Characters Gone Wild

Sometimes characters can get away from you. Seems like an odd thing to say about a made up being. It’s not like they have free will. But they do have a mind of their own. The one the author gave them. The one they intend to use.

My characters wander around in my head fully formed. They dress a certain way. Walk a certain way. They think about themselves in positive terms. Mostly. Even the villains believe they are worthwhile beings with realistic and achievable goals. Ok, some of these are delusional.

I hear their voices when they speak. The quiet but compelling voice of the wise mentor. The sarcasm dripping off the words of the comic relief. The whine in the character that finds a lump of coal in every Christmas stocking. A rumble of bass from the male lead. Cool confidence in the female lead.

I love them all.

Until they misbehave.

Some characters simply won’t do what you tell them. The wise mentor will not walk blindly into a trap even if it serves the plot perfectly. The male lead unexpectedly drops the heavy load I’ve given him. He’s just too tired to go on. He can’t do everything. Don’t I know that? The winder refuses to be brave. The female lead simply won’t be rescued. The comic relief can’t keep his mouth closed. He’s go more one-liners than needed but keeps piling them into the dialogue. What’s the matter with that? He’s funny, right?

Sometimes you have to knock your characters down and sit on them until they agree to behave. That or threaten them with a rewrite. There are dozens of other characters waiting to take their place. This last one works more often than not. When it doesn’t, I have to go with the flow. Change the trap. Lighten the load. Make being a coward worse than being brave. Just let her rescue everyone. And allow the comic relief to run wild. Once in a while.

Truth is – I love them all. Even when they misbehave.