+72 When you're writing fiction, sometimes you have no control over the characters. "Why did Harvey buy a zeppelin?" "I don't know, you'll have to ask him that." amirite?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Finally, someone understands. "You just made your character drop the F bomb like six times." "I can't MAKE him do anything."

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Thank you so much for this. People who don't write rarely understand this. A good character takes a life of its own, and once it's done that, I can't make him/her do anything. People will be like, "You're the writer; just make her do it!" All the while I'm wondering what to do because my character somehow ended up in Mexico when a novel is supposed to be set in California or something weird like that.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Yeah, my character named himself Agnes. AGNES. Not typically a guy's name.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I've been trying to control my character's too much lately. Maybe that's why my writing hasn't been as satisfying. It's much more authentic when they take on a life of their own, even if you don't particularly like the life they've chosen.

by Anonymous 11 years ago