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Characters Do Their Own Writing

My character is hounding me to write about her!

Stalked by My 'Character'

It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.
~William Faulkner

I’m with Faulkner on this, only my situation is the other way around.

No matter what I do, one of my characters has gotten ahold of me since last week and won’t let go. She haunts my dreams, and sneaks into any writing I do, generally follows me around and strings along a whole gaggle of ideas behind her.

I guess I must buckle down and write.

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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6 Comments

  • DarcKnyt says:
    11/08/2010 at 13:43

    I say, someone hounding you into writing is a good thing. I wish I had such a someone right now. 🙂

    Reply
    • Damyanti says:
      11/08/2010 at 14:00

      We’re all hounding you to hit that “publish’ button!

      Btw, if you need an eye to look out for proofing issues, I’m here.

      Reply
  • josh1340 says:
    11/08/2010 at 11:55

    I think about this topic a lot. Do I need an outline or do I just write a great character, breathe life into them, and let them run? Stephen King in On Writing, says just to let your characters write the stories themselves. I agree, but an outline never hurts to push them past hurdles. Nice use of the word gaggle and working in a photo of ducks.
    -Josh

    Reply
    • Damyanti says:
      11/08/2010 at 13:08

      I think to each writer his own.

      Personally I find plotting short stories meticulously tends to kill them, but then, I write literary fiction. Other genres might be different. I sometimes have a vision of the scene that ends the story, but not more.

      Haven’t attempted a longer work yet, but I guess even there I’ll finish the first draft organically and then proceed to figure out the plot!

      Thanks for the visit, and when I stepped over to your blog your twin contest had me rofl 🙂

      Reply
      • josh1340 says:
        11/08/2010 at 17:34

        I agree with the plotting of short stories. I never really outline my short fiction, but I sometimes do have an idea of where I want the story to go. I have only recently tried outlining, and that is for a longer work (I hate to say novel until I finish). I’m glad that you got a laugh out of my jab at my brother. I like to have a good time on my blog.
        -Josh

        Reply
        • Damyanti says:
          11/08/2010 at 17:45

          Josh, I think I’m your writing twin, evil or good I can’t say 🙂

          I can’t stand the word “novel” either, but I guess I’ll finish one some day and give it a name.

          Reply