Let Them Speak Guest Post by Nicole L. Bates
The thing that surprised me the most about writing my first novel was the fact that I did not feel so much like the creator of the story as the vessel into which it was poured. The ideas and characters filled me, threatening to overflow. I had no choice but to put pen to paper and begin writing.
I was fascinated at times as a scene played out in my mind and a character responded in a way that even I did not expect. The words flowed across the page and theresponse felt right, but it took the story in a very different direction than the one that I had planned. It was exhilarating to experience the story through them. I experienced the same feeling that I do when I’m reading; I needed to know how it would end.
Of course it didn’t always happen so smoothly. There were moments when I tried to impose my will upon the narrative. When that happened I would look back at the scene or the direction of the story and realize that it didn’t feel right. I would have to replay the events in my mind and ask myself, “Is that how I would have reacted, or how my character would have reacted?”
People often talk about writers finding their voice. I think it’s even more important to listen to the voices of our characters. Find their voice and let them speak through you. After all, it is their story we’re telling.
Do you feel this way when you’re writing? What do you do when something feels “off” in your story?
Nicole L. Bates is a science fiction and fantasy novelist who loves creativity in all its forms. She has completed two speculative fiction manuscripts for which she is currently seeking representation. Nicole also loves to read, run, and eat organic food! You can join Nicole on twitter @NicoleLBates or on Facebook. You can read more from Nicole on her blog at http://www.nicolelbates.com
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16 Comments
My characters tend to sit in my head and “talk” to me. If a scene isn’t flowing, it’s generally because I’m trying to force them in a direction they don’t want to go. I find if I listen to my characters, I’m less likely to get stuck. It’s not a foolproof method, but it works more often than not.
I agree Clare. Isn’t it interesting that your own “creations” would have a mind and agenda all their own? Kind of like having kids 🙂
Love this, Nicole! Particularly because I haven’t dipped my toe into the waters of writing fiction. I love that you experience the same feelings writing a novel as you do reading one. Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading Bethany! Though I enjoy writing non-fiction (and I love reading yours) I usually prefer the creativity that fiction writing allows. Let me know if you decide to take the plunge 🙂
Great post, Nicole! I definitely feel this way when I’m writing. When I feel that something is off, I usually ask myself questions such as “Am I using the best pov for this scene?” “Is this scene even necessary? (Is it moving the story forward?)” Sometimes I just need to listen to my characters more closely. They seem to know better than I do whether a direction is right for the story or not. 🙂
Great points Sarah! I love the question of using the best pov for the scene, and I definitely need to address the necessity of certain scenes. Thanks for sharing your tips!
Absolutely, Nicole. Well said. Characters’ voices should be stronger than our own; some likable, some not. In a sense, our voice should become the voice of the character, like we’re possessed by them. And definitely true about wanting to find out the ending. That’s exactly what drives us to finish.
I agree Margaret, and I love the way you describe the feeling- like being possessed by them- so accurate.
this is so true! It is as if you are recording the story that your character is living in actual time. When you try and do something ‘different’ the make your character have a strange quirk or something, you just feel how wrong it is, like trying to make your friend be someone else! 🙂
Yes Nikki! Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!
Oh my! This is exactly how I feel too. It’s crazy isn’t it?? It’s like my characters have a life of their own, and all I’m doing is typing for them, haha. It’s almost like having a split personality. 🙂
It is a strange feeling Julie, like the most intense daydream. Your description of a split personality makes me wonder what it’s like to be an actress, when you actually have to become the character in front of other people.
[…] blog post was inspired by Nicole L. Bates’ guest post on Rachel Horwitz’s blog earlier this week. In that post, Nicole wrote about how characters speak through her and how […]
Trying to make my characters act like I want them to is sometimes and effort in trying to make them behave in the ‘correct’ way to tell a proper story, which they don’t want to do. So I have to take a middle ground and let natter on, while keeping the story on target. It’s a struggle, but a fun one!
It is fun, and it’s true that we do have to keep the story going toward some kind of destination, but it’s amazing that it can take turns we never expected.
Everything you said is so true. The ego (consciousness) doesn’t write the story, it comes from somewhere deep inside. When I get stuck, I step back, let loose on the reins and the better solution finds me. When I first realized that, it was scary! I thought what if it doesn’t happen each time? But it always does. Thanks for another great post. 🙂