Characters Hijacking the Story – One Way You Know You’re On the Right Track

I do outline. Not as thoroughly or obsessively as some, but I do have character sketches and a firm idea of where the story is going and the significant events on the way before I start writing.

And then, partway through the writing process, one of the characters stands up and says to me, “I thought of something better.” More in character. Smarter for that character to do at that point in time. A better response to what happens to them. And it’s usually better for the story than the original idea.

I call this hijacking the story. It’s happened at least once in every novel of mine but the first. It happened twice in my most recent.

It also seems to be a sign that I’m not only tuned into the character, but that I’m onto a good story. So I’m happy every time it happens.