how do you do words?

[certainthings]

When you write stories, how do you do it?

Do the characters talk to you and tell you what they want to say and what actions they want to engage in and such.

Or.

Do you force them into situations, tell them what to say and how they're going to say it?

Can you feel the story as you're writing or do you feel it after? Do you feel your story at all?

Tell me all things about how you write, please.

Comments

[paperscout.livejournal.com]

It can vary, but generally, I find I have to have at least a fear, a want, and usually also a flaw (which is usually somehow connected to the fear and/or want) in mind for all the active characters in order for them to properly motivate the rest of the story. I find if I don't know those things about them, then I don't know enough about how they'll interact with others, or react to situations they're in, or will make important decisions that set things in motion. And if you don't know that, it's easy to make them do things that don't end up making sense. I always stay open to things changing, and realizing new or different things about the characters as I go on, but it's good to start from somewhere.