Caring about characters.

LoveHistory · Post by **LoveHistory** » Fri February 27th, 2009, 8:08 pm

Regarding an author's power over their characters... let us not forget that some characters won't behave the way we want them to. I'll be typing along and be totally surprised by what shows up on the computer screen. I anticipate at least one "Did I write that?" moment per book.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Sat February 28th, 2009, 12:42 pm

Yes! That's one of the best things that can happen to an author. That is, literally, the "character driven" plot we're all looking for.

Sheramy · Post by **Sheramy** » Sat March 14th, 2009, 3:46 pm

[quote=""LoveHistory""]Regarding an author's power over their characters... let us not forget that some characters won't behave the way we want them to. I'll be typing along and be totally surprised by what shows up on the computer screen. I anticipate at least one "Did I write that?" moment per book.[/quote]

So true! My book is written in first person -- so as EC2 wrote, I had to become that character with every word -- and more than once, she was talking with someone or arguing with someone (it happened the most in arguments) then POW! One of characters spouted a line that I did not expect! It became so real that I was a scribe for a conversation in my head.

What that says about my mental state, I don't know, but it's kind of cool.

Anna Elliott · Post by **Anna Elliott** » Mon March 30th, 2009, 11:23 am

I would say just love your characters. Obviously if you're not enjoying their company, you can't expect that anyone else will, either. But if you have them do and say things that make you laugh and cry and love to be around them--then your readers will want to spend time with them just as much as you do!

Best of luck to you!