Confession:
My current project is KICKING MY BOOTY.
My characters went on strike for the summer. Like, really. They revolted. It wasn’t kind of them. They need to be punished.
I kept trying to coax them out of their hiding spot. I offered them chocolate, Dr. Pepper, money (they didn’t think the Monopoly variety was very appealing. Not sure why not since they are fiction themselves…) but still–they refused to talk to me.
So I did what any good writer on deadline does.
I wrote anyway.
Then deleted.
Then wrote again.
Then deleted again.
It was all wrong. And I was about to need serious counseling for rejection issues if they didn’t start talking to me again soon.
But last week I did it.
I broke through and wrote a good chunk of their story without their help.
I stuck out my writer-tongue and them and said, “Na-na-na-na-na, I didn’t need your help after all! I made it good without your input.”
Do you know what happened?
They hated their story. In fact, they hated it SO MUCH that they came running back, pounding on my door, begging me to listen to their version of the story.
I told them it was too late. I was already closing in on halfway through the story. Too late to go back.
But the louder I told them no, the louder they yelled, until I just couldn’t take it anymore.
I shouted FINE, even though my deadline was looming. I’m such a pushover. I deleted FIVE chapters for them, y’all. FIVE.
They were so happy, they started chirping away, giving me their story faster than my fingers could type.
Two days later, I’m back to where I was before I deleted the not-my-characters story, and thankfully, they are still chattering loudly, filling me in on all the fun stuff (or not so fun, as the case may be) that is happening to them.
On one hand, I’m a little miffed that they’d gone on strike for so long. It REALLY cramped my writing timeline.
But I guess the cliche is true. Better late than never!
Let’s Chat!! Authors frequently mention characters “talking” to them. I’m curious for you readers out there. Is this, like, normal, or a little scary? And please, if you ever meet up with some characters who are hiding from their author… do an author a favor and convince them to go home. It is past curfew and then need to get home! (Okay, now I KNOW I’ve scared you!!!)
Krista Phillips writes inspirational romance with a dash of smiles. She believes a sprinkle of laughter (and a wee bit of chocolate) makes everything a little better! She blogs regularly about life as a wife, mother, follower of Jesus, and mother of a child with a rare congenital heart defect at www.kristaphillips.com. She is represented by Sarah Freese of WordServe Literary.
It all sounds normal to me. :) Good luck, Krista!
I am a reader, not a writer, so while it is not ‘normal’ for me, it is not scary either. In fact, it is probably good, because it means my fav authors have more stories to tell…so they write more…so of course I have to read more- oh, life is sooo hard ?
No I don’t think it is scary, but a little funny. I’m glad you have a story to tell. I love to read!
As a new writer I understand. My wip is not going smoothly. My heroine screamed at me to write her story and then shut up completely after I got the first scene down.
It is not scary, though I agree with previous commenters, it is kind of funny. My middle daughter is writing something like 20 books at the moment. She will hear from some of the characters and write their story for awhile, then when she starts hearing from others, she moves to their story. I don’t know how she keeps up with them all, but I imagine you understand. Reading a book, the characters become real. I would guess even more so for you while writing. :)
Krista i have tears streaming down my face laughing to hard!!! i’ve had some fickle characters too! one who wasn’t talking to ANYone, including me. we had a little chat. i know i’ve freaked people out talking about “voices in my head” even when i explain i mean characters! they are so real to us, though, aren’t they? these fickle people who play games with out minds!!!!
LOL. It is an irritating normal!!!!!!
HAHA!!! I’m glad it isn’t scary!! PHEW!!! (I’ll be honest… when they STOP talking… that’s when I get scared!)
Yeah!!! I’m go glad you love to read. ME TOO!!!!
Those dang spoiled heroines. They think they can just talk when they want to and zip their lips at will. I think we should threaten a pay cut…..
YES!! Our hope is ALWAYS that the characters become real to YOU our readers too!!
it is hard when multiple characters are talking. I find that usually I need to open up another page, free write quick notes, then give them a lollypop and tell them to sit tight while I finish listening to the current manuscript characters. They are usually pretty good about waiting their turn. USUALLY!
I’m glad I could tickle your funny bone! They are real to us… and VERY persnickety. Love them though!! I would be so sad if they left forever!!.
I’m a reader and your take on writing was so funny. Loved it!
:) they seem to eventually come back! Enjoyed your post..
It’s good to know that characters do talk ?, otherwise how else can you really right a good story. I am sure it will be a very good story when you are finish.
This is actually fun (to think they run away), but kind of enlightening to hear that they have a story to tell. Thanks for sharing.
What a fun post! Best of luck to you in future writing endeavors!
It’s normal,I am an unpublished writer stuck because I am trying to get the two main characters go on a date and they refuse.
Krista, can I say I find that a scary normal for a writer? I’ve read so many authors post about their characters–well how else can I put it—being human just like us; stubborn, throwing a fit, giving the silent treatment in punishment of an unknown reason, pouting & refusing to cooperate! Even when you bribe them with things you KNOW they love :-) Then as soon as you ignore them and go a different way with the story, then they yell at you because they don’t like what you wrote about them….LOL!! Yes, it is funny, but I’m sure very frustrating at the same time, especially when you have to delete 5 scenes like you did just to appease them.
I’m glad it finally worked out for you, though, and everyone including your characters are happy with the results! :-)
what a funny post!
I keep bumping the arrow on my phone and losing the post….. If it keeps this time.
I often hear the secondary charachters telling me their story as I read. I also hear the main charachters telling me what happens next before I read it. When I write my own books I feel every emotion so strongly that I get lost in the story and forget to write most of it down. I wish I could record what my mind sees before I lose it!
I can relate to this so much! As a writer myself, I’m familiar with the character strikes. The last few years, though, I’ve done the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November. During that challenge, the goal is to reach 50k words in only one month. Not just any month, but November, when the holiday season kicks off with gusto and busyness in the kitchen. Let’s just say that I’ve figured out how to put my nose to the proverbial grindstone and write words even when I don’t feel inspired or can’t hear my characters clearly enough. Later, when I read back through those pages, I am often surprised at how sweet and almost-perfect the words actually were. God’s blessings are majorly awesome.
Blessings,
Andrea
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
I love this! The characters talk to me (the reader) so why wouldn’t they talk to the author? Makes sense, not scary at all :D