Dec
Who’s in charge?
I’m going to touch on a similar subject to Michelle, because she got me thinking about this when I read her post.
Who’s really in charge of your story?
You’d think it was you, as the writer, but are you really? For someone who never writes, this probably doesn’t make sense… Maybe there’s a possibility that this just happens to me even (perhaps I’m crazy, who knows?) But I swear, sometimes I feel like my characters are running the show.
I can’t remember the number of times when I have a carefully plotted scene, and I’m sitting there typing the words, everything is fine… and then I double back. Wait a second! I hadn’t plotted that sentence/thing to do! Where did that come from? I remember this one scene especially. It was meant to be the hero’s and heroine’s second kiss, he was angry and he’d end up kissing her… When push comes to show… He doesn’t! The hero does not kiss the heroine. Instead he takes the scene somewhere else entirely. But in the end, I forgive him, because at it turns out, it works better this way.
This happens to me a lot. It seems crazy, I know. As the writer I should be in complete control of what happens on every page… But somehow, I’m not. And I love it.
So, I’m wondering. Does this happen to anyone else? Do you lose control of what’s going on, and still it turns out good - sometimes maybe even better than what you had originally planned?
This happens to me as well Emmie. I’m plotting and outlining my chapters before I start them, but as I write I find my H/H are doing something else…? Time out I say, what’s with these people? They’ve taken a life of their own and I’m just typist I suppose. As I mentioned on Michelle’s blog, if I see something I really don’t like then I try to figure out why they did it and see if they can “convince” me to keep that part.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:01 pmHi Emmie - I’m not an aspiring writer, but I found your post very interesting! It seems to me (IMHO) that it might be a good thing for you to have a base plot, then improve upon it. After all, if you keep changing things around, you’re probably adding more ‘layers’ to the characters/story?
December 18th, 2005 at 9:42 amEve, I think you’re right. Or at least I’d like to believe so. From my base plot I tend to let the characters take over, and it generally seems to work out rather well.
On occasion they might actually point me in some new direction, reveal a little something about themselves I hadn’t realised yet myself, but it always seem to work out. So you’re right, it adds more layers to the story. Gives it more depth somehow
December 18th, 2005 at 12:12 pmAt times I plot and plan where I want things to go, like a certain sequence of scenes, etc. But on the whole, I just sit and type! I am firmly in charge of my typing, but yes, Tess and Aiden sometimes offer inspiration, and small insights into their personality, and sense of humor that adds to the story so much! I’m in the process of writing my first LOVE SCENE and believe you me, it’s an interesting journey.
December 19th, 2005 at 9:49 am