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Writing Muses and the Pantser


a happy place workspace with pen and keyboard

Shout out to the FBCW (Federation of British Columbia Writers) - Summit entitled "For the Love of Genre" happening this week. This organization was the first group I joined as a full-time writer and I am so grateful to be part of such a supportive, caring and diverse group. They tutored and mentored me as a new writer, but let's back up a little. I'd discovered my passion for writing and wrote feverishly for six months before taking a break to research publishers. Wow, so many options were out there. I'd discovered my passion for writing and wrote feverishly for six months before taking a break to research publishers. Wow, so many options were out there.


While I was researching, I found out publishers don't market books so I switched gears to create and design my website. I turned to one of my friends, Alexandra Toombs, who is an exceptional marketer. She helped me choose a website design and away I went. I also took classes with her on how to get the message out about my book and who I was. Social media began about this time and there were a ton of tiny decisions to make for my new business and career: mission statement, branding, timelines.


My website included a blog so I decided to hone my writing skills by writing a weekly blog. I'd written blogs before, but didn't have the time or inclination to continue then. This time it was exhilarating to write my thoughts in blog articles. I'd also been self editing my book and reread it twice before signing up for my first Writing Intensive offered by FBCW. I'd been involved with my manuscript for nearly a year, and needed a break.


Apparently, it's one thing to write all those words, but the more important task was removing words that didn't move the story forward. I learned about beta readers, how to pitch to publishers and more pro writing tips. I also learned what an author's website should look like. I went back to my website and made some changes. The information presented at that weeklong series of workshops was so valuable that, to my horror, I realized my chapters didn't seem to flow logically. Funny, they seemed just fine when I wrote them. Rearranging was necessary but not very much fun. The authors were right. I was a pantser and my book needed more than just an outline.


 A pantser is a term most commonly applied to fiction writers, especially novelists, who write their stories "by the seat of their pants." The opposite would be a plotter, or someone who uses outlines to help plot out their novels. Writers Digest

My story was full of trauma and the slow progression of putting myself back together, then realizing I was learning valuable lessons from everything that had happened. I'd written about my dreams and visions and created elaborate drawings illustrating different processes. One illustration was called "The M.A.P.P. System". It stood for "The Motivating, Aligned, And Passionate Purpose" System. What would a reader make of all that? Did I use imagery effectively enough so the reader wouldn't have to work too hard to figure it out? Could I even call myself a writer? The writing muses and the pantser weren't connecting.


Grateful for the experience of my first Intensive, I signed up for another one. The subject of one of the workshops offered by FBCW Member, Christina Myers was perfect, "What Comes Next? A Roadmap for AFTER the First Draft". One of the exercises she took us through was the Snowflake Exercise. The first step? Write a one-sentence summary of my novel, in under twenty words.


Suddenly, my mind went blank like the blue screen of death. It felt like my brain had exploded and I couldn’t even imagine capsulizing my book into a single sentence. Heck, I had trouble recalling any of the carefully chosen 10 major sections or the approximately 60,000 words I’d written, edited, and agonized over. Panic, don’t panic. I was relieved when the presenter said that this was one of the hardest exercises to do. What's Your Book All About?

 

The intensive also had a great workshop on choosing the right kind of editor. I didn't know there were four different kinds: developmental structural story editors, line and copy editors, and proofreading editors. I became even more motivated to write the best book I was capable of writing, but I had some nagging doubts. Thoughts kept appearing in my head as cartoon characters wagging disapproving fingers at me before disappearing in a pouf of dust. Something wasn't quite right. I wanted to write a book to inspire people to connect with their souls. The structure was based loosely on my life circumstances in chronological order with plenty of text about what to avoid, watch for, and change. Much to my chagrin I suddenly knew I had to rewrite my entire book again. Another expert I'd followed offered a webinar and a bonus session with a professional writer/publisher. I jumped at it.


I'd come prepared with many questions, but this author said abruptly, "What's your book all about, Alice?" This time I managed to say a few words like "It's kind of a memoir-slash-self-help book about finding one's soul." We chatted a little more and then she said, "The era of self-help books is over." Wait, what? My mind reeled. I was shocked. We explored other topics a little more and then my hour was up but the damage was done. I created a video around that time to describe how I felt. It said, "Eventually you’re completely spent and must dig deeply to coax the writing muses to speak again." (The Writing Muses) This was NOT my happy place.


I was gutted. I moped around for the rest of the day and fell into bed grateful for the night and sleep. I was surprised that I woke up defiant. I'd rewrite my book again removing all the 'self-help' parts. Once that decision was made, I began to see the book differently. It felt like I was back on track and getting closer to the real motivation to write my book as I realized it never was a text to accompany an online course, nor a springboard into a new business. I wanted to tell my story and if it helped someone, I was good with it.


Exhilarated, I pounded the keys on my keyboard. I made a plot plan with all the events, what they were, what they meant, the word count, and a chapter summary. Stunned, I looked at my book again in a new light. I'd rewritten twelve chapters and then rediscovered twelve visions I'd recorded over the last ten years. That was too strange to be a coincidence. It was like I'd been reading with faulty glasses and then put on a pair I could see through with complete clarity. I had the backbone for my book. The writing muses and the pantser were speaking face to face.


This version of the book sounded more like me. Hopefully, people would read this book and come away with inspiring ideas or, at the very least, feel encouraged. My readers didn't need to be hit over the head with tips and practices. That professional author was right. I have no illusions about writing a best selling book. An entertaining and uplifting story about how I navigated my life as an empath through trauma and a myriad of life lessons will have something to offer those who struggle deeply with who they are inside and who yearn to offer others something of value.


What will I learn at this year's FBCW Summit? One thing's for sure, I won't be rewriting my whole manuscript again, but I'll be tweaking how I describe some of the events in the book using elements from other genres, and then sending my book to my editor. Whatever I learn this week, I know it will help me grow and be a better writer. I suspect I'll be more of a plotter than a pantser when I write my next book. Meanwhile, the writing muses and the pantser have options to explore, decisions to make, and exciting projects waiting to be created. This, indeed, is my happy place!

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© 2022 - 2025 Alice Carlssen Williams. Content and visuals are copyrighted and not to be copied without authorization.

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