Plotter or Pantser?

Do you prefer to have everything organized, in order, all your ducks in a row? You might be a plotter. Do you prefer to fly by the seat of your pants, taking it as it comes? You're probably a pantser. Me? I'm a half-and-half. If I think about it, that makes perfect sense. I am a Libra, after all: The scales and balance rule my life.

When I first started my book, I plotted the whole thing out. I had my characters, I knew where I wanted to story to go, and I was ready to write. However, once I started writing, my characters got difficult, the plot grew legs and things changed. My original plot is still there, tenuously connected to the current plot, but it's ever-evolving.

So, now I'm about 1/3 of the way though my story and I'm re-plotting. My original bad guy isn't so bad anymore, he's just slimy (typical politician). My new bad guy is pulling strings in the background and hasn't really been part of the plot at all yet. I think I'll have to go back and add her into the start a little bit more, especially because I hate those books that surprise you with the bad guy as someone who's been a flat character and hasn't really been in the plot at all.

For all you first time authors out there, this blog post is funny! Check it out: 50 Reasons No One Wants To Publish Your First Novel