Characters

I'm new to novel writing. My previous books have been self-help. I even considered my memoir about a stroke from herbs to be self-help because I wanted to share all I learned. But in the writing of my story and in describing my friends' participation in all that took place, I got a glimpse of how novels are written.

I tucked the idea that someday I would write an actual novel in the back of my mind and when a long stint of unemployment fell upon me, I sat to write a story. Instead of mapping out a plot, I simply put my fingers to the keyboard and typed.

Then something amazing happened. I watched the characters unfold. Truly, they took over. I've heard other writers speak to this at the many booksignings I have attended, but to sit in the middle of this experience was absolutely fascinating. Two years later I had two novels completed. What a ride!!

I'd love to hear your stories about how your characters unfolded. Did you start with a name, an attitude, a piece of clothing? Did you have a message you wanted them to present to the reader? Did a character start out as a protagonist but moved into being the antagonist?