What Is Discovery Writing, Anyway?

If you’re struggling to connect with your creativity as a writer, discovery writing may be worth a try.

Intuitive writers, often known as “pantsers,” face some unique challenges. Most writing advice is created by and for rational writers, aka plotters, and intuitive writers can struggle for years, if not decades, trying to follow it without much success. One reason for this unfortunate situation is that most intuitive writers don’t know that’s what they are. They may know they’re pantsers, but still tend to see themselves as just a different kind of rational writer because that’s the only choice they’re presented with. The idea that some writers are different in fundamental ways that have to do with how their brains function is still new. With few exceptions (Lauren Sapala’s work being one), the world of intuitive writing still lacks the wealth of resources you can find for rational writers with a simple google search of “writing advice.”

I’m going to share a writing technique I use as an intuitive writer, called discovery writing. But first, how do you know if you are an intuitive writer? Well, if a rational writing style doesn’t work for you, that’s a giveaway. Here are some challenges intuitive writers typically struggle with:

• Conceptualizing a plot
• Writing within a linear cause-and-effect structure (feedback for intuitive writers often sounds like, “But nothing changes in this scene”)
• Using outlines, plot tables, or other highly organized methodologies (while these help rational writers access their creativity, they have the opposite effect on intuitive writers)
• Finishing longer projects (this is more a function of trying and failing at rational writing techniques than anything else, but intuitive writing can take longer in general)

Another sign that you may be an intuitive writer is if you have shelves of writing advice books that haven’t worked for you.

If any of the above struggles have made you feel like you’re not a good writer, you are probably an intuitive writer to some degree. Rest assured, you are a good writer. You’ve just been using a writing methodology that doesn’t suit you. Discovery writing may be worth trying. Discovery writing isn’t a clearly defined methodology — something I’d like to change. Today I’m going to discuss some of its general characteristics, but stay tuned for future posts about specific techniques.

So what is discovery writing? It’s an exploratory method that can feel, at first, like you’re wasting time because it’s so different from what we’re taught process looks like. It’s a technique that allows your subconscious to take hold of your writing to the extent that you let go of outcome, which is very uncomfortable. However, the technique is a natural fit for intuitive writers, who usually already have well-developed skills in terms of connecting to the subconscious. The greatest challenge to learning discovery writing is that it entails the unlearning of conventional writing techniques. It also requires a deep trust in your individual process that takes time to develop. It can be a freeing, ecstatic experience when you get the hang of it. Below are some tips to get you started. Remember, this is a methodology that takes practice and is itself a practice: sitting down to try it is how you do it.

The formless first draft

If there is one thing I want to communicate about why discovery writing works, it’s this: for intuitive writers, plot is an emergent property of their writing. While rational writers first conceptualize plot and then write to fit that, intuitive writers build their story piece by piece without a clear idea of where they’re headed. Plot slowly emerges. For this reason, the first draft should be written without a final form in mind. This type of writing is a bit like brainstorming. As an example, my current novel, which is entering the second draft stage right now, is full of what I call “orphan” sentences, paragraphs, even chapters. I wrote whatever came to mind. Much of it will end up informing the final plot, but some of it — notably, a section I wrote from the perspective of a dog — probably won’t. But all of it helped me get where I’m going with the story.

The subconscious is a mapmaker: there may be one best route to a destination, but the mapmaker has to experiment with many routes in order to create a complete picture. The rule of thumb for the formless first draft is “nothing is precious, and everything is necessary.”

Regular writing

No, it doesn’t have to be every day. But to develop skills at discovery writing, you do need to have a consistent writing habit. What that looks like in practice varies among writers. Some do write every day, some once a week. When you become more adept at discovery writing, you don’t need to worry as much about consistency, but you may find, like I did, that you want to continue with the regular writing habit. Discovery writing is a technique that is used during the writing process. There’s no way around it — you have to sit down to write in order to do it.

Focus on the feeling, not the idea

We live in a society that has a strong preference for left-brain approaches to life, so a major challenge in learning discovery writing is loosening the hold intellect has over our process. There is a time for left-brain writing in the editing phases, but the first draft should be done with as little left-brain control as possible. In the first draft, what you want to focus on is what you feel you want to write, not what you think you should. What does what you’re writing feel like to you? I’m not talking character emotion here, because once you start thinking about what your characters should feel, you’re in left-brain territory again. What I mean is, what do you feel about what you’re writing? Trust what your subconscious is telling you through your feelings.

What if you sit down and having nothing to write?

That happens. Usually not often once you’ve become adept at trusting your subconscious, but it’s part of the process. Discovery writing is not efficient, nor is it logical. For anyone who prefers left-brain approaches, it looks ridiculous, wasteful, and useless. Even many intuitive writers find it too unstructured. It’s a technique I recommend to intuitive writers who are struggling with feeling that they’re not accessing their true creative potential. It really is magical if you give it a fair try. Remember: let go of outcome. Any time your brain starts to evaluate what you’re writing in terms of where it’s going, gently tell it to STFU. There’s plenty time to think about that stuff later during the second, third, fourth, etc. drafts.

And don’t worry about trying to get this “right.” It’s always just practice.

Kendra Patterson is a writer and creativity coach based in north-central Florida. She helps fellow creatives work through blocks and burnout to reconnect with their creative spark. You can find her at www.kendrapatterson.com.