What's Going on with Game of Thrones or Plotters vs. Pansters? (Plot vs. Character)

Unrolled Twitter Thread (for people who aren't on Twitter and can't follow it) that Elsi posted about in her journal.

Thread by dsilverman on what is going on with Game of Thrones Or if you are on Twitter and can follow it - HERE on Twitter

I despise Twitter. But alas, I have to read it occasionally. It never fails to amuse me how writers have found ways around the 15 characters or less rule of tweeting. It used to be five characters or less.

Here's an excerpt -- it's actually a good read even if you don't read or watch Game of Thrones.


Want to know why Game of Thrones *feels* so different now? I think I can explain. Without spoilers. /1

#GameofThrones #GoT #WritingCommunity
It has to do with the behind-the-scenes process of plotters vs. pantsers. If you’re not familiar with the distinction, plotters create a fairly detailed outline before they commit a single word to the page. /2

Pantsers discover the story as they write it, often treating the first draft like one big elaborate outline. Neither approach is ‘right’ - it’s just a way to characterize the writing process. But the two approaches do tend to have different advantages. /3

Because they have the whole story in mind, it’s usually easier for plotters to deliver tighter stories and stick the landing when it comes to endings, but their characters can sometimes feel stiff, like they’re just plot devices. /4

Pantsers have an easier time writing realistic characters, because they generate the plot by asking themselves what this fully-realized person would do or think next in the dramatic situation the writer has dropped them in. /5

But because pantsers are making it up as they go along (hence the name: they’re flying by the seat of their pants), they’re prone to meandering plots and can struggle to bring everything together in a satisfying conclusion. /6

That’s why a lot of writers plot their stories but pants their characters, and use the second draft to reconcile conflicts between the two.


This is what I've been trying to explain in my own journal entries on GoT and other things. Except I use the terms -- plot-driven vs. character-driven. When anything is character driven -- the plot can't be worked out ahead of time, it is impossible.
The characters will do things that don't lead to the plot you had in mind. Mainly because you haven't totally figured out who the characters are as of yet, not until you start playing with them and having them interact and do stuff. Consider it the character version of free-will. A plot driven novel more often than not tends to have stiff characterization or characters relying heavily on tropes -- why? Because there are no new or original plots (sorry, there aren't), but there are new characters and everyone gets there differently, but to have your plot work as intended -- you may have to strip away a lot of characterization. That's not to say character-driven is better -- more often than not character driven novels tend to meander, they don't have tight plots, and often seem to never end, sort of like life. There's no neat satisfying ending.

Silverman uses the terms plotters and pantsers...but I think a better term is plotters vs. characters.

It is however possible to do a hybrid -- plot and character, but to do that, you sort of have to limit it in scale and point of view. Tolkien did this -- he limited it to a specific number of points of view and he limited the scope. The Hobbit is an example of a book that is both character driven and plot driven, by a writer who was more into characters than plot.

Avengers: Endgame...

Finally saw it. (I gave up on movie buddy, who to be fair let me off the hook when he told me he'd have to reschedule due to a prior family commitment on May 18. It's May, people with small children tend to become increasingly unavailable.)

Got my hair done first -- color and cut. (I've found an amazing colorist, she's Russian and does a color treatment that has actual highlights in it, it looks better than my natural hair color.) And the stylist is cool as well, has tattoos up her arms.

Anyhow, Avengers: Endgame

First off, I saw it in RPX. Which is about three to four dollars more than standard. Will I do it again? ( RPX Theaters )

There were about 10 movie trailers, including Spider-man Far From Home, which aired after the credits. There is no tag to the credits -- since this is the final film of this particular series.

The movie itself? Did I enjoy it? I loved it, for the most part. There were moments where my jaw just dropped in awe and a chill went down my spine. Others that well, made me want to shake certain characters -- come on, get a move on. It's highly suspenseful in places -- I honestly had no idea where they were going with it at one point. And it does a great job of referencing every film that came before it (so, it works a lot better for people who saw all 21 previous films, and know those characters than for folks who hadn't). There are a few...character centric moments that seemingly go on forever. (More on that under a spoiler cut.)

I went in cold. All I knew was it involved Time Travel, Captain Marvel is in it, and Captain America says goodbye. That's it. (Yes, I did a very good job of avoiding spoilers.)

The movie does wrap up the franchise well. But it is a character driven piece not a plot driven one. And there are places in which it gets bogged down a little with plot mechanics. That said, the plot for the most part is rather tight, and it skirts the mistakes most time travel films and stories make or the traps they fall into.
Marvel generally speaking is rather good with time travel -- should be, they've done it enough.

And there are a few surprises -- particularly in how they manage to maintain continuity and reference previous films.

Like I said -- it works better if you've seen all 21 of the previous films.

I found it funny -- hilarious in spots, but I admittedly have an off-beat sense of humor. I also cried in various places. So it worked for me emotionally. Not sure it will for everyone. Depends on whether you share my snarky and absurdist sense of humor.

( Spoilers for Avengers - Endgame )