SHARPENING THE EDGE - MONDAYS
Welcome to Sharpening the Edge, my Monday focus on real-time novel writing. Here you'll find insights from my current work-in-progress, sharing challenges, breakthroughs, and solutions as they happen. Whether you're in the midst of your novel or planning to start, these posts offer practical experience from the writing desk.
This morning, working on Chapter 18, my protagonist proved yet again that characters often know their story better than we do.
I had the scene perfectly planned. Sarah would follow protocol, file her report, and wait for official channels. That’s what an experienced detective would do, right?
Wrong.
Instead, my character stopped typing mid-report, grabbed her keys, and headed for her informant’s apartment. No backup. No protocol. Just pure character truth.
## What I Learned Today:
1. Character Authenticity
When a character resists your plot, listen. Sarah wasn’t being difficult—she was being true to herself. Her need for justice has always outweighed her respect for rules.
2. Scene Momentum
The moment Sarah veered from my plan, the scene crackled with energy. Her decision created immediate tension, raised stakes, and opened new story possibilities.
3. Story Truth
Sometimes our carefully plotted scenes don’t serve the deeper story. Today’s “detour” revealed more about Sarah’s character than my original plan ever could.
## Writing Insight:
Trust your characters. They live in the story world you’ve created. They understand its rules, its pressures, its consequences. Sometimes they’ll see paths you haven’t considered.
Today’s Writing Tip:
Next time your character balks at your scene plan:
– Pause your plotting
– Write the scene they want
– Follow their lead
– See what emerges
Remember: The best stories often come from characters who refuse to behave.
“The moment comes when a character does or says something you hadn’t thought about. At that moment he’s alive and you leave it to him.”
– Graham Greene
Let your characters surprise you today.
Tags: SharpeningEdge, NovelWriting, CharacterDevelopment, WritingCraft, AmWriting
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