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Fictional Characters Not Cooperating When You Try to Outline? Here's Why!

Writer's picture: Author Liesel K. HillAuthor Liesel K. Hill


Welcome back to the Fiction Author Business School podcast! Today, we're diving into a common challenge many writers face: characters that won't cooperate when plotting. This issue might seem frustrating, but it actually signals that you're engaging with your creative intuition. Let's explore why characters sometimes rebel against your plans and how you can guide them back on track.


Understanding the Character Rebellion

Characters refusing to follow your plot can manifest in different ways. Perhaps you've outlined a detailed plot, but as you start writing, your character takes a different path. This is typical and indicates that you're tapping into your creative subconscious. The real problem arises when this spontaneity disrupts your story's coherence, leading to wasted time and effort.


Against a blue and orange background, two pug dogs are dressed up in "character" costumes. Beside them, in yellow and white text, it reads, "fictional characters not cooperating when you try to outline? Here's why." Above them, inside a blue oval reads more yellow text, "fictional author business school."

The Logical vs. Creative Mind

When outlining, many authors rely on their logical minds, crafting a plot that makes sense on paper. However, true creativity comes from harnessing the subconscious mind. This disconnect between the logical outline and the creative flow during writing often results in characters rebelling against your plans.


Fictional Characters Not Cooperating? Here's why:

To align your characters with your plot, you must learn to outline from your creative mind. This involves intentionally tapping into your subconscious creativity while planning your story. By doing so, you ensure that the characters and plot events harmonize from the beginning, reducing the need for significant changes later.


Knowing Your Characters Inside Out

If your fictional characters not cooperating, one major reason characters might be because you don't know them well enough. Many authors plan plot events meticulously but neglect the internal aspects of their characters. To prevent this, you need to delve deeply into your characters' backgrounds and psyches.


Key Elements of Character Development


  1. Wound and Backstory: Understand your character's past and the experiences that shaped them. Even if these details don't appear in your novel, they inform the character's decisions and reactions.

  2. Limiting Belief: Identify the core belief or lie that your character holds due to their past experiences. This belief significantly influences their actions and decisions throughout the story.

  3. Personality: Develop a few key personality traits or quirks. Use personality tests like Myers-Briggs or the Enneagram to flesh out your character's behavior patterns.

  4. Voice: Determine how your character speaks. This includes their dialect, choice of words, and overall tone, reflecting their education, background, and personality.

  5. Cause and Effect: Map out the cause-and-effect relationship of events in your story. Ensure that your character's decisions drive the plot forward logically and emotionally.


Outlining with the Creative Mind


To prevent characters from going off-script, you need to outline your story using your creative brain. This involves engaging with your subconscious and letting your intuition guide the planning process. By doing this, you create a cohesive narrative where characters naturally align with the plot.


Techniques for Harnessing Creativity


  • Mind Mapping: Use mind maps to visually connect different plot points and character arcs. This helps you see the bigger picture and ensure that all elements are interlinked creatively.

  • Freewriting: Spend time freewriting about your characters and plot. Let your thoughts flow without restriction, tapping into your subconscious ideas.

  • Meditation and Visualization: Practice meditation and visualization exercises to clear your mind and access deeper creative insights.


Avoiding Common Pitfalls


Both plotters and pantsers face challenges in character development. Plotters might struggle with rigid outlines, while pantsers risk wandering off track. The key is to find a balance, allowing for creative flow while maintaining a structured narrative.


Balancing Plot and Character

  • For Plotters: Incorporate flexibility in your outline. Allow space for characters to develop naturally and adjust the plot accordingly.

  • For Pantsers: Use guided freewriting to keep your story on track. Regularly revisit your character's goals and motivations to ensure consistency.


Conclusion

By understanding and applying these techniques, you can create characters that not only cooperate with your plot but also enhance the depth and richness of your story. Remember, the goal is to make every scene and decision feel inevitable, a result of well-engineered characters that drive the narrative forward.


Workshop Announcement


I'm excited to announce a workshop on character development! It's called "How to Write Characters That Jump Off the Page Without Guessing, Being Cliché, or Beating Your Head Against the Wall." This free workshop will be held at the end of July and will delve deeper into the elements we've discussed today.


If you’re interested, the sign-up link is in the show notes. The workshop will be available for a limited time before it’s packaged into a mini-course, so don't miss this opportunity!

Happy writing, and I hope to see you at the workshop!


Feel free to share your thoughts or ask questions in the comments below. Let’s continue this conversation on creating compelling characters together!


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Sign up for How to Write Characters That Jump Off the Page workshop: https://liesel-k-hill.ck.page/1047698493 


3 Types of Character Arcs (Linear Dynamic, Dynamic Shift, Non-Dynamic): https://youtu.be/Ht-jkVozSWA


Join the 6 Figure Stories Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprolificauthor


Follow or DM me on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/6figurestoryteller


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Get the Productivity Planner for Fiction Authors here: https://bit.ly/fictionplanner 


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Get your copy of the Fiction Author Success Timeline Here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tuQUK2Qi7AL8c8TonZamFQ9GevXauUDm/view?usp=sharing


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FREE PDFs:

5 Steps to Planning the Beginning, Middle, and End of Your Fiction Story: https://liesel-k-hill.ck.page/15ce876ece  


7 Ways to Sell Your Book Every Month Without Breaking the Bank: https://liesel-k-hill.ck.page/6ab8a5aa2e  


10 Plot-Thickening Events that Every Fiction Best Seller Includes: https://bit.ly/10Plot  


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