March 14, 2007
10:47 am • Filed under: Uncategorized
So I’m taking this workshop on voice at Access Romance, which the wonderful Sasha White is instructing. I’m totally stealing this from her week three topic which is about trusting your characters.
Whether you’re a plotter or a pantster, have you ever been writing furiously and your characters do something totally unexpected? Something that made you sit back and go, “Whoa, where did that come from?” Have you just went with it, allowing them in a sense to take you where they want to go (trusting them) or have you deleted it, feeling like it’s the wrong direction?
I’ve done both. I’m a total pantster - I don’t plot much because I feel it stifles my creativity. Now, if I’m mid-point in a story and not sure which way to go next I will sit down with a notebook and pen (that’s what works best for me) and write it out. Wait a minute I’m going off topic…
Anywho, I’ve had characters do or say something totally unexpected and I’m off. Off in another direction that’s so exciting I can barely stand it. The story ended up being completely different than what I “sorta” planned but that’s okay. It works. I listened to my characters, trusted them and let them show me what they wanted.
I’ve also had my characters get it wrong - at least to me. I’ve listened to them, went off in their preferred direction and realized halfway through I’m writing complete crap. As painful as we all know it is, I hit the delete button, got rid of the drivel they told me was perfect and started fresh.
Sometimes there’s trusting your characters and then there’s letting your characters run all over you.
I’ve also not listened to my characters, wrote what I wanted to write and realized that it was total crap too. Should’ve listened to them, I guess.
I sound like an out of control psycho who lets the “voices in her head” tell her how to write and I guess that’s kinda true. But I have a feeling my fellow writers will understand.
Oh, man, I hope so.
This picture has nothing to do with any of this, I just thought it was funny.
Robin L. Rotham says:
That’s a sick picture! Funny, but sick.
As a matter of fact, I’m having to rebuild my NaNo book right now, Karen. I tried plotting in advance and sticking to it, typing my 2K per day, and I got that 50K done on schedule. BUT…I didn’t take the time to listen to my characters, and as a result, the book is totally screwed up. I’m going to be posting about it today, I hope.
Anna J. Evans says:
I know what you’re saying. I was always a panster, but then I went changed to pansting with a very rough outline.
I still use the rough outline, but I had to learn when to let the outline go and be fluid and when to stay on task so I didn’t end up with a 120k super giant novel on my hands (because some characters don’t want to die so they keep coming up with new things for themselves to do…right?)
It was hard at first, but I usually walk the line pretty well now. Writing with my WP/CP really helped me learn the usefullness of planning ahead a bit.
anna
Amie Stuart says:
I love that picture!
I’ve reached the point I HAVE to plot some. I have to at least have a basic outline so I know where I’m going–I htink this is a direct result of wanting to write more complicated plots.
I will listen to my characters as long as they’re talking but if they’re not, I’m not inclined to listen. Usually if they’re not talking I’ve gotten to the point I just move on to something else.
Shelli Stevens says:
We’ve been over this with me. Just call me a caprister.
Ericka Scott says:
And here, I’m a plotter. . . but I’ve had things just go off into left field while I’m writing. “If” I can figure out where they’re headed, I’ll usually listen to my characters. . . if not. . . well, they usually get their own way anyway! LOL. Like the exterminator that was “supposed” to be a serial killer. . . needless to say, he refused to cooperate and ended up being the hero instead. Sigh
Isabella Snow says:
I always start without an outline, but by 15k of so I make one just as a guide.
However, I’ve often found that I don’t follow it. Not that I don’t intend to, it just kind of happens. The specifics, I mean. The general outcome is still the same, I guess.
I have had that “whoa, why’d he just do that?” thing happen, and I let it be for the most part.
Stacy Dawn says:
Yep. I’ve done it too and I find when I trust then enough, the story works but if I give them free reign or ignore them it doesn’t ….why does everything came back around to balance LOL
Kat says:
I’ve gone down both roads and, like you, sometimes it has worked. Others…not so much.
I trust em…but not too much
Besides, you know, they’re only in it for one thing…