Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
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Join the collaboration Dale Roberts and I are doing here: authorlevelup.com/casting
Like this content? Join the Author Level Up Fan Club to get your FREE Writing Craft Playbook so you can write like the top 1% of authors: authorlevelup.com/fanclub
The writing book with all my secrets (Be a Writing Machine):
authorlevelup.com/beawritingmachine
The writing book for beginners (How to Write Your First Novel):
authorlevelup.com/yourfirstnovel
Support my Channel by Shopping on Amazon!
amazon.com/shop/authorlevelup
My Writing App of Choice (Scrivener, Affiliate Links):
Scrivener for Mac: authorlevelup.com/scrivenermac
Scrivener for Windows: authorlevelup.com/scrivenerwindows
2018 My YouTube Setup (Affiliate)
authorlevelup.com/kit
![The Pocket Guide to Pantsing [Full Audiobook]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oqI9_kbOt8o/mqdefault.jpg "The Pocket Guide to Pantsing [Full Audiobook]
Here is the official audiobook edition for the Pocket Guide to Pantsing, written and narrated by me (M.L. Ronn/Michael La Ronn). Enjoy listening to this on YouTube for free. This audiobook was recorded at my desk, so it’s not Audible-ready, but it’s perfect for YouTube. Happy listening.
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Opening Credits
00:18 Quick Note from the Author
01:01 Introduction—
11:51 What is Pantsing and Why Should You Write Without an Outline?
18:12 Myths About Writing Without an Outline
28:52 Your Top Three Goals When Pantsing
32:12 A Story About How Powerful Pantsing Can Be
37:40 Mindset Tactics
1:06:56 How to Improve Your Craft Quickly
1:08:29 Analogy #1: The Writer’s Rule of Thirds
1:13:01 Analogy #2: Plato’s Theory of Forms
1:21:13 Analogy #3: Fiction as Fabric
01:31:29 Making it Practical: Rules to Live By
01:32:56 Plot Basics
01:36:37 Character Basics
01:57:14 Researching a Novel without an Outline
02:13:51 What to Prepare Before Writing
02:15:49 Editing as You Go
02:25:18 Documenting Your Story as You Go with an Outline
02:29:56 How to Create a Basic Reverse Outline
02:41:36 How to Create an Advanced Reverse Outline
02:55:10 The 0-25% Mark - The Honeymoon Phase
03:09:46 The 25-50% Mark - When the Novel Becomes Real
03:12:01 The 75-100% Mark - The Glimmer and the Mad Dash Afterward
03:15:08 Frequently Asked Questions on Pantsing
03:38:37 Pantsing on Your Phone
03:42:50 Pantsing with Dictation
03:47:45 Self-Editing
03:51:27 Microsoft Word Macros
03:57:10 Fact-Checkers
04:08:33 Beta Readers
04:13:10 Working with Editors
04:14:46 Into the Rabbit Hole
04:27:48 Parting Words
04:29:59 Resources Mentioned
04:31:05 Closing Credits
Like this content? Join the Author Level Up Fan Club to get your FREE Writing Craft Playbook so you can write like the top 1% of authors: http://www.authorlevelup.com/fanclub
The writing book with all my secrets (Be a Writing Machine):
http://www.authorlevelup.com/beawritingmachine
The writing book for beginners (How to Write Your First Novel):
http://www.authorlevelup.com/yourfirstnovel
Support my Channel by Shopping on Amazon!
https://www.amazon.com/shop/authorlevelup
My Writing App of Choice (Scrivener, Affiliate Links):
Scrivener for Mac: http://www.authorlevelup.com/scrivenermac
Scrivener for Windows: http://www.authorlevelup.com/scrivenerwindows
2018 My YouTube Setup (Affiliate)
https://authorlevelup.com/kit")
