Who's in Charge...You or Your Characters?

by Nancy Sackheim

Yes, you're the author. You create the characters and control the story—every word, every action, rewrite after rewrite. You come up with all the answers.  All by yourself.  You and only you figure out who your characters are, what they want, who they love, who they hurt, how they redeem themselves. Alone.  In a room.  Hour after hour.  Day after day.  Week after week. Month after month.  Lonely business.

Or... maybe you could be open to a little help.  How about listening to what your characters may be trying to tell you.  After all, it is their story.  Yes, you did create them, but if you got it right, your characters will begin to live their lives, make decisions, make mistakes, make amends. 

If you let your characters do their job, all of a sudden the writing life isn't so grim and lonely. Now you have a room full of collaborators who are more than happy to help you write that story.  All you have to do is listen and record.  And the best part...they don't drink your wine/beer, they don't eat your chocolate/chips, and they are more than happy to let you take all the credit.