even before i get going on writing a story i pretty much know how its gonna end and most times thats just how it does. but the other day i was writing a pb story and all of a sudden without not one word of warning the mc jumped right outta the story and said “STOP the storys done!” i scratched my head and said “huh?” then i said “wait a minute! this is MY story and i already got it figured out how its gonna end so get back in the story be quiet and let me finish it my way.”
could you believe that mc got right up in my face and GRRRRRROWLED (hes a big gator) and for sure hearing that growl and seeing those big sharp teeth got my attention. but i gotta tell you it got me a little angry. so i just looked that gator right in the eye and said "IM THE BOSS!” yikes! he didnt back down not one little bit and shot back at me “hey dude its MY story too and without ME you got NO story at all so you better listen to what i gotta say.”
i jumped back sat down and didnt say not one more word. i just sat thinking on what that gator said. i didnt ever think bout listening to my mc before. so i went back and read "OUR" story over a bunch of times and could you believe that gator was right and it needed to end just right where he said.
if youre wondering? yep! im still the boss (sorta). but for sure im gonna listen to my mc from now on (specially if its a big gator with sharp ^^^^ teeth).
for sure i got a good writing lesson from a place i didnt expect it - my mc! WOW! how cool is that!
now i just gotta ask you did you ever have your mc tell you what to do? if you did... did you do it?
…hugs from lenny and...you know who
LOL! I have had that exact argument before! Though mine wasn't with a gator. I agree about listening though. Our mc's do know a little something about their story. Dagnabit.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. MCs love to think they're running the show. (I'm just glad mine isn't a big gator with sharp teeth!) I usually "listen" to what my MC wants... but I'm the boss, applesauce! :D
ReplyDeleteAww, Lenny, this was hilarious to read. That picture made me laugh so much!
ReplyDeleteMy MC's very unpredictable. Like this one time she virtually picked out a guy who almost didn't exist as her 'love interest' - would you believe it? And all the while the real love interest that *I* had decided upon was waiting for his turn to come out. He's still waiting :|
Hah! What a fun story. I wish my characters would come alive like that.
ReplyDeleteLenny, this happens to me ALL the time! Characters are always telling me what to do! Most of the time they are right (grumble, grumble)
ReplyDeleteLove that your MC helped you find the best place to end the story. I haven't had that happen but I've only written one full story so far. Glad you're still the boss anyway. Because you are.
ReplyDeleteYour character was right...it was a great stopping point! When a gator says stop, it for sure is time to stop. (hahaha)
ReplyDeleteI love it when a character creeps inside my head and tries to control me. It means I'm really into what I'm writing. Which is a good thing. :)
Hi Lenny - You sound like you got an extra strong MC there - who will rule the roost of your stories ... that is great because Mr Gate is the hero and without him there be no story telling .. so do it his way - or be eaten and someone else will become his scribe ..
ReplyDeleteExcellent to read you're obviously enjoying the story telling process ... cheers for now and soon I'd like to read some of Mr Gator's tall tales .. have fun - Hilary
Wonderful reading .. cheers Hilary
positiveletters.blogspot.com
Yes--my MCs can be quiet bossy. LOL. I usually listen to them, unless I think it's a complete mistake, and then I try to compromise or think of something new.
ReplyDeleteLove it! I had a similar experience with the ending of one of my stories. I just couldn't get it to work. It was like the characters just wouldn't help me out! So, I went back and reread too, and realized I'd forced them in the wrong direction. Once I figured that out, they were much nicer to me! :)
ReplyDeleteHugs back! Although my alligator hug is a very, very careful one!
Oh, yes! My main characters tell me what to do all the time! One mc told me she wasn't going to end up with the guy I'd picked out for her. She preferred the other guy instead! And another mc stopped me about 4 chapters into the book and told me he had a younger brother I didn't know about -- and how dumb was I not to include him in the story! I had to start all over again at chapter one.
ReplyDeleteYou're smart to listen to your mc. You might be writing the story, but he's living it!
Not only is this a funny story, but it shows how sharp of a writer you are to be that in tune with your characters.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, they say the best directors listen to their actors, and sometimes we just got to get out of the way!
Oh those bossy MCs! Yes, that has happened to me once in a while and it always suprises me when it does!
ReplyDeleteI'm having my mc do that to me right now. I'm not to happy about it, because I thought it should end somewhere else, but my mc didn't. ;)
ReplyDeleteheeheehee! yes! and i'm such a wimp, i always give in... and it gets my wips in trouble sometimes!
