I think of myself not as a pantser or a plotter, but as a herder. The goal is to get the character into a pen at the other side for the field. Character is why the character does not want to go into the pen and all the particular ways they will attempt to avoid going there. Plot is the dog that cuts them off every time they try to move away from the pen until eventually they have no choice but to enter it. After that it's just shearing and branding.
Plot, then, is a reaction to character in action. There is room for discovery and invention while always pursuing the goal of getting the characters into the pen. Plotting everything out from the beginning precludes learning from character as it develops. Pantsing means letting the dog chase the sheep around the field until they die of exhaustion without any idea of where the pen is.
I think of myself not as a pantser or a plotter, but as a herder. The goal is to get the character into a pen at the other side for the field. Character is why the character does not want to go into the pen and all the particular ways they will attempt to avoid going there. Plot is the dog that cuts them off every time they try to move away from the pen until eventually they have no choice but to enter it. After that it's just shearing and branding.
Plot, then, is a reaction to character in action. There is room for discovery and invention while always pursuing the goal of getting the characters into the pen. Plotting everything out from the beginning precludes learning from character as it develops. Pantsing means letting the dog chase the sheep around the field until they die of exhaustion without any idea of where the pen is.
Well said, Mark! (And Daniel!)
I love this depiction!