Writers you know what I mean. I was writing a new scene for my Parthenon novel (reference, not title) and a character I had pegged as a devoted husband suddenly started flirting with a waitress. And it was a waitress at a restaurant familiar to the characters, that is set to be a main locale in this series, meaning: this might not be the first time he has done this.
I almost stopped it and kept him devoted husband, but who am I to fight his character? I think this is a real breakthrough for me. I suddenly feel like a writer!
Had to share.
Thanks for listening.
I love the picture!!! That made my day
ReplyDeleteI strive to please. It was too perfect to pass up!
ReplyDeleteI *love* Lucy! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd great job with the character! Wow, it sounds like they're starting to really push you around!
Elizabeth
I know what you mean. I was writing my fourth suspense novel when I realized it was moving in the direction of a mystery. I was amazed and decided to go for it. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteM.J. Macie
http://m-j-macie.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth - Thanks. It was an exciting moment. Even funnier? I had abandoned this book a while ago for a couple other ideas, and felt drawn back to it! Go figure!
ReplyDeleteM.J. - Glad to have you here and I look forward to checking out your site and your books. It was really tough for me to let the character take over, and I hope I will be more prepared for it next time.
Michele
Lucy is the best :)
ReplyDeleteMy characters tend to do things I don't expect. I find it generally energizes the scene and wonder how they knew just what to do...
Congrats Michele! It's a great feeling when a character takes on its own identity.
ReplyDeleteI've got a girl I invented as a minor character 3/4 of the way through my first draft, but she's so alive I went back and gave her more scenes in the second rewrite. Now, she wants to be a major character, and I'm tempted to rewrite again. Should I listen or put my foot down?
It gives me goosebumps too when that happens. Just when you think you know all their angles, Bam!
ReplyDeleteJemi-Definitely adds original energy. Lucy would know. : )
ReplyDeleteLorel-Is this a series? Does it hold the way it's written or would she stand to take more room in another novel? Only you know if she's asking for more than she deserves. Maybe her pushiness is a trait...?
Tamika-I know what you mean! At my first writers' conference I was complaining about my characters' NOT taking over, afraid they might never do so...Curious as to what genre you're writing - tell us more! Love new perspectives!
The jerk!! Love it when that happens, though. For some reason, my secondary characters tend to toss me curveballs more than my main characters. Maybe I'm putting my MCs in too tight a box.
ReplyDeleteKaren - that is my problem, too...this really caught me off guard. Freedom can be freeing! Now I sound a bit overboard! I'll reign it in once I get used to it. Welcome, you're blog is beautifully done. Where did you get that 3-column layout?
ReplyDeleteMichele
Good advice Michele--It's a series so she can wait for the next book to hog the spotlight. And she *is* pushy now that you mention it :)
ReplyDeleteHey Michele! That is too funny. I'm sure the book will turn out great.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely comment on my blog. I'm glad that you like my blog and it is always nice to find fellow English majors.
I am really looking forward to hearing more about your writing! Best of luck.
Thank you Steph. Blogging shrinks our world, and books expand it!
ReplyDelete