Characters that Leap off of the Page

I recently edited one of my favorite chapters in my manuscript. It’s got energy and verve because of one particular character who has always leapt off of the page.

She’s one of those characters that feels like she came to my mind fully formed and yet constantly surprises me. Chaotic figures like that are a planning-author’s dream.

Why?

I’m a big outliner, and I always like to know where my plot is going, otherwise I’m liable to write a BRICK of a book that takes forever to get to the point.

Paradoxically, one of the most profound joys I find in writing is when my characters surprise me, taking the story in directions that I had never considered.

Characters like this keep stories fresh. They throw caution to the wind. No one wants to be bored in a book — not readers and certainly not the authors.

I can’t wait to see how readers react to this character one day!