More Than Pantsing or Planning: Exploring Your Writer Working Style
Unlock the potential of your writing by identifying your true style.
Are you a fiction writer?
If you said ‘yes’, then you've heard the terms 'pantser' and 'planner' to describe how you approach storytelling.
But have you considered your overall working style? Now, that’s something different.
Think about it: Is your writing space neat and organized, or filled with papers and books scattered everywhere? Do you stick to one notebook for all your ideas, or grab whatever’s closest when inspiration strikes?
Maybe you use a digital tool like Notion to keep everything in order, or perhaps you rely on memory and handle tasks as they come up.
How you approach tasks, manage challenges, and collaborate with others impacts your productivity. It’s called Working Style.
This blog is the first installment of a three-part series on Writers, their Working Styles and the AI tools which lend themselves to each style. In this blog, we are looking at what a Writer Working Style is and how it differs from the Office Working Style.
What is Working Style?
Let’s go to where the whole concept started – the office.
In 1981, David W. Merrill introduced the idea in his popular "Style Awareness Workshops." His research focused on how social styles affect interpersonal dynamics and teamwork. He identified four primary styles: Analytical, Amiable, Driving, and Expressive.
Since then, the study of working styles has expanded.
Tools like Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, and the Kiersey Temperament Sorter were developed to help individuals better understand their personalities and working styles.
Depending on the assessment, you might fall into one of 9 or 16 categories, each with its unique traits. At their core, however, most working styles boil down to David Merrill’s four categories: Analytical, Amiable, Driving, and Expressive. In modern language, these translate to Logical, Idea-oriented, Detail-oriented, and Supportive.
How do these styles manifest in the office?
Planners and Organizers: These individuals thrive on structure. They create detailed schedules, maintain a tidy workspace, and love checking off items on their to-do list.
Perfectionists: These are the detail-oriented ones, spending extra time polishing presentations or reviewing reports to ensure everything is flawless.
Innovators: Creative and full of new ideas, these individuals look for ways to improve processes or develop new products. They might not follow a strict routine, but they are always brimming with inspiration.
Lone Wolves: These independent workers prefer to manage their tasks without much external input. Highly disciplined, they often resist bureaucracy, seeing it as a lack of trust from management.
Collaborators: These social butterflies draw energy from group interactions. They love working on team projects and bouncing ideas off others.
But what does this have to do with fiction writers? After all, chances are you don’t work in an office surrounded by people.
Translating Office Working Styles to Writing Working Styles
Let's explore how traditional office working styles might manifest in the world of fiction writing:
Methodical Writer (Analytical/Logical): Meticulously outlines every aspect of their novel before writing the first word. Their writing space is as structured as their plots.
Detail-Oriented Craftsperson (Detail-oriented): Focuses on crafting flawless prose, often revising a single paragraph multiple times. They have an extensive collection of reference books.
Creative Visionary (Idea-oriented/Expressive): Constantly generates new ideas for stories, characters, and worlds. Their writing schedule is flexible, driven by bursts of inspiration.
Solo Scribe (Driving): Sets personal deadlines and thrives on self-motivation. They often produce high volumes of work without external pressure.
Collaborative Storyteller (Amiable/Supportive): Flourishes in writing groups, actively seeks feedback, and enjoys discussing ideas with fellow writers.
Why Understanding Your Writing Working Style Matters
Recognizing your natural working style can significantly enhance your productivity and satisfaction as a writer. It helps you:
Create an optimal writing environment
Choose the most effective tools and apps (especially important with all of the A.I. tools today)
Set realistic goals and deadlines tailored to you
Collaborate more effectively with editors, beta readers, and other writers
Overcome writer's block by leveraging your strengths
Take Aways
Understanding your working style as a writer can significantly improve your productivity and satisfaction.
Just as it does in the office world, recognizing your style will help you adapt your workspace, tools, and processes to support your creative flow. Whether it's how you organize your desk, manage your time, or interact with others, aligning these elements with your working style will unleash your storytelling potential.
In our next blog post, we’ll dive deeper into each working style, exploring how it influences your writing process. We’ll also look at how your working style can help you select the best tools and apps to support your creativity.
Next in this series: What’s Your Writer Working Style? A Guide to Self Discovery
Want to figure out your style? Take the free Assessment Quiz here.
So happy you dropped by!
Lorraine
Bestselling Author and A.I. Writing Consultant / Creator of The Writer Working Style Assessment
P.S. Don't hesitate to leave a comment below to share your thoughts. I read every one!
