So, I'm on the fifth re-write of the novel. And this time my characters all seem to want to behave differently. grrrrr

It's good, obviously, I can see it means they're taking on more of a life of their own than previously; but it's going to mean some serious reconsidering.

Anyone else get this?

Andrea

Tell me about it! My lot just set fire to their hotel, so now I don’t know what the hell’s going to happen next…

This is one of the reasons I can't plot in advance. I’m too aware that, as the characters develop, they – and therefore the storyline – will change.

Andrea, I suspect that your previous four drafts have been trying to force the characters into actions that they wouldn’t naturally take. Go with them, and see what happens.

Dee

Dee,

I suspect the same - I've always let them take me in directions, but before it was a mutual effort. This time they're walking all over me

Fastening my seat belt ....

Andrea

Andrea,

I know what you mean, and I find it one of the most exciting aspects of writing - though it can be a bit bewildering at first, especially if you thought you had it all worked out and then 'they' have other ideas.

Recently I began writing a set of letters for my novel, written by my (now) 80-year-old character when she was 15. I thought I had the tone all worked out in my head, the kind of things she'd say - and then fingers hit keyboard and something quite different came out, which gave a new twist to her character. When I finished the first couple of letters I thought 'huh? where did that come from?' and I had to walk away from it for a few days to make sure it was what I wanted.

Good luck with yours,

Myrtle

Aha! I've just realised what's happened.

As I've completely rewritten the opening chapters, my characters are now in a completely different setting to the original; thus they're liberated from my original conception of them and free to behave as they choose - I have a sense that they've developed as characters since I first met them, but I've been trying to force them back into the original framework.

Now they've been set free they're running riot - hence Myrtle that 'huh?' feeling you describe. But I agree, after my initial :| it's suddenly exciting ... the rewrite is no longer a chore but exhilarating ... I'm off to see what they have in store for me now ...

Thanks both for your thoughts

Andrea

'most exciting aspects of writing ' absolutely agree and why I love it. In my latest children's novel I'd planned for a character who appears near the end to be a helping hand then as I wrote, out came her selfish, manic side adding a nice little twist in the plot.
Have fun.

D