Wandering Away

Misbehaving Characters

I sit watching my daughter’s ballet class; I marvel at the teacher’s patience, trying her best to corral a bunch of high-energy, enthusiastic 4-and 5-year-olds into order.

For me, nothing is cuter than seeing little girls parade around in pink tutus, tights, and ballet slippers, whose attention is diverted by the mirrors, each other, and what’s behind this door? However, as a writer, I cringe when one of these little princesses wanders off because *gasp* they are doing what children and our characters, like to do best. WANDER OFF.

Today, while the little girls stumble through the motions, trying to grasp the concept, I chuckle. How like my characters. Each with a mind of her own, trying to see what lurks behind that closet door at the back of the room. Each doing what she wants to do, not what her masterful teacher, or… author wants her to do.

This leave us with a certain creativity that comes from within. Dancing horses, princess walks, to floating balloons designed to stretch their young imaginations. I, too, am learning from this class.

But wait. My daughter has decided she just doesn’t want to cooperate today. And she’s so darned cute in her determination not to do what the teacher asks. How many times have your characters decided no matter how you cajole, beg, and demand, they won’t do what you want? Sorry, stickers and a treat won’t work this time.

So what do you authors do? How do you handle character interruptions? Me? I’ve learned to go with the flow. I let them take the lead and allow my characters to do what they want-as long as no one gets hurt. You never know where it will take them, the story, and the romance.

It’s near the end of this week’s class. Terrific! My daughter is off her tiny, pink encased bottom and on her pink encased feet with her arms in the air. I credit the teacher, who is a grade school teacher by profession, in keeping the kids focused and happy. I, however, have no such compunction. Discovering something new about my characters when they misbehave makes me do my own princess walk across the keyboards to see where they will lead me.