March 8, 2008 | Girl from Mars, writing
Despite all that planning in the photo below, my heroine has just done something completely unexpected which changes her perception of everything, so I’ve got to rearrange. I think.
Which goes to prove that all this planning bunk is completely rubbish, because the characters are just going to tell you what they’re going to do anyway, and stuff the coloured cards.
Michelle Willingham says:
This is me. I keep hoping to find a plot, but the characters keep on being defiant. Sigh.
liz says:
No this just cleared up the decision process for your heroine……once she saw what was in the cards she knew what to do
Sally Lawton says:
That’s the price we pay for creating strong minded characters! It’s so frustrating, but I do enjoy it when it happens!
Jan Jones says:
Nobody said this writing lark was easy.
MichelleStyles says:
Aren’t characters fun?
I do think it is a case of the old — have you thought about it this way?
Sometimes, you have to try a lot of different ways, before you hit on the right one.
Mostly I use my synopsis for when I get stuck. I tend to look back — and oh, I was supposed to do that.WOW. I had far too much plot…Or that won’t work because…
The great thing about writing is that nothing is set in concrete.
Anonymous says:
Julie - that’s the great thing isn’t it. Characters do things you don’t expect. My wip has taken an unexpected twist as a minor character has revealed something about herself that has suprised me, not to mention the heroine!
Phillipa Ashley says:
Whoops. That’s me above. My cookies have been disabled.
Jessica Raymond says:
Well, at least you gave it a try! It sounds to me like you know your characters well enough (and can “control” them to the best possible degree) that you’ll be fine without your cards, whatever they decide to do
Fran says:
show her a yellow card.
i love hearing about charcters doing their own thing…it gives me hope yet, that i am not mad, and the people in my head are quite valid to have their own minds.
Ro says:
At least the coloured cards gave you something to do to ease the frustration until the characters decided what to do!
Kate Johnson says:
Yeah, characters are bastards like that. Mine just threw up about ten different plot points I hadn’t seen coming. Nice of them, since I’d no idea how the book was actually going to resolve itself.
Kris WW says:
I thought that was the characters job, to hijack the story and force you to go somewhere you hadn’t planned on going at all.