Has your character(s) ever getting out of your control?

[K_Jira]

I wonder if it's just me experiencing this, so I want to ask you guys a question as fellow authors.

Have you ever experienced your character's actions getting out of your control?

I mean, there are times (even until present time) that when I'm writing, the course of event unknowingly bent away from the direction I want it to go because of my character(s)' personality. Because of that, oftentimes, I need to bring out some of my privileges as an author to force them to experience what I want them to experience with 'fate's intervention' or redo the whole scene from the top.

I suspect maybe it's because I imagine my story in my head like watching a movie that I just let it flow naturally after creating its general idea.

Is there something wrong with my method in developing my story?

If my story is a real world, then I'm really a weak-ass god…

 

[Mr.Grey-Cat]

Well, I do experience that sometimes. so it happens. though of course, not all authors experience that, because some authors directly write what they want to happen with no care for the story's logic, or the character's personality, and I am pretty you can at least remember one or two works you read, that sound like that, right?

Oh, and about being a weak-ass god, what do you mean, are you really serious? to think of yourself as a god of your novel is wrong my friend because when you do so, you start to simply do some arbitrary change and random choices, and that's wrong.

instead of thinking of yourself as the god of your novel, why don't you think of yourself simply as fate? you can force events, and create people, but even so, when the characters truly want to..... they can just fight against your will and escape your control, as simple as that...

so instead of trying to force the novel on the path you want, try forcing the path you want on following the novel, keep changing your ideas, adapting to changes, and try to reach not the point you want, but the closest, most natural ending, that seems satisfying to you, while also staying natural.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

bro the main character for my first series does that shit all the time. I cant properly control the guy, cuz whatever situation i put him in...he just doesn't fucking react how normal people would and how i would actually want him to. I cant just MAKE him do what i want either because that's just obviously forced and people know by now that it doesn't fit his personality.

in short, its frustrating to write a character who has such a strong and weird personality that you cant just put him in a scenario and expect him to do what other more sane characters would.

I can put that fucker in a locked room full of xenomorphs and instead of killing or running he'd just beat the men and bed the women.

 

[ArcadiaBlade]

All the time. Like, I actually just want to write a cliche type story where its linear and easy to write about and my characters act their own so much that by the time they finally behave, I gave up since I don't even know how to proceed the plot anymore.

I remember the time when I was still in college that I want to try out kingdom building and the next moment, I get a descriptive talk of how my character burned the kingdom, hunted a dragon and by the time he wanted to build a kingdom, I was wracking my brain on how strong do I need to make a god face him.

 

[BenJepheneT]

that isn't proof of you losing control of your character but rather, a signifier for two circumstances.

either you've made a character so fully fleshed out that they're able to make their own decisions without any conscious intent on your side, or that the character you're writing isn't the same as you envisioned for the plot.

personally, i believe both make for interesting scenarios and a better writing experience. once you reach that point, you'll see yourself becoming less like a writer and more like a director. you become the producer providing the story and set pieces to the actors that are your characters. the latter work their magic in front of the camera. all you have to do is flesh it out onto the big screen (words).

it's an ecstasy that's worth all those weeks of sleepless nights used on planning and fleshing your characters out. I'm no parent, but i have an inkling this is what a parent feels when they see their child take their first few steps.

 

[K_Jira]

Well, I do experience that sometimes. so it happens. though of course, not all authors experience that, because some authors directly write what they want to happen with no care for the story's logic, or the character's personality, and I am pretty you can at least remember one or two works you read, that sound like that, right?

Oh, and about being a weak-ass god, what do you mean, are you really serious? to think of yourself as a god of your novel is wrong my friend because when you do so, you start to simply do some arbitrary change and random choices, and that's wrong.

instead of thinking of yourself as the god of your novel, why don't you think of yourself simply as fate? you can force events, and create people, but even so, when the characters truly want to..... they can just fight against your will and escape your control, as simple as that...

so instead of trying to force the novel on the path you want, try forcing the path you want on following the novel, keep changing your ideas, adapting to changes, and try to reach not the point you want, but the closest, most natural ending, that seems satisfying to you, while also staying natural.

Yes, I do remember reading some stuff that's like, dude I didn't expect him to choose doing A rather B since it didn't match the character's personality. But I understand it is needed for the story to continue.

You're right. Thinking myself as fate seems more appropriate. To have my characters struggle out of the events forced to them with their own way looks more natural and I also have fun writing it.

bro the main character for my first series does that shit all the time. I cant properly control the guy, cuz whatever situation i put him in...he just doesn't fucking react how normal people would and how i would actually want him to. I cant just MAKE him do what i want either because that's just obviously forced and people know by now that it doesn't fit his personality.

in short, its frustrating to write a character who has such a strong and weird personality that you cant just put him in a scenario and expect him to do what other more sane characters would.

