I was once a pantser. I'd ramble around and play with the characters. I never got anywhere. Then I tried NaNoWriMo, a challenge to write 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days. I did a bit of planning in the few days I had left before November started and I had to begin writing. I didn't finish that year.
The following year, I planned out the story in much more detail. I suspect I still wasted a lot of time maintaining my notes and outline. I have won every NaNoWriMo since. I still enjoy writing the occasional scene without any plans than what I'm dreaming up. When it comes to writing a novel, I need to plot. This is where Scrivener came in for me.
Scrivener is a word processing application made for writers, currently available for Mac OS and Windows platforms. It allows you to create folders and files, which represent chapters and scenes. The software offers 3 views: Document, Corkboard, and Outline. Corkboard is where I hang out when plotting. It is a plotters dream.
The following year, I planned out the story in much more detail. I suspect I still wasted a lot of time maintaining my notes and outline. I have won every NaNoWriMo since. I still enjoy writing the occasional scene without any plans than what I'm dreaming up. When it comes to writing a novel, I need to plot. This is where Scrivener came in for me.
Scrivener is a word processing application made for writers, currently available for Mac OS and Windows platforms. It allows you to create folders and files, which represent chapters and scenes. The software offers 3 views: Document, Corkboard, and Outline. Corkboard is where I hang out when plotting. It is a plotters dream.
So if you find yourself getting stumped with your writing and are unable to finish your story arc, check out Scrivener and its corkboard view. There's a trial version that allows you to test out the software before purchasing too.