Why My Characters Keep Doing Things I Didn’t Plan

I love a good outline, said no panster ever. What we love is a good idea and half baked plan. Nothing concrete because we know about half way through writing things will be derailed. Now, I can spend hours planning scenes, charting arcs, and convincing myself I have it all figured out. But when I sit down to actually write, my characters laugh in my face, and proceed to ask, “who is going to tell her?”

They don’t follow orders. Hell, I don’t follow orders. They wander off, while I’m looking for that one scene I wrote that would be perfect for them. They fall for the wrong people, they pick fights when I wanted/ needed them to stay quiet, they charge headfirst into danger when I begged them to keep their asses safe. 

It’s frustrating, sure. But I’ve realized something: my characters are alive in a way my outlines never will be. When they surprise me, I know they’re finally breathing on the page, spilling their own feelings and emotions out. It’s like when you have a newborn child. Except, you're actively trying to keep them from unaliving others instead of themselves.

Think about it. If I’m shocked at the choices they make, then my readers will be too. The twists will feel natural, not forced, because they’re born out of character, not plot mechanics. And isn’t that what we want as writers? Characters so fully formed that they push back, demand their own space, and refuse to play nice?

Honestly, it’s not all that different from real life. I can plan my days down to the hour, but something always goes sideways. A sick kid, a late bill, a curveball out of nowhere. People don’t always do what we expect, and neither do characters. Even when it looks like they are going to behave for ten damn minutes, boom there are Dequilla shots, tattoos, and promises that are only made between lovers in the dark. 

So maybe the lesson is this: control is overrated. I can outline all I want, but at some point, I have to loosen my grip and let the story breathe. My characters may frustrate me, but at least they keep me honest. And it’s still funny as hell when the comic relief steps in to “play” like he doesn’t know what is going on but he has eyes.

What is your “why the hell did they do that” story? Share below.

Be Brave, Be Bold, But Always Stay Humble.