Talking To Your Characters

Have you ever run smack into a writer’s block had no idea where your story is going? If you’re a pantser, the answer is probably, ‘Yes!” Even if you’re a plotter, the answer might be, “Yes, but don’t quote me on that.”

It happened to me when I was doing NaNoWriMo 2018. My inspiration had run dry and my Muse was out of town and I couldn’t write anything. So I decided to let my characters take over. Here’s what happened. (“GK” refers to GK Robeson, the pen name I’m using for that book.)

Fariette drummed her fingers on the table. “I’m bored.”
“So am I,” Aryana said. “I’m supposed to be finding an adventure for us, and the bar is almost empty. Khorous assured me that I would find some interesting offers here.”
“And you’re supposed to be telling me about the Humbolds. And what about that guy in the side plot at the Golden Hand? Shouldn’t we have met him by now? What’s going on here?”
“I don’t know. GK seems to be going through a spell of depression, and can’t get motivated to write anything. He missed a day, then really had to struggle to catch up yesterday. And that sex scene last night wasn’t up to his usual standards.”
“I liked it. Do you think he’ll let us do it again soon?”
“You have a one-track mind. Nothing but sex all the time.”
“That’s not true! I think a lot about food… and ale… rolling in bed with you…”
“See, there’s sex again. You’ve proved my point.”
“Well, what else is there to do here? The story seems to have stalled.”
“It looks like we’re on our own. So let’s figure this out. There’s nothing happening at this bar. We could go dockside and see what kind of trouble we can get into. Maybe I can pick up a bodyguard job. Despite all my skills my client is murdered, and we have to solve the mystery.”
“Oh, that would be fun! I can be your assistant and help you find clues and say random things that turn out to be brilliant insights!”
“But that’s a distraction from the main story. What is the main story anyway, I can’t seem to remember.”
“I’m not sure either, but I think we’re supposed to end up on a ship. And we still don’t know if Esma is going to drag you back home and turn you into a Duchess.”
“I don’t like that story line at all. I hope that doesn’t end up in the final draft.”
“Well, she has to figure into the story somehow, she’s in the cover picture!”
“Huh. GK just liked her green eyes. I’m the main character, why am I not on the cover?”
“I should be there too, sitting on the ground at your feet and gazing lovingly up at you.”
“He’d better find a good artist soon is all I can say.”
“Artists don’t come cheap. Maybe you should give him some of our gold.”
“This is getting us no closer to any action or conflict. Maybe we should just go back to the Reach and start over.”
“And give up my bracelet? Never! Come to think of that, there’s been no mention of the bracelet for thousands of words. And where the hell is Hemavati, shouldn’t we have run into her by now?”
“That’s a good question. I think there are too many plot threads going, and GK has lost track of them.”
“Maybe he should stop writing and go back to reading about the craft for a while.”
“Now there’s a wonderful plan, that leaves us sitting in this bar for the Gods know how long. And probably missing the goal altogether.”
“So what else can we do?”
“I think it’s time for drastic action. We have to call a meeting!”

So they held a meeting, with every character in the story attending. Each one introduced themselves and explained what their role in the story was… both so far and in the future. Let me tell you, I learned a lot about the characters and the world they lived in! All undoubtedly information that was stored in my subconscious, but I didn’t know it until they told me.

The first time a character talked back to I thought maybe I was going a bit crazy. I had just written a line for a character and she turned to me and said, “I would never say that!” (When I’m writing I’m watching a movie in my head and just recording what happens.) She was right, it was out of character. So I asked her what she would have said, and she told me. It was a much better line.

I’ve found out since then that a lot of authors talk to their characters. (Or maybe a lot of authors are a bit crazy!) It’s a useful way to get into your character’s head. And if you really want to have some fun, ask a friend to interview you as your character. You’ll probably be surprised at what you’ll find out. I did this once and my friend asked my character, “Tell me about your greatest love.” He said my face went completely dead, and I said, “She died.” OMG, what’s the back story there?

So talk to your characters, secure in the knowledge that you’re not crazy. You’re just a writer.

And for your amusement, here’s part of what happened in the meeting.

The door to the room flew open. In the bright moonlight, framed by the doorway, stood a woman in a dark blue cloak, her red hair flowing in the wind. “No one has asked me for my thoughts!”
“Are you… Hemavati?” Fari asked, her voice trembling.
“Yes. And I wasn’t even invited to this meeting. Do you know how many tales start with a figure of power not being invited to something? Those tales never end well, do they?”
“Yes, they do!” Manda said. “Everyone always lives happily ever after.”
“Not in the books of the Gods.”
“Remind me not to read those. So what can you tell us about this story? What are we supposed to be doing?”
Hemavati waved her arms above her head. “You’re asking me? I’m not even supposed to be here! I’m dead! And by the way, when is someone going to explain what Godsfall is, and why I’m dead in the first place?”
Cali sighed “Don’t you people know anything about the craft? This is a mystery that is revealed a bit at a time over the course of a series of stories. At some point someone will encounter a sage or historian who will give us a huge information dump and then everyone will know everything about it.”
“So we won’t know what it means in this story?”
“Probably not.”
Hemavati pulled out a chair and sat down. “Wonderful. Is there any ale around here?”
“No, Aryana thinks we should resolve this problem first.”
“Humans can be so annoying at times.” Hemavati waved her hand and a flagon of ale appeared in it. “Like when they’re alive.”
“Hey, how did you do that?” Kaden shouted.
Hemavati took a long swallow and licked her lips. “It’s good to be a God.”