HOW TO WRITE FANTASY FICTION: LESSON 3 – LET THE STORY WANDER

Since my last post life has kept me very busy. However, with this in mind this has allowed me to take a break from writing, though my fingers have been itching to bash the keyboard. This does mean the ideas stopped flowing and characters die, instead, it has allowed me the time to analyse where my stories are going, who is being displaced out of character and what new ideas do I want to bring to the story.

As I begin writing a story I know the beginning and end. There also exists a rough skeleton of the internal animal which I flesh out as I write. I know of the key components of the story but characters tend to do what they want. I set them on a path and allow them to take each situation as it comes. At key points within the story I touch base with the characters and ensure they are headed in roughly the right direction.

For example, in one story I realised one character had a drink every time I wrote about him. Eventually, this became a part of the stories and he effectively became an alcoholic. This worked well as he was a key character and dysfunction is always a fun tool to play with. When he was imprisoned I had to consider how he last without a strong drink, this made for interestng writing!

A wandering story can follow paths that lead into a forest of dead ends and broken ravines. These are often a problem as on occasion I have painted myself into a corner. When this has happened I have moved away from that point of the story and taken up another path or character in the hope their story will rescue their comrade from their tricky situation.

Letting a story wander is fun. It adds new dimension, complexities and twists. I find it extremely difficult to actively write twists and plot turns. I rely on the wandering story and the characters to produce events and scenarios for me. This is my subconscious way of convoluting a plot. It may work for some but not for others. However you write, do not be afraid to allow you work to wander. Any writing that is done, even if not used, offers a wealth of experience and practice. You never know, a following a new path may lead you story to a new and fruitful end, better than that you originally intended.