What things have your MCs done or said that you didn't expect?

KarlaErikaCal · Sep 1, 2009

Sorry if this has already been a thread, but I'm curious as to how often this happens.

My character went and decided to date some secondary character I just added, and surprisingly, it worked for the story!

This was the first time it happened to me, and this was just last month.

Then, just now, I got my other character with an amazing reason why he should quit smoking which was unexpected because I pictured something different for him. I do have to say though, his idea is much, much better.

This really excites me. Like a lot.

So how about your characters? What have they said/done lately that threw your story into a whole different direction?

chocowrites · Sep 1, 2009

Hmm, this happens to me a lot. I was writing a scene a few days ago. Turns out my MC gets detention regularly. Had no idea until I wrote it!

Vero · Sep 1, 2009

well one of my secondary characters kissed my MC, I was totally not expecting that to happen!

Danalynn · Sep 1, 2009

This happens to me all the time, too. I never use an outline, I just wing it. I'll have a vague idea of how I want a particular scene or chapter to go, and then I just start typing, and whatever comes out is what gets put into the story. So I never know what's going to happen until it happens, and I never know the end until I get to the end. lol! Surprisingly, it all usually ends up tieing together really well.

So having said that, my characters CONSTANTLY suprise me with what they come up with! I started my second YA novel thinking the dad was a good guy, and by the time I reached Chapter 5 I found out that he was really an alcoholic and a mean drunk who abuses (beats) my MC on a regular basis! This sent my story into a whole new direction that I never saw coming until I started to type it. lol!

And I love it when a new character shows up in a story that I never even knew existed until they walked onto the page.

Oh the possibilities this new person opens up for pelting my MC with even more conflict! Yaay!

:snoopy:

Mad Hatter · Sep 1, 2009

Don't even get me started: I had no clue that my main character had a little brother until I wrote it down. Didn't think my main character liked a certain character until she said it in dialogue. Didn't know that a certain character would be so important.

KarlaErikaCal · Sep 1, 2009

Dana-Lynn said:
This happens to me all the time, too. I never use an outline, I just wing it. I'll have a vague idea of how I want a particular scene or chapter to go, and then I just start typing, and whatever comes out is what gets put into the story. So I never know what's going to happen until it happens, and I never know the end until I get to the end. lol! Surprisingly, it all usually ends up tieing together really well.

So having said that, my characters CONSTANTLY suprise me with what they come up with! I started my second YA novel thinking the dad was a good guy, and by the time I reached Chapter 5 I found out that he was really an alcoholic and a mean drunk who abuses (beats) my MC on a regular basis! This sent my story into a whole new direction that I never saw coming until I started to type it. lol!

And I love it when a new character shows up in a story that I never even knew existed until they walked onto the page. Oh the possibilities this new person opens up for pelting my MC with even more conflict! Yaay!

I wing it too, but usually I have an idea of what's to come. But what happened at those two moments, the characters did the talking and did something completely different, so I went with it, and all was still right in the world. :hooray:

I don't know, I'm loving whenever this happens now LOL.

erin_michelle · Sep 1, 2009

One of my secondary characters shamelessly flirted with a teacher--shocking me and my MC--a few months ago. I ended up toning it down in the edit, but it was a good exercise in me breaking out of my normal routine of premeditating my characters' actions.

Red.Ink.Rain · Sep 1, 2009

Pretty much all of CoS was written because my characters rebelled. It was AWESOME. All I really had to do was sit back and watch the story unfold.

Leasie · Sep 1, 2009

One of my computer tech's developed an addiction to sugar and my MC had a phobia of guns.

KarlaErikaCal · Sep 2, 2009

Red.Ink.Rain said:
Pretty much all of CoS was written because my characters rebelled. It was AWESOME. All I really had to do was sit back and watch the story unfold.

Awesomeness! I wish that could happen to me! My characters only started speaking up with this particular novel. Maybe it means The Love Square should be my debut? I was planning on that, but it's like my characters want me to finish ASAP lol

Okay quick question, what does FWIW mean? I've read it so many times and I am at a loss....

herbchick · Sep 2, 2009

My male MC jumped up and choked my female MC. I had to figure out how I was going to handle it but it fit in the story really well.
Another time my MC's best friend had a really hard time and stomped across the room telling the MC to get the F*** out of the room. I never intended that to happen cause I am writing young YA and I debate constantly about keeping it but it fits.
I love it when they take over!

