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Every writer develops their own techniques for writing. Some create detailed
outlines and character profiles and everything they write follows those
guidelines. I've found out those two things are valuable tools, yet
something happens while I'm writing and both need to be reworked. There's a
chance you'll never experience the same thing, but don't panic if it does.
Knowing as fact something isn't in my outline and I
never thought about an event occurring, several times I've asked a question
aloud . . . "Why did you do that Jake?" I've also told friends I had to get
home from work so I could "get Jake out of a bad situation", a situation I
hadn't planned for in my outline. It probably sounds crazy, but there are
times when I'm writing and a character seems to want to do or does something
which wasn't planned. If it adds something interesting or exciting to the
story, I change the outline instead of what I've just written.
If, while you're writing, it seems as if your
characters have taken on a life of their own, don't automatically assume you
need to see a psychiatrist. Keep writing and see where they lead you. Within
a few paragraphs you'll be able to tell if what you've written adds to or
takes away from the plot. If it works, leave it in; if it doesn't, rewrite
that section.
In my experience, those times in which the characters
seem to have a life of their own are when I do my best writing. No, your
characters really aren't talking to you or actually guiding your writing.
Your creative imagination is running in your subconscious while you write
and there are times those thoughts make it onto the page. The only decision
you have to make isn't whether or not you've gone insane, it's whether or
not what you wrote is part of your story.
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