I’m struggling along with Book 3, manipulating plots and running my characters through various emotional/physical guantlets because, hey, I’m a writer. Being a Master of Pain (physcial, emotional, slight or devasting) is in our DNA. So here’s my question for the week…as writers or creators (depending on your POV) are you manipulating your characters to get what you want or are the manipulating you? And is manipulation the right word or is it another aspect of creativity?
I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m a complete pantser–I shuddered at the concept of an outline, but I do have to have major plot points like massive “You are going in the right direction” signposts. Here’s the probelm…the journey between signposts can be a well delinated path or a big black hole of chaos. I’ve found over the years that I’m a character driven writer–they are the ones who direct the story, drive the plots and are the basis for the horrific twists and turns they encounter. My characters do not always like me and I’m pretty sure both Raine and Xander have a photo of me somwhere where in they practice various throwing skills with lethally sharp implements. I’m okay with that (most of the time) but sometimes I think they get their own back by jerking me around on a creative leash.
I shouldn’t complain, because I love writing my stories. But some days it makes me want to pull out my hair and chase them down with my own sharp pointy weapon (a huge fountain pen dipped in red!).
My point to ponder this week: who’s manipulating who in the creative process and is it really such a bad thing?
I’d have to say it goes both ways as far as me and my characters. I’m a little more in control these days but I’ve had a few that refused my ideas and did their own things.
As far as outlining, I’ve been starting my books lately with nothing more than an idea and them when I’ve developed enough stuff and it’s time to wrap it up I start jotting down my goals chapter by chapter then try to adhere to it. ‘Try’ is the operative word, often I end up adding unexpected chapters in even at that stage.
She writes herself in a manner that’s uncanny and I’m just dragged along for the ride.
The very definition of character driven and I’m certainly manipulated by her!
I let them go their own way until it doesn’t further the plot, then I rein them back in. I’ve come up with some brilliant plot twists this way. like a characters father appearing from the dead, took me quite a while to figure out how to make that one work, but it definitely improved the story in unforeseen ways. He seriously just came up and knocked on her door with no warning whatsoever!
I’m mostly a pantser, but I do tend to plan out a few scenes at a time in my head. Sometimes I even write them down (then lose them), but I’m always open to things getting off track. That’s when the most fun writing happens!
I love those characters that insist on their time. They tend to be the ones that intrigue us the most. Plus they tend to have more fun =0) I agree, some brilliant plot twists suddenly appear when you least expect them. For all my OCD tendencies, I think the creative process for me is my rebellion against my self imposed psychological rules. Letting my characters call the shots allows me to go along for the ride, and oh boy the things you find on that journey. No matter how we do it, as long as we get our stories out there and manage to drag our readers along, then it was all worth it!