By Joni M. Fisher @authorjonimfisher
Did you ever have a character demand a bigger part in the story? Luigi Pirandello wrote a play
titled Six Characters in Search of an Author in which characters, who were created but never
used, barge into a rehearsal and demand to be included in a production. That reality-twisting,
groundbreaking play premiered in 1921.
While writing my first published novel, the buddy character of the hero kept stealing scenes.
Never mind that I plotted for the hero’s point of view, the buddy character took over. It wasn’t until the second draft that I realized the buddy character had more scenes than the hero. Sure, the hero showed up in the scenes according to my carefully plotted story, but the buddy character hijacked the point of view. Every. Time. My hero’s status as the lead had been usurped.
That sneaky supporting character had charmed his way into taking over the point of view because he was funny, observant, and, sadly, more interesting than the hero. In analyzing how it happened, I realize his likeability factor played a huge role. The other factor in his favor was that he came to life more easily. He was modeled after a friend. His slow, sardonic, Southern voice came naturally. He was the life of the party, so to speak.
So, like Charles Dickens in the movie, The Man Who Invented Christmas, I struck a bargain with
an imaginary supporting character. I explained that this wasn’t his story. He wasn’t the hero, but
if he played well his part as a supporting character, he’d be the hero in the next book.
The second draft consisted of major revisions of the hero’s scenes. The buddy character
remained funny, observant, and engaging, but he did so through the eyes of the hero, who knew
him well. They had served together as soldiers. That experience bonded them like brothers who
had each other’s backs. Gradually, the hero’s backstory emerged, and he became someone
readers cheered for and sighed over.
Rewriting scenes from the hero’s perspective offered remarkable contrasts between the New
York City cop’s son (hero) and the Southern rancher’s son (buddy character), who grew up with
guns and horses. Their vastly different skill sets and life experiences created moments of tension
and misunderstanding tempered with humor.
Their friendship deepened through the four-book Compass Crimes series. They depended on one
another for an honest opinion and didn’t hold grudges. When one was in danger, the other would
drop everything and come to help.
Nothing goes to waste by rewriting. It’s akin to recycling. In the final chapter of book 1, the
buddy character gets a point of view scene at a wedding. In the early part of book 2, the buddy
character’s story, that same scene is replayed from another point of view for a different effect.
As authors, we can pretend we’re in charge of birthing new worlds peopled with our creations.
We can plot and plan to the tiniest detail, but at some point, the characters, just like Adam and
Eve, will go off script.
Be a good director and give the players room to experiment and grow. Some of the finest
moments in movies happened when the characters improvised.
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
“Here’s looking at you, kid.”
“You can’t handle the truth.”
“I’m the king of the world.”
“I didn’t know you could read.”
When your characters go off script, let them. Keep what works.
Joni M. Fisher writes contemporary stories featuring friendship, family, faith, and crime. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Florida Writers Association, she also served on the Southeastern University Arts and Humanities Advisory Board. Her fingerprints are on file with the FBI.
Comments 12
Terrific article. Every time, after I write my first two chapters and the main character emerges, then I go through the challenging process of outlining the story, the characters run amok. It’s a fun and interesting discovery process. By the fifth or sixth complete edit of the novel, they begin to behave themselves… but not too much. Even the epilogue can deliver surprises seemingly cleverly crafted by those surprising characters. And then they live in my mind, always. Thanks for the great reminder of how fun the process can be.
Ah, those unruly characters. Sometimes we have to negotiate with them and take more time to get to know them. Sounds like you’ve got it under control.
Being a pantser with no outline, I’m always amazed at who shows up…and what they do. And yes, deep into my first draft, the nice, neat road map I thought I saw goes haywire, and the sidekick becomes the hero. Sometimes he can be placated into playing nice. Sometimes he hijacks the whole plot. Sometimes he dies to teach him a lesson. Then he promises to behave, and I rewrite the scene. Writing is a wonderful process of discovery!
Ha! Colleen, you play for keeps. Haven’t considered killing off a character to keep them in line.
Great article
Thank you, Tracey!
Isn’t this the most fun?
Teddy Roosevelt showed up in one of my stories. He even sent the hero on the quest. But he had such a big personality, it was hard to rein him in!
Ooooo. You incorporated a famous person into your story in a believable way! Brava!
Great article, Joni. I like it when my characters have ideas and plans of their own!
Ah, Priscilla, you embrace the chaos.
Yes! And it’s so much fun. One of mine WOWs me with her wisdom. It sure doesn’t come from me.
Divine inspiration comes in that still small voice when we listen for it.