When Characters Take Over
The trouble is, sometimes the characters can become just a little too ‘real’and take you, the writer, to places you’d never envisaged going. For instance, Jess, the main character in Starquest, my first novel in the Destiny Trilogy, started out as the heroine of a short story, but I’d become fond of her and she kept nagging me, saying ‘there’s a lot more to it than that, you know’.
I had to admit I didn’t really want to say goodbye to her, so the short story became a novel. She also argued with me about the ending of the book and eventually I had to agree that she was right. I change the original ending to the one that ultimately was the one published. Yes, characters can work their way into your heart, Kerry Marchant, an important character in Starquest was one of them – but more about him later!
It’s not just characters
that can take on a personality of their own, either. Settings can also be a very important, indeed essential part of a story. After all, it’s where the characters experience their adventures, fears and tribulations, and fall in love. Whether the setting be a small town, city or wide open spaces on Earth, or, as in my stories, a planet, far, far away, you need to be able to make them real for the reader, and to know the terrain, history and customs of your setting. You may only need to share a little of all this with the reader, but in order to make it come across as ‘real’ you need to know it very well yourself – and in doing so it can become like another character. This happened to me with the planet Niflheim, also featured in Starquest. I became intrigued by the planet’s history and terrain, and set Children Of The Mist, my second book in the trilogy there. (Not that I knew it would become a trilogy at the time!) What had been originally a convenient location for a race of telepaths, turned out to have far more dramatic origins and history than I had originally envisaged.
Back to Kerry Marchant.
I have to admit to having a real soft spot for Kerry. I always felt he’d been dealt the short straw in Starquest and so did he, because he kept on at me to write his story – and this time to let him have his own h.e.a. He can be very insistent. How could I refuse? And so I wrote Beloved Enemy, the third in the trilogy, and in some ways may favourite of the three.
So be warned – your characters need to be
real to you in order for the reader to relate to them – but if they become too real you might find they make you work harder than you’d bargained for – and be prepared for them to be obstinate and refuse to conform the plans you had so painstakingly laid out for them!
Hywela’s Best Tips:
- I find it is useful to keep a file on my hardrive where I paste a copy of paragraphs, chapters, or just phrases which I cut out from the original story in the editing process. You never know when you might find another use for them in another story, sometimes they can even spark off something completely new. Nothing is ever truly wasted.
- This isn’t actually a writing tip but something I’ve learnt when promoting – It’s very tempting to use your lovely new book cover for your social media profile image, but much better to us a good head and shoulders photo. Readers like to feel they have a connection with the author as a person, rather than a cover image
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Beloved Enemy is the third book in the Destiny Trilogy (No relation to a similar titles series by Casi J ) and was shortlisted for the RoNA 2017 awards and is a RONE 2017 finalist (Each book can be read as a ‘stand alone novel’ but features some of the same characters.)
BELOVED ENEMY
Blurb
Cat Kincaid is obsessed with killing the man she believes is responsible for the torture and death of her sister, but when she eventually catches up with him, survival becomes a greater priority than revenge.
Kerry Marchant, haunted by memories, regret and self-blame, shields himself from the pain of the past by committing himself totally to the starship, Destiny, of which he is part owner. However, the beautiful, red haired woman who reminds him of his lost love, and who he suspects is working for a corrupt regime, represents a possible threat not only to the ship, but to his heart.
Marooned on an inhospitable planet, they need to work together to stay alive, fighting not only unknown assailants, but their growing attraction. But how can they learn to trust each other when he has vowed never to get close to a woman again, and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him?
Purchase from The Wild Rose Press:
http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/138_hywela-lyn
Or
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0711J641G
Website: http://www.hywelalyn.co.uk
Those pesky characters! I know Stephen King says to kill your darlings, but I can’t do it. I resurrect characters and I also cut and paste shiny bits that I can’t use right now into a slush file. Such a true post!!
Thanks so much Sorchaa, and yes, I’ve resurrected characters too, Jess was one! I know that Stephen King quote, but as you say it’s very hard to put into practice!
Thanks Sandra – glad you enjoyed it – and apologies to everyone for being late catching up with the comments, I think I got stuck in a time warp!
I agree completely! I remember one of my stories, I wanted the hero to break up with the heroine when he was in a dark place. The story feed stopped. Apparently, he refused to do that. Great post!
Thanks Ilona – our characters certainly do love to take over, don’t they!
Great post. Good luck!
I absolutely feel the same way about characters, to the extent that they keep popping up in other books, sometimes only as a walk on, but… I will admit, though, some characters stay with me longer than others. Lovely post.
Thanks so much Barbara – yes some characters can be very persistent can’t they! (Love it when they demand ‘walk on’ parts!
Yes, I have had characters take over more often than I’d like to admit. And they usually get their way. LOL
Your tips on right on, I have files on my desktop for each book I’m working on. All the cut scenes,etc go in there for use at a later date. Like a meme, a teaser, or on my website as an enticement for the book. Best of luck with Beloved Enemy!
Thanks for stopping by Tena, looks like we all have characters who want to ‘take over’. Like you I find my ‘left over’ files very hand in all sorts of ways!
I enjoyed reading your post, Lin. I totally agree with you, characters take on a life of their own and dictate the story. Thanks for sharing. I loved Beloved Enemy. All the best.
Hello CB – thanks so much for your kind words, and it means so much to me that you enjoyed Beloved Enemy!
Great post, Lyn, and so true! For me, my characters are real. When I visited Urquhart Castle in June–home of my Dragon Knights, the eldest of the knights came alongside me as I looked out the stone archway window to the loch. It was a chilling experience and one I’ll never forget. Thanks so much for sharing your own “special” characters. All the best! xo
Hi Mary, isn’t it amazing how real our characters can be to us and what a fantastic, if somewhat weird, experience you had at Urquhart – such a lovely and atmospheric old castle. Thanks so much for your kind comment xx
Great post, Hywela! And what good advice about pasting and saving the paragraphs edited out of a manuscript. I never would have thought of that. Your trilogy sounds wonderful!
Hi Laura
So glad you found that tip useful – I have to admit I hate to waste anything – you never know when it can be updated and recycled! I loved writing the trilogy – it just sort of grew, thanks to my persistent characters!
I love it when my characters take on a life of their own. Great post!
Thanks KK – yes, it’s a great feeling isn’t it, even if they can be slightly annoying at times! 🙂
I love when my characters talk to me, although you’re right, it usually means a lot more work than I originally bargained for! Congratulations on your book–looks great.
Thanks Jennifer – yes, our characters can make us work hard, but it’s so rewarding when they are real enough to talk back to us! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.