I can put that fucker in a locked room full of xenomorphs and instead of killing or running he'd just beat the men and bed the women.

I understanddd. I also have some quirky main characters that are just too unpredictable what they would do in my many many unpublished stories because I can't finish it ??

All the time. Like, I actually just want to write a cliche type story where its linear and easy to write about and my characters act their own so much that by the time they finally behave, I gave up since I don't even know how to proceed the plot anymore.

I remember the time when I was still in college that I want to try out kingdom building and the next moment, I get a descriptive talk of how my character burned the kingdom, hunted a dragon and by the time he wanted to build a kingdom, I was wracking my brain on how strong do I need to make a god face him.

I also tried making OP characters and it made it so hard for me to make God characters looked like a proper God. I mean, when they stood in front of the MC, they couldn't help but look weaker than they actually are

 

[CupcakeNinja]

All the time. Like, I actually just want to write a cliche type story where its linear and easy to write about and my characters act their own so much that by the time they finally behave, I gave up since I don't even know how to proceed the plot anymore.

I remember the time when I was still in college that I want to try out kingdom building and the next moment, I get a descriptive talk of how my character burned the kingdom, hunted a dragon and by the time he wanted to build a kingdom, I was wracking my brain on how strong do I need to make a god face him.

dude same. I tried doing that exact thing. And for the most part, i think i did it...then one of my more volatile characters popped in and everything ended up going to shit just two chapters later. One of my discord buddies even said, "dude, you just go too big too fast" like its my fault the bitch is fucking insane.

I love stories that are cliche and just fun to read. Like Destruction Flag Otome, you know? Something light, predictable. This is my second attempt at following its same route, but somewhere down the line i always have to fuck it up. I really don't even have an excuse this time because i quite weed. The fuck is wrong with me?

 

[K_Jira]

that isn't proof of you losing control of your character but rather, a signifier for two circumstances.

either you've made a character so fully fleshed out that they're able to make their own decisions without any conscious intent on your side, or that the character you're writing isn't the same as you envisioned for the plot.

personally, i believe both make for interesting scenarios and a better writing experience. once you reach that point, you'll see yourself becoming less like a writer and more like a director. you become the producer providing the story and set pieces to the actors that are your characters. the latter work their magic in front of the camera. all you have to do is flesh it out onto the big screen (words).

it's an ecstasy that's worth all those weeks of sleepless nights used on planning and fleshing your characters out. I'm no parent, but i have an inkling this is what a parent feels when they see their child take their first few steps.

I can relate to the feeling of being like a director since I imagine the story to move like a movie in my mind. It really is a weird sense of satisfaction.

 

[greyblob]

It's poor planning. Did you outline the whole story before starting? Because there's a high possibility of things to change: A character developing differently, or a plot line abandoned. The second draft is always different from the first. The same occurs when writing sporadically. If have zero outlines then chaos is almost certain. Once you start writing, you'll notice the plot holes and other similar imperfections.

 

[Anon_Y_Mousse]

Not really, I always plan the ending of a story before I start writing it. So while the characters can squirm and create some extra scenes that lead to mildly unexpected outcomes, the endpoint would always be the same. Kind of like a theatre y'know, the actors can make some improv lines but it should always stick to the plot

Edit: Do note that my stories are more focused on multiple characters and a "grand plan" and I have no experience in writing a story that's centered around one protagonist nor do I ever plan to, since that's boring for me. So, I guess its hard for the decision of a single character to change much considering how much "set up" is in the world. But eh, I think every author should plot at least the ending of their story and stick to it.

 

[Minx]

It does. At first, I wrote while thinking of the direction I wanted it to go. But then I remind myself, what would I do if I were the character in this situation or that situation, what would the character do?

Then I realized, he/she won't walk the path I created for them. So, I just follow the flow, honestly I enjoyed watching my character making his/her own path.

 

[Shard]

I may be a novice, but I already can't count how many times characters in my story have gone "Fuck the plot!" and done their own thing instead. Had to rewrite a large chunk of my planned plot because of it, and I still keep getting surprised by their choices.

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

My stories are character-focused stories. The plot is something going on in their world that they either can deal with it or watch it blow up in their faces.

So, no I haven't had a character go crazy, because they are their own people. I know their personalities and know how they will react to things. Either good or bad. They can try a dip out of the plot, but in the end, the plot will find them. Either by the world's going boom or destiny is all. Kind of everyone's road ends on the same spot. Even if they don't want it.

