When I write I have a basic structure in mind, like the general direction in which events should play out. But when it comes to my characters I like to be surprised, as if I were watching the finished film for the first time.
Sometimes, when the characters are still coming to life in my head, they say things which surprise me! On occasion this may alter how a scene or sequence will end, but I want them to have a history, and a voice of their own. Not too much, just enough to make the process fun.
What are your thoughts on "collaborating" with your characters, like how a director collaborates with their actors?
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Collaborating with your characters is so rewarding and fun. During the pandemic, I have created a character made of a trait of mine I usually do not show ( sassiness, wit). I must say that the TV show 'Lucifer' inspired the development of my character in the first place. From there, I just molded her (my character). We get along really well, and despite being made from the essence of me, she does surprise me. I act as her for fun sometimes and yay, she is so the opposite of me but it works well with us two, hahaha. (wink)
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I generally have an overall structure in mind, but letting the characters do their own thing is the best way to go about writing on a daily basis. The results can be unexpected, but that is what makes things interesting.
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I do the same thing when I write, Craig McLearie. Sometimes a character's surprising dialogue and action are better than what I originally planned.
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Craig McLearie definitely! Once they are in motion, they show up and make demands, have emotional conflicts simmering beneath the surface, facets of personality, coming up with organic dialogue, that process enables the story to grow and expand.
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i dont. The characters do or say what I need to do to drive the plot along. Thats all. The times Ive talked to tv writers, they dont wing anything in their scripts. Everything is planned & structured, from characters- how many dialogue lines & days working, end of season character goals, to weekly physical locations. Same as feature assignments; seems the bigger the budget, the more screenplay-micromanaging by employers.
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Craig McLearie - Oscar-nominee Meg LeFauve said the same thing during a Stage 32 Writers' Room webcast. She said that she will write and wonder why her character made a certain choice or action (she said, "I ask myself, why did she get off the bus? She wasn't supposed to get off the bus...") and then she has to follow the character.
Michael Brandt and Derek Haas - the guys who created Chicago Fire and writer 3:10 To Yuma - said that they will write and realize that "oh sh*t" their character has somehow unexpectedly ended up on the roof with no escape. And then they say the fun is trying to get them off the roof.
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I think most of us do pretty much the same. I start with a story concept rather than with a story structure -a little more free flowing. Then I play God in the story world and create the characters - they tell their story to me. My job is to 'get it down' on paper and occasionally they drift off script so that it becomes paramount that 'we' discuss it and/or fix it - or like the Creator...ZAP, they're gone.
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I know my people so well before I start writing (an improvement of my process over the years). But I will be writing the story and suddenly I’ll be hit by a realisation “holy crap you’re gay, how didn’t I know this about you?” (or other such revelation. I have a script I wrote years and years ago. It has an option running on it overseas. I was talking to the producer about some notes and said “you know I only just figured out that character is religious”. I was asked why? I answered “that is where she gets her optimism, an undying belief in god.”. This is not stated in the script, but it is true. Now the producer knows, it may trigger a note.
Do as you please just don't trope and copycat them too much...'mean u have, say an alcoholic cop in your every script...
I hope to live this kind of situations too, sometimes my characters act like marionets waiting for the big event that will crush their lives...
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Just remember your characters need to have different personality’s and quirks I know many people who write and every character talks acts and thinks like the writer.
I personally like basing my main characters on real people. My main focus (having many projects on the go) has 5 main characters 4 are based on friends of mine one is based on me.
Knowing these friends as well as I do allows me to play through each scene in a few different ways but also allows you to see each character as their own person remaining true to their personality and not all as me the writer with the same personality.
A few times I have still been surprised by my characters but been told by my friends it’s true to their character... sometimes I’ve been surprised by my friends themselves... still got to write a scene for my friend with a very physical personality who recently qualified as a baker... and loves it!