Do you know?
The song “Do you know where you’re going to” by Diana Ross popped up this morning, and it started me thinking about my characters.
Did you see that coming? 🙂
I don’t know if I ever knew where Ellie was going – the FBI-Byte Series stories were mysteries to me that unfolded as I wrote them.
The thing is, I’m not sure I know where Ronnie is going either.
I am aware that a lot of writers plan out their series characters over the entire series. Some days that seems sensible. (I’m not sensible when it comes to characters or stories in general.)
The thing is I never intended to write a series, at all.
I am aware that I am now six books deep into my second series.
(Not counting the novella trilogy because that’s not a series.)
So when people ask me where my characters are going, or where they’re going to end up … I cannot answer those questions.
What does your character arc look like?
I honestly do not know. My characters could die tomorrow. They could up and leave with no explanation. They could grow old. They could do anything. I don’t know what their end goal is. Eventually, I will find out. And that’s the fun of writing the way I do. It’s always interesting for me.
What I find fascinating is looking back over the progression of a character.
The ups and downs. The missteps. The way they reacted to something and how it changed their course or not. Their growth or stagnation in various areas.
I think it makes them more real. They’re not perfect. Neither are we.
As a writer, I don’t feel like I have to have all the answers. I trust that my characters know what they’re doing and where they’re going.