Leaving Room for Spontaneity

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Imagine how boring and stressful our lives become when we don’t leave room around the edges for spontaneous fun or spur-of-the-moment decisions. The same holds true for characters.

While we know every moment of our book is plotted, readers should feel like our characters could spin off into random actions every once in a blue moon. Otherwise, the most beautifully twisty plots become semi-predictable and overburdened with tension. But how do we convey that spontaneity in a way that doesn’t seem contrived?

  • Let your characters do something totally different than the heart of the current plot (notice I didn’t say totally unrelated to the plot). If war is pending, have them race to the river on a dare, let them check the home-brews they’ve started on their space shuttles, or go dancing in the sky. It’s funny how often—in fiction and in real life—THESE are the moments that stick with us and carry the most poignant meaning.
  • Time of day can also be helpful. Early morning or late evening and night are great times for spontaneous walks, flights, swims, and reflection. It also provides a pause in the action so your character (and readers!) can catch a breath.
  • Have your character meet someone new or strike up a friendship with a previously distant co-character. The novelty and new set of dynamics between the two will help their actions feel spontaneous even in instances where it’s a little more scripted.

So, there you have it. A trio of ways to add spontaneity to your tightly plotted novel.

It’s also fun to track the spontaneous things you do in real life. Next time your friends ask you to get drinks, go fishing in the Amazon on a whim, or catch that flight to Iceland at the eleventh hour, start a list. You can use the ideas as inspiration.

Now, I’m off to do something wholly unplanned and adventurous!

Oh, and don't forget to catch up on all our reviews, author interviews and fandom posts over at Books. Fantasy. Fandom!


6 comments:

  1. As a pantser, my characters have a tendency to go off and do random things. I have to wrangle them back in line during the editing phase, but it's a great way to get to know your characters a bit better.

    Have a fun adventure!

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    1. Haha, I can totally see you wrangling them! You're right that panters have a great approach for spontaneity.

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  2. So true that we should include spontaneous in life and our stories. Seems like we lose this as we get caught up in our busy lives.

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    1. Yup. In this case, what works for fiction also works for reality. We all need a little fun or new discovery around the edges!

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  3. I'm not a spontaneous person, so those tips really help.

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    1. I'm glad! Sometimes I need a reminder myself.

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