Discovery Writing 101: How to Craft Gripping Stories Without an Outline

Christian Publishing Show

The term "pantser" has been used to describe writing a book without an outline. At writers conferences, outlining and "pantsing" (also known as discovery writing) are often framed as rivals. However, most writers fall between the two extremes.

I've seen successful authors across that spectrum. What truly matters is finding the method that works best for you.

While there are countless books on outlining, there are very few on discovery writing. So how do you learn to "write by the seat of your pants"?

In this month's episode, I interviewed bestselling author Steven James, who shared his secrets for discovery writing—the art of writing "by the seat of your pants" while creating gripping stories.

He shared

✔️ Four questions that can solve any plot problem

✔️ What truly drives a great story to a satisfying ending

✔️ How to use pivots to surprise and satisfy your readers

If you've ever struggled with outlining or wondered if "pantsing" could work for you, this episode will give you the guidance and courage to give it a try. Listen in or read the blog version to learn more.

Support the show

Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. What’s a pantser? (00:01:56)

3. 4 questions to help you enthrall readers. (00:06:58)

4. Where does revision fit in discovery writing? (00:16:24)

5. Do discovery writers plan their endings? (00:20:17)

6. How does "the pivot" relate to chiastic story structure? (00:21:03)

7. How does a pivot differ from a plot twist? (00:24:36)

8. How do discovery writers insert foreshadowing? (00:31:45)

9. To subvert or satisfy? (00:36:40)

10. Where to start and end the story. (00:39:17)

11. Final tips for new discovery writers. (00:44:43)