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Poll: What type of writer are you?

Poll #3

Written on: December 3, 2017.

Published on Virily on December 6th, 2017.

Written by: Kenneth Shumaker

With InUPress through Virily.

“What type of writer are you?”

I ask this question a lot, especially when writers ask me for advice. You see, the advice you receive from others may or may not apply to you, depending on the type of writer you are. Different types of writers work in different modes or styles. So, this advice that maybe sound to be good advice for one author or writer, maybe horrible, useless, or even detrimental to another writer. You need to know what type of writer you are before working with writing tools and accepting advice. In the rawest most basic forms there are four forms of writers. We all branch off from one of these in varying degrees. I haven’t met a single writer that is hardcore one specific type – a deadlocked solid stereotype. There are stereotypes of each of these writers and you can research them if you want to know more. I’m going to ask you which of the four you are, and give you a brief rundown on the type. You decide which field you most play in.

  1. Are you a ‘Pantser?’
  2. Are you a ‘planner?’
  3. Are you a ‘hybrid’ writer?
  4. Are you a ‘wannabe?’

This rounds out the four writer types I’ve encountered in my journey with my writing and publishing experiences, and with the connections that I’ve made networking. Experience has taught me that each type of writer has different unique requirements in time, tools and commitments, and each in varying degrees. No one set of advice works for all of them. Happy writing all of you.

May the words stay with you?

This poll is written by, Kenneth Shumaker for Virily and published with Inevitable Unicorn Press at Rusty’s Den.

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  • Question of

    Are you a ‘Pantser?’ First, we have the common Pantser: Are you someone who flies along by the seat of their pants? Someone who works with no plans? Working with no plot outlines or guides? Do you have no set character moulds for your article? No idea really what the story you’re writing is about or where it’s going? Maybe you don’t even know what genre you’re writing the article in to begin with, or how long you’re going to make the article. If this is you, you’re a Pantser.

    • Yes
    • No
    • Not sure
  • Question of

    Are you a ‘Planner?’ Second, is the perennial planner. Are you the writer with the meticulous plot outline? The character bio profile files? All this before you write the chapter outline to build the skeleton of the piece you’re going to write. You set an exact target word count for the article, all before sitting down to write, if so you are a ‘Planner.’ Are you a ‘Planner?’

    • Yes
    • No
    • Not sure
  • Question of

    Are you a ‘Hybrid’ writer? The third type, is of person is the hybrid. The person who writes a plot, with setting the genre and setting a rough word count target in the general decade of the thousands that they’re aiming for. They might rough out a couple of the character profiles. Then they wing the rest, flexing their creative juices as they write, adjusting their plans on the fly. Rearranging character bios and location settings on a whim, but keeping meticulous notes so they keep facts correct. If you keep notes and rough plans, but don’t have a set skeletal plan, I call you a ‘Hybrid’ writer. Are you a ‘Hybrid’ writer?

    • Yes
    • No
    • Not sure
  • Question of

    Are you a ‘Wannabe?’ Fourth, and yes there is a fourth, this is the wannabe. The person who writes a few words here or there and tells people they’re a writer, but never finishes anything. They have notebooks of notes, or computer files started. But no finished articles. Do you make plans, but only have plans to write? Saying the words to others, ‘I’m a writer,’ or ‘I’m an author.’ Are you a ‘Wannabe?’

    • Yes
    • No
    • Not sure

Report

What do you think?

14 Points

5 Comments

  1. Well it appears from the answers people say they are ‘planners’ not ‘pantsers’ with definite no votes for ‘pantsers’ and ‘yes’ votes for ‘planner’ while ‘not sure’ votes ended up in ‘wannabe’ As well hybrid earned equal split votes between ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ So ‘planners’ unit and tell us what your methods of keeping on track are. How do you set out on your path?