In Defense of Pantsers

I know that someone has probably written about this before, and perhaps has done a better job of describing it than I am. But I don’t care whether I am the first or only person to think of this. If someone is exposed to this idea here for the first time, I’m satisfied. The nature of the world is that many people come up the same idea at the same time, probably because we are so better connected, and know more about what’s going on globally.

Anyway we are focusing on those writers who write by the seat of their pants. If. You’re not familiar with the conundrum or dilemma for writers, there are two approaches to creative writing. One is based on a formula, preplanning, thinking through the story before you start, knowing before hand what’s going to happen and how it’s going to end. That’s good in a way, because, you’re not wondering what you’re going to come with next, or how is the main character going to get out of this fix, etc. If you like predictability, then formulaic writing is right for you. And there are experts who say those are the kind of stories that sell, are make into movies and so forth. Formulaic writing reminds me of what Seth Godin said about grade school education, something to the effect that it was designed to train people to do what they were told. Grade school did not nurture creativity.  I know what he referring to, but creativity finds a way The goal was to train people to become cogs in a machine society. We either fit in or we dropped out, or became entrepreneurs. It’s complicated. Let’s get back to the writing.

The other approach to creative writing, is taking the story one step at a time. The writer comes up with an idea, sits down to write, and then just types or writes whatever comes to mind with that seed idea in mind. After having written in this way before, I know, there are times when I was just stuck and not sure where to take the story, so in my mind’s eye I had to evaluate the choices as they came up, and see how I was going to get a result that I wanted. The writing becomes a creative adventure, since you don’t know how the story will end up and who the characters are going to be, the story can take unexpected turns and significant characters can suddenly come from seemingly nowhere, to enrich the narrative, and add to the complexity of the tale. It does take a significant amount of patience, and persistence to pursue the seed idea to its finish.

I am proposing a new variation on seat of the pants writing, that I believe, will facilitate the development of the story with greater efficiency and confidence. I’m raising the bar. I’m calling it “seat of the spiritual eye” writing. Sitting oneself down, just like in meditation, putting one’s attention at the point between the eyebrows. If knitting the eyebrows does not provide enough pressure at that point for you, or it’s too difficult to feel that point, you can press a finger nail there, and then focus on the sting. 

The point between the eyebrows is the site of the Spiritual eye, which is a reference to a subtle beyond sense detection metaphysical tunnel to infinite and eternal knowledge. That point between the eyebrows is also the will center, and the physiological center in the body. While concentrating at that point, all distractions of a minor nature can be overcome, making concentration much easier. 

Since the attention is also in the forefront of the brain, it’s easier to be in the present, sort through ideas, and distinquish memories from reflections. So give it a try, and see how goes for you.