Character Demand

I have recently been trying to finish a novel that has languished on my hard drive for a while. But I seem to be out of sync with the story and characters.

A while back, Red Adept ran a "chicken/egg" feature, asking authors which came first, the plot or the characters. My answer was characters, definitely. The characters in this particular WIP just aren't stimulating me.

Most often my stories develop like spontaneous combustion--with characters arriving in my head demanding to have their stories told. But this particular WIP started with my desire to relate information about a certain period of history, and I developed the characters I needed to do this. Oops. My bad. I should have written a nonfiction history piece and the development wouldn't have been stalled as it is now.

My local writers group has suggested that I keep reading to them what I've already completed, with hopes their comments and encouragement will inspire me. I will do, but...

I have another piece where the characters keeps nagging me to get back to their story. This manuscript doesn't have as much structure as the plot-driven story, which is why I had put it aside. Finish the the nearly-completed tome, was my thought. I guess I assumed it would be easier.

Got it wrong again.

Okay, characters, here I come!