Ever get the feeling that it's writing itself?

Esopha · Jul 15, 2007

I'm about a quarter of the way into Blue, and until recently, I had control over the story. It was going to be relatively simple and straightforward, because I enjoy writing humorous YA fantasy. However, now it seems like the novel is traveling from happy-idea-land straight to my fingers without coming in contact with Mr. Brain, adding things that Mr. Brain never even dreamed of conceiving.

Mr. Brain is not pleased. Mr. Brain likes to be consulted; it makes him feel important.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the new stuff that's being thrown into my story, but as of now I've lost sight of how this is all going to end and I'm a bit frightened.

Does this happen to anyone else, or is it time to sign up with that therapist my history teacher recommended? Are my characters conspiring against me? Will the madness ever end?

Please help me get back in touch with reality, thank you.

Zoombie · Jul 15, 2007

It hapepns to me sometimes. But it's really fun for me when that happens, becuase I like to be surprised. A lot!

So run with it. Sanity is for the weak!

Birol · Jul 15, 2007

Esopha said:
Please help me get back in touch with reality, thank you.

No.

Esopha · Jul 15, 2007

Birol said:
No.

DeborahM · Jul 15, 2007

I love it when the characters take over leaving me to feel as if I'm a court reporter typing the verbal dialogue going on and describing the scene. It's exhilerating typing the picture that's in my mind and the senses! I don't feel my brain is even involved and not work at all.

Birol · Jul 15, 2007

Esopha said:

Don't give me that look. It's for the best. Really.

Azraelsbane · Jul 15, 2007

Your characters can write their story better than you, trust me. I had to face the fact that I only play a bit part in my writing a long time ago

Esopha · Jul 15, 2007

But...but...but...

I'm an anal-retentive control freak! I need to be the boss!

*dejectedly continues typing*

Penguin Queen · Jul 15, 2007

Go with it. It's great when the story takes over. Let go and enjoy the ride. (Sort of like really good sex, y'know?)

Unless you have the feeling that it's all heading for a terrible muddle and / or a dead end, in which case, pull the emergency brake and tell everybody that youre the boss, thank you very much.

JoNightshade · Jul 15, 2007

My characters took over about 20K words ago. I got to 98K and realized something was wrong... instead of finishing the darn thing off, I decided to roll over into 2nd draft mode... and discovered I got carried way off track!

Which is not to say I did the wrong thing-- all the pieces are there, now I'm just having to reorder and rewrite a few things to get my plot back together before the big finale.

On the other hand I REALLY wanted to hit 100K this weekend and that didn't happen. Instead I'm here slogging through plot outlines trying to make it all nice and tight. Yuck. I hate revising!

reenkam · Jul 15, 2007

I think it's a great time when the characters overthrow me and take over the kingdom...then I don't have to do any more thinking

benbradley · Jul 15, 2007

I've had that happen with Flash Fiction. Maybe that's why I haven't writtern longer works, perhaps I know it's going to happen, and I can be a control freak too. With FF, I write it and it happens so fast that I don't notice until I'm through and it's posted, so I don't get a chance to stop myself.

I've heard this as "Channeling" as in hearing God talk and writing down what one "hears." Examples where I recall this was claimed are Joseph Smith (founder of the Mormons) and those who wrote "A Course in Miracles" and the "Urantia" book.

For me, since I'm not a believer, the source would have to be the Zero Point Energy, or perhaps Einstein and his Spooky Action At A Distance.

Oh, I should write a writing book (never mind that I've never actually had any of my writing PUBLISHED so far...), I'll call it Quantum Writing. That's the ticket...

EriRae · Jul 15, 2007

I practice Quantum Writing, too (thanks ben, now I know what to call it!). It's happened a couple of times in my WIP, and I wish it would happen again so I had more ideas. My outline seems so mundane right now compared to what the characters do on their own.

Saundra Julian · Jul 15, 2007

I'll go you one better. Have you ever taken a direction with your plot that your characters didn't like and been stopped dead in your tracks? I mean everything stops! No more writing, not until you back off and give them free rein! Now that's spooky.

Calla Lily · Jul 15, 2007

It's happened to me--and when it does, I just hunch over and let my pen do the work.

Birol · Jul 15, 2007

Esopha said:
But...but...but...

I'm an anal-retentive control freak! I need to be the boss!

*dejectedly continues typing*

Yeah, well, it's a myth that we're gods of the worlds we create.

Mud Dauber · Jul 15, 2007

Esopha said:
I don't think there's anything wrong with the new stuff that's being thrown into my story, but as of now I've lost sight of how this is all going to end and I'm a bit frightened.

I've heard it said before that this is a GOOD thing.

If your characters take over and write the ending (and the road to the ending) differently than you would have, chances are you'll surprise the reader, too, instead of writing something predictable.

I'm not finished with my WIP yet, but I've experienced the same thing as you, and when I look back on those particular scenes, I'm always pleasantly surprised with how much I like them.

Let those creative juices flow!

TrainofThought · Jul 15, 2007

My story changed during revisions, but I’m not a writer who says, “the characters and story write itself,” or “my muse is gone.” I’m an odd one.

IrishScribbler · Jul 15, 2007

This has been happening in Deirdre of Sorrow, as well. There are relationships, subplots, and situations developing I had no idea existed because I was focusing on the main story.

I love it when this happens, though. It makes me feel what I'm writing is really working, so the story is opening up more, deepening, and becoming something more important.

triceretops · Jul 15, 2007

I'm about 17,000 words into my WIP and my characters are getting uppity. In the next 10,000 words I expect a revolt, and the power-hunger bastids/beotches to completely over-throw me. It seems the more life and reign I give them, the more they grow and want. They really believe their cyberworld is the real reality show. Instead of director, I am fastly being reduced to best boy or grip in this saga. Pretty soon I'll be assigned as exective producer, and we all know that those poor souls don't do shiat.

It's their tale.

Tri

Esopha · Jul 15, 2007

Alright, alright, alright, alright.

*straps herself in and gets ready for the ride*

By the way, next week when I'm complaining about writer's block, none of you are allowed to bring this up.

Sassee · Jul 15, 2007

My characters do this all the time... they're running the show, I'm just the writer with false pretenses of control. But I have to give them credit - they know what they're doing, and I'm constantly surprised at all the seemingly random things that come together later on in my WIP.

Let your characters explore a little bit. As long as they're heading in the general direction you want them to go, you'll be fine. But if you want them to go north and they're going south, start laying the smack down on them (or at least find out why they're doing it... maybe they're taking the long, scenic way around and the journey will be more important).

Azraelsbane · Jul 15, 2007

Saundra Julian said:
I'll go you one better. Have you ever taken a direction with your plot that your characters didn't like and been stopped dead in your tracks? I mean everything stops! No more writing, not until you back off and give them free rein! Now that's spooky.

Yes, and it's annoying as all Hell! I currently have a character, my handle's namesake actually, who's being a real jerk about doing what I want him to do. We're currently in counseling.

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 15, 2007

"Ever get the feeling that it's writing itself?"

Always. In fact, I'm glad because if it was up to me, nothing would get written.

bunnygirl · Jul 15, 2007

If my characters aren't trying to take over, I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

As long as they keep heading in the basic direction they need to go, just enjoy the ride!

Ever get the feeling that it's writing itself?

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