March 2018: Runaway Characters
~ Meka James ~

CTR asked:
How do you handle characters who change personality without your say so? Or, how do you handle characters whose spontaneous actions change the plot or course of the story?

Meka James said:
I’m a pantser, so my characters are often doing things that change the plot. There are times I’ve tried to fight it, to make them go the course I had in my head for the scene. Never in the long run, I write the story scene by scene. On occasion I win, but not often. Most times I end up writing out the moment as the characters wanted it. Why? Because most times they’re right.

Case in point, in my last book, my characters went from having a good time, a pleasant conversation and one wrong statement by my male lead and things went to hell. As I was writing, I kept asking what the heck is happening right now. It’s an odd experience to be doing the action, yet questioning the outcome at the same time.

A full on argument took place between my leads. I’d thought all issues had been resolved and they were on their way to happily ever after, but they put the brakes on. The fight brought up an issue that was there, but hadn’t really been talked about much, but apparently it was bubbling under the surface for my male lead. I had no choice but to see it through. That action, unplanned as it was, became the ‘black moment’ of my story. After all the hoops they’d jumped through, there remained one last hurdle to face. All brought about by what was meant to be a joke on the female lead’s part.

Being a pantser, I don’t always have a clear path from point A to point B so I do rely on my characters actions to help guide me in how they want their story told. Because it is their story. I’m simply the tool by which it gets out to the world.

If I have a plan, or goal for a certain part of the story and they don’t cooperate, it can be frustrating. But, most times, I embrace the spontaneity of my characters.

– Website – http://www.authormekajames.com/
– Twitter – @AuthorMekaJames

Not Broken

[Contemporary Romance]

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…

Calida Jokobi doesn’t see it that way. Surviving an abusive relationship with a sadistic, manipulative man changed her. She has spent the last two years carefully constructing her new persona with two goals in mind: to keep the remaining pieces of her heart safe and her deepest secrets buried. One man puts it all at risk.

Malcolm has been a part of Calida’s life for as long as she can remember. A friend. Her first teenage crush. Now he’s asking for something she swore she’d never give again: her heart.

Calida must decide if she should risk the fragile façade she’s created and give Malcolm the chance he’s asking for.

They say love can heal all wounds…

Malcolm Frankel wants to prove to Calida it’s true. She survived a hell most people couldn’t fathom. He’s been by her side fulfilling whatever role she needs him to play. All except the one he wants most. It took nearly losing her to make Malcolm realize he couldn’t keep denying his feelings.

He knows no one goes through an ordeal like that and comes out unscathed, but the closer they get, the more he learns just how deep Calida’s wounds go.

She’s the only woman he’s ever loved, and Malcolm is ready to put his own heart at risk for a chance at mending hers.

Available in Ebook & Print:

– Kindle – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076NXD9KM
– Nook – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-broken-the-happily-ever-after-meka-james/1127274521?ean=2940154596142
– Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/ebook/not-broken-the-happily-ever-after
– iBooks – https://geo.itunes.apple.com/book/not-broken-the-happily-ever-after/id1300154959
– Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/754957

More Authors Dish about their runaway characters.

Read them all: https://coffeethoughts.coffeetimeromance.com/welcome-authors-dish/