ReplyDeleteHi, Lenny! That's a great lesson to learn. When it comes to authors and their characters, it's all about the teamwork. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, too funny! It was pretty brave of you to stand up to a gator, even if he was your mc. I've had all sorts of characters try to take off on me. Sometimes I go with it and sometimes not, but I couldn't really put my finger on why I give in or don't. Maybe gut feeling.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite was a secondary character who wanted a bigger and bigger roll in my series. I gave in 'cause I fell in love with him. Now he'll be the male mc in the third book of my trilogy.
Hi, Lenny. I'd definitely listen to my MC if he or she was a large gator with sharp teeth. Sounds like this will be a great PB to read. Best wishes with the book and your MC.
ReplyDeleteHa, that's funny, but a good lesson too! You are the boss, but it's a joint effort to make the story the best it can be, isn't it? I'm sure it will be a great book, and I wouldn't want to mess with that gator!
ReplyDeleteI love it when my mc's talk to me! They usually know way better than I do how their stories should go.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, Lenny! And yes, my characters often go in other directions while I try to hold them back and say "Wait!"
ReplyDeleteBut it seems the story always gets better if I let the characters take over.
LOL! I'd listen to that gator too! :) (And I love your gator story Lenny!!)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, this is familiar.
ReplyDeleteI just write what my characters tell me to write. ;)
Nice post, Lenny!
Ha, Lenny! I've had a few battles with my characters as well. Just a couple of weeks ago, I knew the ending of my story. All of a sudden this not important character decided to become more important and change the ending. Not cool. He won. I lost.
ReplyDeleteI heard the nice package you sent Hilary and her mom on his blog. He wrote you an awfully nice thank you post.
My MC made me kill two characters today, Lenny! They can be so bossy at times.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend. :)
I think it's great that your characters are speaking to you and guiding your hand, Lenny! Sometimes we have to put our ideas away long enough to let the characters to show theirs to us. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Angela
I know about these unruly characters. Who do they think they are anyway?
ReplyDeleteHi, Lenny! I just discovered your blog thanks to Hilary over at Positive Letters. What a wonderful surprise you sent her! It's great to meet you and I'm looking forward to following your blog. I know what you mean about unruly characters! :)
ReplyDeleteSo funny! And since I know that gator, I can say he has a great, strong personality that would do something like that. :o) I've never had a character say they are the boss because my stories are so plot-driven. But I'm glad yours did!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! :o)
This is a funny post, Lenny. It's amazing how our characters speak to us, isn't it? If Gator continues to growl at you, I suggest you growl at it back, Lenny! But it's good to be listening to its growling too! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteI've long ago realized that my characters are the boss of me. One decided to tell the mc that he loves her. Only he ignored the outline in which it clearly states that he doesn't tell her that until later in the second half of the book. He decided to reveal his feelings in the first half of the book. And he was right. Smart guy!
ReplyDeleteYou tell that MC who's boss, Lenny! Sometimes my characters get out of line. I tell them off, too.
ReplyDeleteHey Lenny!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, you are the boss. Of course, one has to be real cool telling the Gator who's the boss. Sometimes they can get a bit snappy! :)
Great stuff, Lenny!
Hugs and smiles from Mr. Gary and Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star, who is my real boss LOL :)
Hi, Lenny. I've nominated you for an award. You can stop by my blog to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteSusanne Drazic
http://susannedrazic.blogspot.com
Haha! Lenny, this sounds just like what's happened to me so many times. I've had my mc and others characters tell me what to do at times and I've had to listen to them. There's no story without the characters and if they say something then I have to atleast consider it.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem is when two characters say opposite things. "Uh-oh," I say. And then it's game on to see which character will win.
Jai
Now I know who that gator is. I'm hoping for great things for you, Lenny!
ReplyDeleteA fun post Lenny! You have to tell yopur character who the boss is!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLenny I have dropped in to your world from thefeatherednest to tell you that YOU WON THE PRIZE. Thank you so much for attending the party yesterday, I know it meant a lot to Gary to see you there. I will need your mailing address. If you don't feel comfy giving it to me you can have it sent c/o someone else. Check with mom and dad first. I do believe I'm going to start following you....
ReplyDeletemy email address is ournest@live.ca
My characters do all kinds of crazy stuff that ruin my plot outline! So I know how you feel.
ReplyDelete