To Pants or Not To Pants, That is the Question.

     What am I talking about? I will tell you. I am talking about whether outlining or writing by the seat of your pants is best.
     I have written one book and am currently working on my second, but I also have plans for at least five others. Now, I always thought that I was a pantser, but then I realized that in a way, I do outline. I have never written an actual outline, but I do write notes of things I want to happen in my books and thing I want certain characters to say or do. So, in a way, that is outlining, just not in it's purest form. But, for the most part, I believe that I pants. I write as it comes to me, then add the things I have in my notes as I wish them to be. I usually have a vague idea of what I want to have happen, but then some scenes go a different direction.
     So, which is better? Pantsing or outlining? I have no idea. I guess it is up to the writer and how they want their story or book to pan out. If you know everything you want to have happen then make an outline. Just because you have an outline doesn't mean you have to stick to it to the letter. You are the writer for goodness sake.
     I do believe that one book I want to write will have to have an outline. I think it depends on what you are writing and how complicated it is. How many characters you have, plot lines, different worlds, creatures, and so on. I also believe that it depends on how organized you and your mind are. If you have a fantastic memory then maybe you don't need an outline or notes at all, maybe you can just pants it from the get go.
     There are pros and cons to outlining and pantsing. A pro to outlining is that you have everything planned out and you don't have to feel like you ever get stuck somewhere along the line. A con to outlining is that you may feel like you can't go beyond your outline, which is not true. A pro to pantsing is the feel of freedom in your writing. A con is that you may find that you don't know where you want your story to go and you get stuck. Writer's block is no one's friend. 
     I am a pantser and an outliner, well sort of an outliner. Like I said before, it is entirely to your preference. So, good luck.