Controlling Characters by Allison Symes

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Do you control your characters or can they, at least sometimes, control you? I like to know my characters’ main traits before I write their stories because that gives me ideas as to what they are capable of and what would drive them to the actions which will be in the story. Motivation matters.

But can characters surprise you and develop their own life? Oh yes. When this happens to me, I step back and look at why this happened. I then often spot something in their main trait which would cause the surprise. I shouldn’t have been surprised. The capacity for the character to act in this way was there. I hadn’t fleshed them out well enough here. This is useful. It acts as a wake up call to ensure I do know my characters well enough going forward.

When a character comes out with something you couldn’t have foreseen, look at why. Is there back story here which will influence the outcome? If your previously polite character comes out with language you didn’t think they knew, dig for the reason behind that. Is something nagging at them? That may well be where your story should be focused.

I’ve long been on the side of character in the character versus plot debate. A strong character can do something with a weak plot (though you want a strong character and a strong plot). A weak character won’t save the strongest of plots. I like to be the ringmaster in my circus when it comes to creating characters. I like to know who is doing and/or saying what and why. If I can’t believe it, why should anyone else?

When it comes to stories, I like to know what happens to the characters. They are the aspects which interest me the most, partly I think because they’re the ones driving the action. I’m always wary of any tale which has something coming out of nowhere to drive the story. A character doing something stupid which drives the plot along is something I can get behind! 

I think that is because we can all identify with the “doing something stupid” routine. It is the key point to The Prodigal Son which rings so true for me. The youngest son did have to realise he’d been an idiot and it was time to go home. So easy to picture, isn’t it? Being able to picture your characters, to see they would do this because, is vital for the success of any tale. It’s the one thing, I think, which will make readers get behind the tale. They need someone to root for - your believable characters. 

 

To me, that means I need to control my characters while still giving them “freedom” to act according to the traits and situation I’ve bestowed on them. This is where I’m glad my characters cannot come to life for real. I can think of some of mine who would want  severe words with me!