Thread: Characters are taking me for a ride.

I'm being bullied by my characters They keep forcing me to change my story. I have a wonderful outline then suddenly, no, major character wont do what I want them to. Maybe I should kill them all off

The Greek Tragedy Method! Quick, patent that and write a book.

Sadly, it would be a very short book. Maybe a pamphlet.

William Faulkner said once that he created characters, followed them around, and wrote down what they did.

Maybe you should forget your plot outlines and just go where your characters lead you.

Originally Posted by garza

William Faulkner said once that he created characters, followed them around, and wrote down what they did.

Maybe you should forget your plot outlines and just go where your characters lead you.

That is what I am currently doing. I feel I have to ask them what happened in their past so I can write their past. But I am currently very excited since the mother of my heroine finally told me how she she met her husband, and that helps out the story a lot.

Try interviewing them. That is what I did. http://www.writingforums.com/fiction...d-heroine.html

Originally Posted by funnygirl

I'm being bullied by my characters They keep forcing me to change my story. I have a wonderful outline then suddenly, no, major character wont do what I want them to. Maybe I should kill them all off

Let the story lead you where it's going to.

Thanks for the advice, I try to write a scene and theres this voice in my head saying "Nope, sorry, I wouldn't say/do/think that." Crazy bunch

aha. Foxee your funny.

Funny girl though. maybe it would help here if you told us the general genre of your story.
. My advice however is press the pieces together, change the outline of the circumstances without forfeiting plot or character and you'll see that anyone will do anything if the reasoning is present. Reasoning doesn't always have to be a good one at heart, but we're human.
. I just had the same trouble writing my own story. The girl was far to 'good' at heart, and soul to be doing what I wanted her to do... in fact I didn't finish that bit either..
suggestion currently VOID.

The characters inside of our head are unpredictable and the most determined outline is sure to take a back burner. It's a losing battle when we try and force the direction of our characters, I find the story doesn't flow as nicely and it feels awkward. My advice, enjoy the journey as you listen to your characters, allow them to court your imagination and take you where you wouldn't have imagined.