4 Writing Books Every Pantser Should Read

Editor’s Note: See Jane Write publishes guest articles by writers who identify as women, non-binary folks, and our allies. Learn more here.

By: Delany Diamond

I’m a pantser, also referred to as a discovery writer or intuitive writer. Unlike plotters, we write stories without an outline, “flying by the seat of our pants.” That means the story organically unfolds as we write.

Early in my career, I found it difficult to locate how-to books that aligned with my writing style. Typically, they encouraged me to become a plotter or offered advice from a plotting point of view.

The rigid structure and demand for planning left me frustrated and struggling to get words on paper. It didn’t help to hear about the many authors who started where I did and turned into plotters. I was certain that if I also learned to plot, I’d write faster and better stories.

The opposite turned out to be true.

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Gifts for Writers: 2025 See Jane Write Gift Guide

It’s time for another edition of the See Jane Write Gift Guide! Here you will find gift ideas for the writers on your holiday shopping list — and if you’re the only writer on your list, take this as permission to treat yo’self! Or you can send this post to friends, family, or your Santa Baby so they’ll know exactly what to get you this year. (This post contains affiliate links.)

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The Word x Word Accountability Planner for Writers

After months (years?) of deliberation, I have finally decided on the topic for my next book and I’ve written thousands of words already. Yay! But I know I must find a way to keep the momentum going. Of course, I’m turning to a planner for help because, yes, I have a goal of finishing and self-publishing this book next year, but you know how the saying goes— A goal without a plan is just a wish.

Recently, I was gifted the Word x Word Accountability Planner for Writers by Hello Story, and this couldn’t have come at a better time!

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Keeping Up with the Janes: Audrey Atkins

See Jane Write Collective member Audrey Atkins is on the go! Let’s find out what she’s been up to.

New feature alert! I’m excited to introduce Keeping Up with the Janes. With this feature, we will revisit past See Jane Write Collective Members of the Month to see what they’re up to now.

To kick things off, we have Audrey Atkins. The last time we had a chat with Audrey, she had just released her book, They Call Me Orange Juice. She was also busy blogging. Later, Audrey would also start teaching non-fiction writing workshops and she eventually became a full-time freelance writer. Now Audrey has a new career working with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, she’s moved her blog musings to Substack and she’s launched People Reading Prose in Bars — which is exactly what it sounds like. On the second Sunday of each month, Audrey gathers Birmingham-area writers in a local bar to read short stories and essays. On average, her events draw more than 50 people, and the Alabama Writers Forum recently signed on as a sponsor.

Let’s learn more about what Audrey is up to these days!

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How to Build a Creative Practice That Doesn’t Burn You Out

Editor’s Note: See Jane Write publishes guest articles by writers who identify as women, non-binary folks, and our allies. Learn more here.

By: Thenuri Thesara

Your creative fire deserves tending, not taming.

Some days, sitting down to write feels like crouching over a campfire that won’t catch with more smoke than flame. There have been days when I’d be staring at the blank page with that restless itch to write, front and center, met with the weight of every undone task, the relentless buzz of notifications, and that nagging voice that wonders if any of it matters. 

When creativity starts to feel like a chore, it’s a sign your inner fire needs tending, not kindling. Creativity isn’t a wild blaze you light and hope to roar; it’s a campfire you coax, protect, and rest beside. Sometimes it’s bright and crackling; other times, it’s just warm embers.

So today, let’s walk through this journey together and explore how to honor those flames without getting burned.

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