Did you know you have two brains?
Okay, you don’t have two brains. However, nature saw fit to separate your brain into two halves, or hemispheres, the left brain, and the right brain. While both sides of your brain are active, chances are that either the left brain or the right brain is more dominant.
What does this have to do with plotting your story?
Well, the part of your brain that’s most dominant has a lot to do with whether you’re a “pantser” or a “plotter.”
Plotters are usually left-brained thinkers. People whose left brain is dominant are usually very logical, organized people. They are good at sticking to schedules and following directions, even directions they give to themselves. Left brain thinkers work best when they know what they have to do and when they have to do it. It’s no wonder left brain writers work best when they make a detailed outline for their article, short story or novel.
Pantsers are usually right-brained thinkers. They like to “write by the seat of their pants,” hence the name. A right brain thinker doesn’t want to “waste time” doing boring stuff like plotting or outlining. They want to get to the fun, creative part of actually writing. So, with nothing but an idea, they just start writing, letting the article or story take them wherever it wants to go.
If you didn’t plot your story in advance, and are now having trouble finishing it, it could be because you’re a left brain thinking plotter trying to write like a pantser. And if you’ve been trying for weeks to create an outline for your novel with little success, it could be because you’re a right brain thinking pantser trying to write like a plotter.
To determine which side of your brain is more dominant, and which writing techniques will work best for you, take the following tests.
Bellow, you will be instructed to perform certain physical actions. Do them quickly, without giving it much thought. In fact, it might be best if you have someone else give you the test and keep track of your results.
Ready? Go!
1. Touch your head. Which hand did you touch your head with, your left or your right?
2. Cross your arms. Which arm ended up on top, your left or your right?
3. Cross your legs. Which leg ended up on top, your left or your right?
4. Point at some object in the room. Did you point with your left finger or your right finger?
5. Close your eye and look at some object in the room. Which eye did you keep open, your left or your right?
If “left” was your result on three or more of these tests, then you are probably a right brain thinker. (As you may remember from a science class in school, each side of your brain controls the opposite side of your body.) Being a right brain thinker, outlining your work beforehand is probably hard for you. Ignore everyone who says you absolutely have to do an outline first, and try working writing without one for a while.
If “right” was your result one three or more of these tests, you are probably a left brain thinker. You’ve probably been told that outlining would stifle your creativity. But give it a try. Work out a detailed outline or plot for your next article or short story. You might be surprised by the results.
Have you been having trouble writing? Figuring out whether you’re a left brain or a right brain thinker, and changing your writing style accordingly, might be just the solution you were looking for.
