The unexpected can happen when you’re writing. Minor characters can rise to main cast while big events can fade away. No matter how much you plan, things can make a wrong turn without warning. So let’s share our wacky experiences:
- What is the strangest or funniest thing that has happened to you when writing or reading? (For me: Timoran Wrath ending a fight with one blow instead of the complicated battle I had in mind. In fact, I think he’s done this twice.)
- Has there ever been a character that caught you by surprise by being either bigger or smaller than expected? (For me: Kira Grasdon. Began as background and steadily made her way up to central supporting cast.)
- How do you react to people saying ‘writing is easy if you have a plan’? (For me: I nod my head and try not to laugh. Then again, it probably works for some people.)
Legends of Windemere 
I recently finished a short story which of course had a twist. Unfortunately as the hero walked around the final obstacle I discovered the story was not finished. It was not planned. There was another twist. Who knew?
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Interesting. So did it end on a cliffhanger or just have another act?
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Today, 1 & 2 are kind of the same thing. When writing Arson, I needed a female instructor at ATF. Lindsay Pennington had such a strong personality she demanded more page time and became a great supporting character.
3. Actually, nobody’s ever said that to me.
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The strong personalities always seem to come to the surface. Even if they’re fictional. Lucky that nobody has said that. Feels like I’ve heard nearly every line in the book when people try to simplify writing.
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I don’t think my family or friends have a whole lot of interest in what I do. My writing isn’t usually a popular topic when we get together, and I’m fine with that.
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Been there for a while. Still find it a little insulting since everyone else gets asked about their job.
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That may be the difference. They always ask about my paycheck job. I discuss writing with my WordPress friends.
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Good point. It’s easier to explain a ‘common’ paycheck job like lawyer, teacher, and doctor. Author is strange hours and habits. That doesn’t cross over with a lot of people.
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My thoughts
1. What is the strangest or funniest thing that has happened to you when writing or reading? (For me: Timoran Wrath ending a fight with one blow instead of the complicated battle I had in mind. In fact, I think he’s done this twice.)
I’m not sure how I would categorize this. But I resisted writing a book about a male character I thought I didn’t know. I sat down and said to myself, “If I can write a chapter with this character, maybe I’ll have a book.” I wound up writing three chapters.
2. Has there ever been a character that caught you by surprise by being either bigger or smaller than expected? (For me: Kira Grasdon. Began as background and steadily made her way up to central supporting cast.)
I wrote a novel that tanked which involved a teen elf character who was only going to appear in one scene in one chapter. I wound up sticking him in another chapter. But that was going to be the end of his existence. Well, an advisor of mine read the book. While she disliked half of it, she loved this character and wanted to know more about the dude. I had no idea of his back story. So I wrote a short story, then another. Finally, I wound up writing a book about him.
3. How do you react to people saying ‘writing is easy if you have a plan’? (For me: I nod my head and try not to laugh. Then again, it probably works for some people.)
Whenever the words “writing is easy” come out of someone’s mouth, I just stare. That’s all. Just stare. Finally the person uttering the words gets uncomfortable and changes the subject. If I’m feeling bold, I’ll say, “Practicing law or performing a craniotomy is easy if you have a plan.” Once that stupid notion is disavowed by the other person, I can then rant about writing.
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1. Did anything come from the 3 chapters?
2. Funny how those types of characters can grab a reader’s attention and emotions. A minor one can be nothing to the author, but then erupt among the fan base. Think that’s how we got Boba Fett actually.
3. Anything is easy if you have a plan. Though most things don’t have as many monkey wrenches as artistic paths. Wonder why so many people think fiction writing is so easy.
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After I wrote another chapter and got the book outline almost to the end of the story, I had to set that book aside to revise the first book. That’s what I’m doing now.
Ah, Boba Fett. And his armor is what led to the Mandalorian arc in The Clone Wars animated series.
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At least it’s still on the ‘to do’ list. 🙂
It’s amazing how a character who did so little has such a fan base. 😛
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I’m amazed at that as well, especially the fact that armor could inspire several stories. Inspiration is amazing!
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Yeah, but remember that time when you woke up and I was having an in character conversation while I was sleeping?
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Wow. Forgot about that one. Not sure if that was more or less creepy than the roomie who screamed ‘Belushi’ in his sleep. That Blues Brothers poster kept attacking him.
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1) I was finishing a short story recently and found myself stumbling upon something that would actually become rather plot-relevant in book 9. When I get to reworking that one, of course.
2) Ivy’s not one of my POV characters, but I’ve found her becoming somewhat more prominent in my stuff. I created the character before any of the others, but hadn’t really used her all that much. Until I brought her and her sister into the Hell Bent series, that is. She’s a fun one to write.
3) “Yeah, keep telling yourself that one.”
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1. Very cool. How many books are in the series? Sounds like a short-story series.
2. Do you think she’ll become a POV character? I’ve always wondered about that kind of ‘promotion’.
3. Good one.
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There’re 12 books, but they’re not all that long and have graphic novel sections.
I think I have one section from her viewpoint, but I’d also figured out how her arc ends. She’s a major character, but not quite to the same point as the 4 I’d planned on.
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Interesting. I like the sound of the combination method.
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Writing. Is. Hard.
Anyone who says otherwise is a literary genius or an idiot.
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A literary idiot?
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Or just your garden variety idiot. I’m not picky.
