World Building By the Book
I’ve always been in awe of writers who create entire worlds, some vaguely based on the real world, and others entirely from their own minds and imagination.
I recently learned that one of my favorite authors and world builders, Jacqueline Carey, is a staunch planner. In response to one of my posts on her page, she proclaimed she never allows her characters to drive the story, but forces them to her will.
As a pantser, the concept of forcing my characters to do anything is about as achievable as forcing the wind to blow in the direction of my choice. Inconceivable! (in the words of Vizzini of “Princess Bride” fame).
I’m forced to ponder whether world building is achievable only with careful planning and mapping out of a story, or whether, like the characters who allow me to tell their tale, if it’s possible for a world to unfold in the same manner. In short, can a world build itself while I’m merely the vessel for communicating the story being told?
Letting My World Unfold as Another Character in the Story
As I peruse comments from other pantsers, many seem to believe as I do, that the world builds itself as 
the story unfolds. I suspect, though, that during the edit and rewrite process, the rules of that world have to be given the sniff test to ensure consistency.
In the novels I’ve written thus far, I’ve not strayed far from my own geographical area, though I’ve taken certain liberties with them. In one case, I chose a setting, and when I needed an abandoned mine, I did a little research only to find there was one quite close to the location I’d chosen.
I find what might be a little thing to some rather reassuring as it tells me the characters and story lurking in my subconscious somehow do their own homework to ensure the necessary parts and places are where they need to be, at least insofar as I’m loosely basing my worlds on real places.
Challenges to Writing Without a Plan
Being a pantser certainly poses its share of challenges. Sitting down and writing is easy to put off because there’s no format, outline, or schedule. Even so, when I do shut down my inner procrastinator, put my fingers on the keyboard and allow the words to flow out of my fingers, I often become so immersed in the story, I don’t emerge for hours other than to fill my water bottle, or empty my bladder. Even then, I perform those mundane tasks almost within the confines of the story, just as I do in my dreams when I need to wake in the middle of the night.
For some, their dream world and writing world are merely states of mind. For me, they are places I go, heart, body, soul, and mind. The time I spend in my dreams is very real, and quite vivid. When I’m immersed in one of my stories, it’s as if I’m there playing one character or another, or sometimes, I’m like a fly on the wall watching and trying not to interfere.
Ensuring the Creative Side Gets to Have Her Say
I don’t think we can choose our writing style. In real life, I’m analytical, almost to a fault. I spent over 30 years working in corporate accounting, and can analyze my way in or out of almost anything. This is not always a redeeming quality, by the way. But when I sit down to write, my creative side will sit in a corner, arms crossed protectively across her chest, jaw set in stubborn resistance until I find a way to occupy the Analyst so she can come out and play without interference.
Typically that means putting on some kind of music to keep the Analyst entertained. I’ve found she’s 
best kept occupied with the music I loved in my youth so I’ve created stations on Pandora to feed that need. Her favorite when I’m writing or otherwise being creative is my Simon and Garfunkel station. There’s enough variety between mellow and upbeat to keep her entertained for hours. I played many of those songs over and over in the silence of my room, and later the apartments I lived in before my marriage. The words and melodies are part of my brain waves, and weave through leaving only slight ripples as they pass. If I have to stop and sing along for a bit, my Creative understands, and will allow the pause while characters and scenery once again assume almost physical form.
Finding Time for the Analyst to Run the Show
I know there will come a time when an outline or some kind of spreadsheet will help clean up what I’ve written, and perhaps that is why I’ve been so resistant to completing anything and turning it over to an editor. My Creative is not yet ready to let go of what she’s made and allow my Analyst to give it some sense of form, flow, and structure.
Like everything else, the first step in solving a problem is recognizing there is one. The second is to create a plan to overcome the difficulties. I’ve been at Stage 1 for a while, and feel I’m nearly ready to move on to Stage 2, but first I need to find a way to placate the often-childlike Creative. It isn’t beneath her to throw a tantrum and disrupt the whole system.
I need to find a way to thwart her outbursts as I’ve learned to halt the Analyst’s interference. She needs something to play with while I pick apart the baby she’s birthed on the pages of my novels, memoir, and children’s story. It may boil down to finding the right music. Maybe something without words like smooth jazz where she can get lost in the music and lose the need to have control over the words.
We Are as Multi-Faceted as Gemstones
We all have many facets, whether we realize it or not. At some point, each of our facets need undivided 
attention. The best way to ensure we optimize our talents and abilities is to acknowledge they exist, and to understand what we need to give each one the attention they deserve.
Though I’ve identified within myself two distinctly different sides, I know I’ve oversimplified. Each of those sides is multi-faceted in and of itself, and as such, each one must be granted its moment to shine. Assuming we are but a single thought, path, and need would be like saying there’s only one straight and narrow road to any destination we might choose.
Traveling the Back Roads
Life is full of twists, turns, backtracks, and even dead ends. Some might call those which stray from what they perceive as the right direction to be mistakes. I view them as part of the journey. Sometimes we need a few side trips and detours to help us see where we truly wish to go. Those detours are, to me, possibilities I couldn’t see until I got away from my expectations and saw there was a whole world I hadn’t even considered.
Maybe that’s why I’m a pantser instead of a planner. I have to take those side roads and detours. Those possibilities make my life and my writing far more interesting than a plan; than the direct approach. Perhaps planners are able to see those detours and possibilities without actually traveling the dirt roads and detours. If so, they have my respect and admiration. Still, I am happy as I am, wandering through life without too many solid plans so I can keep going around a bend where my eyes are filled with wonder.
About the Author
Sheri Conaway is a writer, blogger, Virtual Assistant and advocate for cats. Sheri believes in the Laws 
of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. She specializes in creating content that helps entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income. If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author.
Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming release of “Life Torn Asunder: Rebuilding After Suicide”.
