Plotters Are Pantsers, Too

Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin tackle the old plotters-versus-pantsers divide and ask whether the distinction is really as clear as writers make it out to be. Along the way, they explore getting unstuck, taming sprawling drafts, genre expectations, and why sometimes the best way forward is to step outside your usual writing process. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:32 Are Plotters Really Pantsers? 09:08 Can a Pantser Become a Plotter? 16:15 Too Many Subplots and POVs 22:40 Know Your Genre’s Expectations 28:53 Know the Rules Before You Break Them 32:59 Getting Unstuck by Changing Your Process 37:28 Outro Links Referenced in This Episode: Working Writers Episode 5: Every Writer Needs Critique Partners https://workingwriters.io/2026/10/06/are-writing-competitions-worth-it/ Hugo Awards definitions/categories https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-categories/ Follow Working Writers Working Margins Newsletter https://workingwriters.io/newsletter/ Threads https://www.threads.com/@workingwritersshow Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/workingwritersshow.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workingwritersshow/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingWritersShow