The Great Plot VS Pants Debate, Round 1
from Inking Neon: Light Up Your Stories Hosted by Stuart J. Tanner & Cullen McHael
Stuart says you’ve got to plot your stories. Cullen isn’t so sure! Maybe you can just fly by the seat of your pants? We lay out our arguments in the (timeless?) Pants vs Plot debate. Also featured: Joseph Cambell was a moron; is Save the Cat worthless?; the creativity of David Lynch; and examples of stirring scenes from Dune Part II and The Fellowship of the Ring. 00:00 The Plotter vs. Pantser Debate 02:15 The Plotter Opening Statement: The Importance of Plotting in Speculative Fiction 05:29 The Pantser Opening Statement: The Joy of Discovery in Writing 10:56 The Utility of Knowing Your Story's Themes 14:59 The Simplicity at the Heart of Complex Stories 20:40 Navigating Plot Structures 28:41 Exploring the Themes of 'The Lord of the Rings' 40:29 Exploring David Lynch's Creative Process 45:30 Dune: Themes of Power and Revenge 52:27 Stuart's Pathos, Ethos, and Logos Toolkit 57:16 Closing statements: The Balance of Plotting and Discovery in Writing Stuart’s Examples: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien Interpreted by Peter Jackson, screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Stephen Sinclair DUNE by Frank Herbert Interpreted by Dennis Villanueva, Screenplay by Jon Spaihts, Dennis Villanueva, Eric Roth. Referenced in this conversation: The Hero With A Thousand Faces, Joseph Cambell Seven Basic Plots, by Christopher Booker Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder The Writer’s Journey, Christopher Vogler The Heroine's Journey: Woman's Quest for Wholeness by Maureen Murdock Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting Date Record: Oct 14, 2025 Date Publish: Oct 15, 2025 Music by Cullen McHael Edited by Cullen McHael Produced by Cullen McHael Hosts: Stuart J. Tanner, Cullen McHael Follow us! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InkingNeon Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories/id1838329557 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qSplbBX4oYmd2pYoSAzOF Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c7826f91-085a-4509-9c69-d90fef1bdb5b/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-inking-neon-light-up-your-294206954 PodBean: https://inkingneon.podbean.com/ Cullen McHael: https://cullenmchael.com Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08XW3G4WG/ https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-of-Story/dp/B08JL6GJBR/
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Chapters
- 0:00 The Plotter vs. Pantser Debate
- 2:15 The Plotter Opening Statement: The Importance of Plotting in Speculative Fiction
- 5:29 The Pantser Opening Statement: The Joy of Discovery in Writing
- 10:56 The Utility of Knowing Your Story’s Themes
- 14:59 The Simplicity at the Heart of Complex Stories
- 20:40 Navigating Plot Structures
- 28:41 Exploring the Themes of ’The Lord of the Rings
- 40:29 Exploring David Lynch’s Creative Process
- 45:30 Dune: Themes of Power and Revenge
- 52:27 Stuart’s Pathos, Ethos, and Logos Toolkit
- 57:16 Closing statements: The Balance of Plotting and Discovery in Writing
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