you perfect the first time? It took time for you to develop skills. This can be said about anyone. Practice will make you better.
HE COMES UP WITH THE PLOT FIRST
Stephen King says he comes up with the idea of the story first. Then creates interesting characters and places them into the story and sees how they will get themselves out. He doesn’t have the answer in his mind right away but as he writes the ideas come to him. However, he does follow the basic rules of writing as he makes it up. Because like Mozart the rules are embedded into his subconscious. He calls upon them instantly. Whereas other writers have to stop and think about character arch, rising tension, and the three-act structure.
Technically you can’t call Stephen King a pantser or planner. He’s a mix of both. As most writers say they are. Few writers actually plan their novel down chapter by chapter. Most writers plan the overall idea and go from there. But Stephen King knows how to apply all the rules of writing at lightning speed. Everything from the “show/don’t tell” and character arch without having to stop and think about it. His second draft doesn’t need a lot of work. He basically gets it right the first time. Not because he’s guessing, but because he understands what he’s doing.
WE KEEP ON READING BECAUSE OF THE CHARACTERS
His books might be about a dragon or evil demon but in reality, it’s the characters we care about and the rich detail he paints the world that makes us read his books. We are attached to his books by the plot, but we read for the characters and how they will get out of their problems. He knows this going in. No one has to tell him character sells books. He can tell you that.
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