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What happens when a plotter tries discovery writing? | Vlog 42 2026

Andrea J. Severson - Romance Author

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OPEN ME!: Join me for a cozy writing vlog where I share some of the struggles I’m currently having as a plotter who’s somehow ended up discovery writing my latest small town romance novel. I hope you enjoy! :) xx

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20 Comments

@Lilyswind 1 day ago

Hi! I don't usually leave comments, but I decided to try changing that to help support the channels I like most, so here I am! 🕯 I think I'm much more a pantser than a plotter, as one of the things I love in writing is when I discover a scene by just letting the characters and the flow of words write it out. However, though I often get an idea for a story by just discovery writing a first scene, I do need to create the characters, the setting, and the main conflicts of the plot to be able to write a full novel. Otherwise, either nothing happens, or my writing feels empty, or I just don't know what to write (and in all these cases, I lose interest or shelve the idea)

@BlueTheJazzCat 2 days ago

In the writing community I'm part of, we use the term plantser for writers who fall somewhere in between plotting/planning and discovery/pantsing. I'm definitely in that category! I like knowing where my story is headed, and have a general 3-act structure, but the rest is all discovery. 🕯

@DannyFlairtyAuthor 2 days ago

🕯I’ve experimented with more plotting/outlining lately, mainly through plot gridding and some light outlining on Scrivener’s corkboard. My current WIP has taught me that the planning is helpful, but I still have to start writing before I know whether the plan actually works. Five chapters in, I made a major POV change because I simply wasn’t feeling the original direction. Once I changed it, it was like a light bulb went off and a tsunami of inspiration hit. I’ve since discovered entire plots and subplots through writing that weren’t on my original grid. What started primarily as a romance has become so much more, with the romance still serving as the spine. So I’d put myself somewhere in the middle, but leaning toward discovery writing. I plan enough to give myself something to work with, then let the actual writing tell me where the story needs to go.

@woodlandlady7011 2 days ago

🕯When I first started writing stories from a young age I didn't know anything about structure, but when I got some craft books I had a good time plotting out whole books and that was when the problems started for me because I felt like I'd pretty much already told myself the story and lost interest in filling out the gaps with more worldbuilding, etc. I now discovery write but have learnt where the important tent poles are for markers of where certain things should happen like the inciting incident, all is lost, etc. One day I'll consider publishing something.:body-blue-raised-arms:

@NE_mountain 1 day ago (edited)

What you said about knowing craft with knowing the exact words really resonates! I recently read "Save the Cat Writes A Novel" on a whim, which I enjoyed quite a bit. Then, I dusted off an outline from a story I've had on hold for awhile in an effort to remind myself of the major plotlines and re-write a few plot points based on the year or so of thought work I've done here and there, and as I was reviewing it, I realized that I pretty much hit every single one of the 15 Save the Cat beats. I didn't even know what Save the Cat was when I had originally written this outline! It's amazing what you absorb about story structure from pure osmosis based on years of from reading or watching film/television. It just goes to show that one doesn't need to read all sorts of craft books, or know the ins and outs of a million different kinds of plot structures and beat sheets before being "allowed" to start writing a book (I also say this as a person who gets way too inside her own head when reading craft books, even though I love them). You really can just start writing because any creative person knows more than they think they do.

@MacrineRisper-b8b 1 day ago

outline only the main romance beats and discover the rest. a writer friend keeps a rough outline in one doc and the messy draft in another, both in one folder in typeai.

@kathyramsperger3752 3 hours ago

🕯️ Thank you! I’m a Discovery writer who is attempting to write faster with plotting and outlining. It is very different for me. I love it when a chapter simply downloads, but then you have to wait for it sometimes. I usually write the first draft, then outline, then have my first revision, and the 6-7 other revisions, each with a different focus. I wish you all the best. You are so far Ali g already, I’m sure it’s working.

@jessicadrake3016 2 days ago

I usually dive right in. There's a certain point in the writing though where I'll get stuck and not know how to proceed, then I try to plan after that. 🕯

@susananderson8995 2 days ago

🕯️ I think you should be happy with your progress.

@kamurocho7503 1 day ago

영상 항상 잘 보고 있어요🩷 이 채널을 보면 여러가지 난관에도 불구하고 글쓰는 즐거움이 느껴져서 좋아요. 전 plotter로 전작을 작업했는데 차기작은 즉흥적으로 쓴 걸 끼워맞춰가는 식으로 하다보니 압박이 심해요😭 마지막 장면까지 잘 쓸 수 있을까 걱정하던 와중에 딱 맞는 주제가 올라왔네요. 여기 댓글들 보고 꼭 정답이 있는 건 아니라는 사실에 마음이 조금 편안해졌어요. 결국 계속 써 보는 수 밖에 없겠죠. 글쓰는 작업에서 오는 고충은 어느 나라든 비슷하다는 점이 신기해요.

@BarbaraBell-j4e 1 day ago

🕯🕯🕯You go, girl! Amazing leap of faith you're taking and I'm sure it's going to work out. I'm an absolute discovery writer. Funny story - I decided to try outlining first, and got partway in and was just not feeling the story. I'll be starting with a new idea as soon as I finish my final edits of book one and start querying. The ideas are churning around in my head as we speak and I'm jotting down snippets as I go.

@andreawebb5846 2 days ago

🕯️I have learned that I am a discovery writer. I am inspired by a word, a scene or a situation and off I go. I was always an avid reader as a child too. My writing is for fun and I really enjoy it. I might try plotting for my next project.

@Bcarp2012 1 day ago

🕯️ It’s always exciting when you unlock a new technique or skill to add to your bag of tricks. The way I see it, you have this new tool that you don’t need to constantly pull out and use but it’s good to know it’s there for the times you do need it. I must admit I am somewhat of a chaotic creator and not sure if that makes it easier or not! 😂

While watching this vlog I couldn’t help but thing that maybe it’s because you know these characters and world so well that it has freed some part of you up to try more of a discovery writing approach - there is less pressure because you are comfortable in the world you are writing in (if that makes sense?)

Lots of food for thought about the process of writing in this one! 😊

@AmandaJarrottWrites 2 days ago

Hmm I like the observation you made about your process and discovery writing, that it might have been easier to discovery write with book 5 than book 1 of a series. I think that’s a good point. Another enjoyable vlog and such good progress! 🎉

@Marjorieishooked 1 day ago

I am actually a mix of both, but more of a discovery writer. Like, the book I have been working on for over a year started as an idea that I ran with. I'm even going to make it a series, which became an idea while working on it. I'm pretty good if I have the beginning, middle, and end points. The rest I can discover along the way, which I have lol. My current draft is so different from my OG draft. They don't even look the same. I completely added a different midpoint and even changed the ending. I've had ideas just pop into my head to do with this book, along with plot ideas for other books. And I also understand the feeling of wanting to write while not wanting to write. I have had that hit me a few times on this writing journey.

@jenniferlavoie2548 2 days ago

Happy for a new vid

@holli2834 2 days ago

🕯I do like how you have switched from plotter to discovery writing for this project. As a newer writer, I need at least the headlights, but I'd prefer a fully fleshed-out outline.

@Runsonespresso 1 day ago

🕯 I lean more plotter. I need to have an idea ahead of time. I found a few scenes needed to change as he story progressed. I updaed my outline and kept going. I also write in order. Bouncing around gives me anxiety. 🤣