To Plot or Not?

When I started writing, I began with a plot. Then I realized fairly quickly that my characters didn’t like to be confined. This might sound odd, since they are made up in my head, but you would be amazed how they take on their own personalities. I would tell them to turn left, and they would turn right. If you’ve ever driven with someone that refuses to listen to the navigator, it’s kind of similar to that. I eventually adjusted. As they would make a different turn than planned, I would just redraw the map.

As I started my second novel, I thought that I just needed to be more detailed in my plot. That would keep those pesky characters in line. Didn’t work. I would tell them straight and they would pull a u-turn.

Strangely, the destination never changed. They still end up where they are supposed to be. I’m still rerouting with every wrong turn, so that I don’t end up completely off the map, but I’ve learned to loosen up a little and let them have their say. After all, it is their story.