Much like life is. You can't outrun your problems. So, plan better, I guess? Or know what direction the plot will take your characters because you should always know the end of your story. Remember, the plot is a tool to take the story. The road there is the only thing that can change, otherwise, you might lose the meaning of your story.

If have zero outlines then chaos is almost certain. Once you start writing, you'll notice the plot holes and other similar imperfections.

Blob! Chaos is good! It makes for awesome chapters. I don't do outlines, just know the end and beginning of my story. I also write details like towns I might forget or other descriptions.

The rest is pure chaos! No plot holes yet :3 and I am in my third book!

The only bad thing I had was my world-building... Needed more descriptions of my world in my first book. BUT my stories are character-focused!

 

[SakeVision]

they do, and I let it happen. if the character personality dictates something to happen, who am I to force them to do something else?

 

[greyblob]

Blob! Chaos is good! It makes for awesome chapters. I don't do outlines, just know the end and beginning of my story. I also write details like towns I might forget or other descriptions.

The rest is pure chaos! No plot holes yet :3 and I am in my third book!

Planned chaos is good. The thing is I have like 7 subplots going on at the same time, and I don't have the mental capacity to keep everything in order. An outline and thinking things through makes for a huge difference. I'd often find myself writing something uncharacteristic, only to realize it in the second draft. Though, that might have to do with my skills and goldfish-like memory.
The thing is bulletpoint outlines save so much time. It's essentially a draft.

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

Planned chaos is good. The thing is I have like 7 subplots going on at the same time, and I don't have the mental capacity to keep everything in order. An outline and thinking things through makes for a huge difference. I'd often find myself writing something uncharacteristic, only to realize it in the second draft. Though, that might have to do with my skills and goldfish-like memory.
The thing is bulletpoint outlines save so much time. It's essentially a draft.

Heheh, I am trying to think of unplanned chaos that is good, but I can't. :c Usually it's doom and makes no sense.

 

[greyblob]

Heheh, I am trying to think of unplanned chaos that is good, but I can't. :c Usually it's doom and makes no sense.

this is the only thing that comes to mind.

Reincarnated as the God of Shitty Life Counseling for Defective Washed Up Waifus

Don't expect too much from this abomination. As the name of this fiction suggests, the title I go by in heaven is the God of Shitty Life Counseling for Defective Washed Up Waifus. I work as a life counselor for trash waifus in case you were slow and didn't catch...

www.scribblehub.com

 

[LunaSoltaer]

snip

If you haven't already, change your password, nuke your current OS from orbit, and make sure nothing else of yours got corrupted.

 

[LunaSoltaer]

This happens to me all the damn time. Characters, and sometimes the world itself, will say "NO IM LIKE THIS!"

One example is, when writing Solstice (my NaNoWriMo challenge fic), originally I had declared the main university area's Student Centre to be dead set in the middle of the campus. But as I wrote, my mental map shifted it further toward the west, so that it and the other four giant buildings occupy some sort of ring formation around the inner circle of the 2-circled campus.

Also I have a scene much later on planned, like 10+ (so really 30+) chapters ahead, where something really big happens, and one character does something horrid. I recently replayed that scene and nope, the character that was originally mean is no longer mean and now it's a DIFFERENT character. It being NaNoWriMo, and the worldbuilding also being seat of pants probably explains a lot of things being in flux.

I wonder if it's happened to anyone where one of the "characters" that escapes control is the viewpoint camera. Or maybe I'm just fuzzy headed from caffeine withdrawal and work being hell and not eating well/enough.

 

[K_Jira]

This happens to me all the damn time. Characters, and sometimes the world itself, will say "NO IM LIKE THIS!"

One example is, when writing Solstice (my NaNoWriMo challenge fic), originally I had declared the main university area's Student Centre to be dead set in the middle of the campus. But as I wrote, my mental map shifted it further toward the west, so that it and the other four giant buildings occupy some sort of ring formation around the inner circle of the 2-circled campus.

Also I have a scene much later on planned, like 10+ (so really 30+) chapters ahead, where something really big happens, and one character does something horrid. I recently replayed that scene and nope, the character that was originally mean is no longer mean and now it's a DIFFERENT character. It being NaNoWriMo, and the worldbuilding also being seat of pants probably explains a lot of things being in flux.

I wonder if it's happened to anyone where one of the "characters" that escapes control is the viewpoint camera. Or maybe I'm just fuzzy headed from caffeine withdrawal and work being hell and not eating well/enough.

I don't think I quite understand what you mean by the viewpoint of camera. Like pov?

Please take care of your health ?