Skye Jules · Sep 2, 2009

My MC and my secondary character had a thing for each other--so not expecting that, especially since I knew the plot twist for them already. I totally got rid of that though. So inappropriate for the story.

~*Kate*~ · Sep 2, 2009

I was struggling with how to get my MC banned from school without demonizing her parents any further, and then she stepped up and made the decision herself. I was like, "Oh! Right! That other issue with showing that she's learning to take responsibility for her actions! How convenient. Why didn't I see that? *headdesk*"

KC36 said:
Okay quick question, what does FWIW mean? I've read it so many times and I am at a loss....

FWIW = for what it's worth

Tuuli · Sep 2, 2009

I work off an outline but new characters still manage to worm their way in. And in one book, two characters ended up having sex that wasn't planned by any of us (us being me and the characters). But it really worked for the story--though it did result in a change in the plot. Oh well! Fortunately I'm flexible when it comes to my outline.

KarlaErikaCal · Sep 2, 2009

Thanks Kate!

Z0Marley · Sep 2, 2009

Dana-Lynn said:
This happens to me all the time, too. I never use an outline, I just wing it.

lol. Glad to see it happens to other people too.

I have an outline. A very, very detailed and goal-specific outline. Takes me a month just to get it how I like it. Mid-book, my main character decides he doesn't like it, gives me the finger, and changes just about everything. :tongue

KarlaErikaCal · Sep 2, 2009

Yeah, I like winging it better too. But usually it's because I'm excited to just get on with it and write not because I expect my characters to speak up since originally I never had that happen to me. But now I have another reason that's not based on laziness about wanting to jump in right away.

Tuuli · Sep 2, 2009

M.Austin said:
I have an outline. A very, very detailed and goal-specific outline. Takes me a month just to get it how I like it. Mid-book, my main character decides he doesn't like it, gives me the finger, and changes just about everything.

Lol. So glad it's not just me who has to deal with these types of characters.

jennibly · Sep 2, 2009

My MC is way smarter than I am. She said something in the course of a conversation I was writing the other night and I was like, "Oh, hey, that's a good point. Very observant."

Ciera_ · Sep 2, 2009

I hardly do any planning, but sometimes I like to think a lot about my characters (particularly MC) before I start writing, and usually devote a new Word Document to jotting down any- and everything that comes to mind.
So, in between Doesn't worry about things or try to change them, which can be Paige's saving grace as much as an irritating flaw to those around her. and Long limbs, small features, I found myself doing a double take. "Did . . . did I just see? Yes. That was homosexuality that just fluttered across my field of vision. And, -pokes it tentatively- I think it's here to stay!"

So, Paige is gay. I've never even put thought into writing a gay character. But apparently SHE'S never put thought into liking boys. I feel like she's standing, hands on hips, and looking at me expectantly, while I just blink repeatedly at her and go "WHAT am I supposed to do with this?"

Darzian · Sep 3, 2009

My MC got laid in a brothel.

And he wanted to wait till marriage in Chapter One.

Wark · Sep 4, 2009

After a 41 mile trek with the majority of that swimming, my MC and love interest were supposed to just find shelter and sleep the night. But, they started bitching at each other and the MC collapsed. In the morning, the bitching continued.

Didn't see that coming, but she had been silent about a lot of things for a while, and while she's menstruating, why not get the issues out in the open.

Poetoffire · Sep 4, 2009

Around a fifth of the way through my outline for a novel I'm going to write, two secondary characters decided they were screwing.

Huh.

I might also mention that one of them is in another relationship during that time.

Brutal Mustang · Sep 4, 2009

I have a character in my WIP who keeps saying and doing outrageous things I would have never initially thought to write. I mean, he is pushing me past my comfort zone. Then what does he do? He lowers his shades, looks at me, and says, "So? What business is it of yours?"

starchildtrilogy · Sep 4, 2009

I definitely wing it. I love sitting back and letting the characters speak. Often, something will happen in the third chapter or so and I won't know why until chapter 18. It's a great realization moment for me as a writer.

One of my characters had an abortion and it was the key to the whole novel!

What things have your MCs done or said that you didn't expect?

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