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Really wish people would stop growing idiots. They’re not healthy.
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What is the strangest or funniest thing that has happened to you when writing or reading? I wanted to have a big shoot em up and the end of His revenge but had to settle for less since one of my characters jumped the bad guy.
Has there ever been a character that caught you by surprise by being either bigger or smaller than expected? I had originally written a small part for the Chief of Police but his character kept getting bigger.
How do you react to people saying ‘writing is easy if you have a plan’? I ask them if flying is easy through a thunderstorm even though you have a flight plan.
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1. Seems the bad guy wasn’t the only one who got taken by surprise. 😀
2. Those are always the fun ones.
3. I like that response.
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🙂
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good questions here goes.
1. My wonderful proof reader, friend and neighbour was reading back to me the list of things to be changed when she said. “I don`t understand this sentence. BLah blah too late to order.” I looked at Becca and we burst out laughing. We had been talking about ordering pizza and I must have typed my answer instead of talking.
2. Yes many times. One in particular when who was meant to be the big love interest of my main character lost out to a mage with flamming red hair.
3. Plan? umm? Plan? Does not compute, does not compute.
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1. Those are always hilarious. One of my books had part of a shopping list in the middle of a battle once. Guess comedy is the one good thing that can come from talking a working author.
2. Hard to beat characters who have flaming hair, eyes, or almost anything else. Those flaming characters always seem to get the love interests. What happened to the previous love interest?
3. Reboot!
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The love interest in question no 2 is the body that is taken over by the villian in Wisp. oh dear she doesnt have much luck.
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Doesn’t seem that way. Possession always causes trouble. Villains always seem to get that power too.
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Reblogged this on firefly465 and commented:
Try these questions out they are damn good.
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Thanks for the reblog. 🙂
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1. I often mention how one of my main characters ended up dead. I had all his next moves planned, yet this poor bastard goes and dies on me towards the end of the book. It took me weeks to re-plan everything and work around his death. Silly sod…
2. Much like Kira, the romantic interest of one of my main characters has developed into one of the main characters of her own in Endgame. I’m currently writing her scenes, and am amazed by this…
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1. Sounds like he really didn’t want to see the ending. As an author, I’d be a little insulted by that. 😛 It is strange when a character you had plans for simply burns out early. Really shows how the planning part doesn’t always match the writing part.
2. Very cool. I think romance might do this a lot. Especially if you do a love triangle or throw any obstacles in. You want to make it seem like they won’t be together in the end, which can lead to that actually happening or another character stepping into the gap.
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Sure I was insulted, but what can I do? The guy’s dead already! 😀
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Bring him back? This is why I always keep a Phoenix Down handy. Does Final Fantasy still use those?
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Lol – no idea, but Pearseus sure doesn’t 😀
He actually has a cameo in book 3, as a spirit.
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I’ve done that with a few characters. There’s a busy after-life in Windemere, so it’s fun to touch on it.
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And people ask me why I love fantasy… 🙂
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I get that question too. I tend to respond with ‘why do you love reality? have you seen it recently?’
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Ha ha – I have to steal that 😀
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I’ll make it public domain. All legal. 😉
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1. When I was reading IT by Stephen King I was travelling on a train and I glanced up to see a clown out of the train window. Granted we were travelling at quite a speed and things were a blur, plus…well…King really gets the imagination going – but I’ve always wondered if it was someone on their way to torture a bunch of kids (I’m scared of clowns), or if it was Pennywise playing tricks!
2. Characters surprise me all the time – too often in fact. But then I’m that kind of writer, I give them free rein and they do what the hell they want. In my upcoming release Brothers in Arms, one of the characters decided he wanted to play a much bigger role. As it turns out, he shares the glory in this one!
Half the time I laugh, and the other half I wonder if perhaps that’s where I’m going wrong! I’ve never been a planner and never will be 😉
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1. An interesting mystery. I’d go with evil clown on the way to eat kids and the elderly. Unless he had balloons and then he was going to a very disturbing bachelor party.
2. I do the same thing to a point. There is the plot that has to go somewhat in the right direction. Yet you need to be flexible for the characters to breathe. Very cool that he shares the glory. More than enough of that to go around.
3. The planner vs pantser thing has always been an interesting debate. The truth for many is kind of in the middle.
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1. Now I want to write a story about an evil clown!
2. I completely agree – the characters need to be free to do their thing, so to speak.
3. It is an interesting debate. Over the years I’ve tried to find my happy medium, but being truly happy means sitting down and just letting it come!
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1. What about a good clown who’s possessed by an evil honking nose? 😛
2. As long as they remember who’s the boss. Unlike me, they don’t have the terrifying delete key.
3. Ah, true happiness. Such a hard thing to achieve. 😀
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1. Okay now the temptation is impossible to resist!
2. Oh, the power of the delete key!
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If not the delete key then put them in strange clothes or have snow drop down the back of their shirts.
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Lol – that’s just cruel! 😀
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And lol to number 3 – I can dream 😀
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I had a character who was supposed to be a real bad boy. But he kept whispering in my ear ‘I’m not such a bad fellow, I just don’t have any guidance in my life.’ And so he has changed, taking the story with it – his arc has not turned out how I expected it to, yet he is vital from start to finish. It was the first lesson I had that planning is not for me 😀
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Wait. Isn’t he kind of a bad boy if he went against the plan and changed the story? 😀
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I think you might be right! 😀
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