Have you ever had a conversation with your characters? Like, I mean, they pop up while you're driving and you carry on a conversation about how you might could kill them off, or give them one more kissing scene...something like that?
Now, if you answer yes, I *happen* to know a good therapist. Ha!
I am more likely to try to discuss my characters with other people rather than themselves. I just tried this last night with my husband (again...I really should think twice about doing this. He just doesn't "get" it) and it was completely fruitless.
Gerard Butler (a.k.a. Alex Rover) and & Jodie Foster (a.k.a. Alexandra Rover)So I'm thinking of just asking my character. It's better than way anyway, right? Their motivations are more intrinsic...coming from their own life story than my own. The picture above is from Nim's Island. Jodie Foster, playing reclusive, agoraphobic author Alex Rover (actually, Alexandra Rover). Gerard Butler plays her main character by the same name, Alex Rover. As she types, researches, etc., Alex Rover shows up in her house and talks to her! I just laughed...thinking how AWESOME that would be! In the above picture, Alex is talking (or self-talking, depending on how you look at it) to Alexandra about how she should try to be more adventurous (i.e., more like HIM, her alter ego in many ways).
So I'm going to try to have a conversation with Rick. Rick needs to tell me why he's showing back up in my novel. If Rick doesn't give a good enough reason, then we'll talk about me cutting him. :)
