Letting Your Character Grow
You have a character, and she’s your new baby. She has a picture-perfect face, and a name researched for days that exactly sum up her personality and her role within the narrative. Three chapters into the story, and she’s already pulling at the leash, wanting to turn left when the plan dictates turning right.
Sometimes, a character grows beyond their creator, forming opinions and traits that alter their trajectory. If you’re unprepared, an especially rebellious character can entirely throw a story’s path into turmoil.
Not every writer experiences their characters suddenly gaining a will of their own, and others will very seriously state that these characters must be kept very firmly on their destined track—you are in control!
No two people write exactly alike, nor will they experience the writing process the same way. I’m going to talk about how I—as someone who throws the reins free the instant I begin a story—approach character creation and growth.
Mountain Sound | Five
The morning begins with a scream. Piercing the still morning air, Harper’s voice echoes across the frosted landscape just as the sun’s soft light touches the mountains.
Head snapping around to look at the cabin, Efa rises from her crouched position and grabs her staff from where it rests.
“Harper?” she calls, tingling fingers tightening around the staff. Silence is her only reply.
Rogue Podron Special: Rogue One Trailer and Poe Dameron #1 Comic
It’s an all new, all special episode of Rogue Podron. All wings report in!
The Rogue One trailer showed up at the perfect time while we take a break between X-wing books. In this episode, joined by special guest Sarah, we share our thoughts on the settings, characters, and themes of the trailer. Then, we return to the best pilot in the galaxy and dissect the new Marvel comic, Poe Dameron #1, in our unique Rogue Podron way.
Listener question of the week: Which rogue from Rogue Squadron or Wedge’s Gamble would you like to see interact with Poe? Tweet us @roguepodron or e-mail us [email protected].
Hosted by Meg, Danny, Saf, and Heath, with special guest Sarah from Eleven-thirtyeight.
IN TWO WEEKS, we begin book 3: X-wing: Krytos Trap.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Rogue Podron Mission 2 – 12: State of the Squadron #2
To Rogue Squadron. To the friends we’ve lost, the battles we’ve fought, and the utter fear our return will bring to our enemies.
We gather once more to sum up our adventures through book 2: X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble. Joined by Brian, Nanci, and Jay, we run down the character roster, discuss our thoughts on where we’ve been and where we are going, and, of course, discuss our favorite (and least favorite) #trashyromance couples.
Link to the Wackbar picture here.
Nanci’s Jedi Prince columns here.
Listener question of the week: What kinds of trouble do you think the Papa Palpatine Counterinsurgency Force is going to stir up? Tweet us @roguepodron or e-mail us [email protected].
Hosted by Meg, Danny, Saf, and Heath, with Nanci and Brian from Tosche Station and Jay from Eleven-thirtyeight.
No rest for the rogues! We will be back soon to discuss Poe Dameron #1, the Rogue One trailer, and, of course, book 3: X-wing: Krytos Trap.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Rogue Podron Mission 2 – 11: [Episode Title Censored]
All wings report in! This episode: X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble Chapters 43-epilogue.
This week on Rogue Podron, we wrap up our discussion of X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble, finding all sorts of innuendo where it probably doesn’t even exist! Then we read some amazing fics, sent to us by our listeners.
Link to Ian’s fic: archiveofourown.org/works/6380710
Listener Question of the Week: What moronic thing did Lt. Needa do to get mirror station duty? Tweet your answers to @roguepodron or send your stories to [email protected].
Website: roguepodron.tumblr.com
Hosted by Meg, Danny, Saf, and Heath.
NEXT WEEK: X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble: State of the Squadron with our friends from Tosche Station, Nanci and Brian!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Intermission: Ruapehu & Ohakune
I went to the snow last year. I took some photos. Not all of the photos are snow.
Related:
Like my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon!
Mountain Sound | Four
Efa stands still and silent as Harper wipes away the grime smearing her ceramic skin. She could be powered off, nothing more than a statue, but for the soft whirr within her. Her chest doesn’t rise and fall with the breath of the living; she has no twitching muscles, no fluttering eyelashes to betray her feelings.
Harper had thought cleaning Efa would have been like cleaning machinery, like washing her mother’s car. Instead, she finds herself hesitant to touch Efa’s body, as if she were a real human woman. There’s a strange quiver in her chest, something intimate, delicate and, yes, afraid.
Rogue Podron Mission 2 – 10: Don’t Tell Me “Don’t Tell Me The Odds” (aka We’ve Gone Too Far)
All wings report in! This episode: X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble Chapters 38-42.
This week on Rogue Podron, we discuss the droids we hope to see in Rogue One, Corran Horn’s hot-mess-move-of-the-week, Gand physiology, Gavin’s newfound confidence and more!
Listener Question of the Week: Write a short fic about two of the rogues! Tweet your answers to @roguepodron or send your stories to [email protected].
Website: roguepodron.tumblr.com
Hosted by Meg, Danny, Saf, and Heath.
NEXT WEEK: X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble, chapters 43-epilogue.rogue podronwedge’s gamblebook club episodeseason 2
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Rogue Podron Mission 2 – 9: Emtrey and Tycho’s Excellent Adventure
All wings report in! This episode: X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble Chapters 33-37.
This week on Rogue Podron, we discuss how we hope Star Wars: Rebels ties in with Rogue One, Wedge’s beard, how Corran would be the worst Jedi in the galaxy, what hijinx Tycho and Emtrey have been up to, and more!
Listener Question of the Week: What kind of shenanigans do you imagine Tycho and Emtrey being caught up in while secretly serving Wedge on Coruscant? Tweet your answers to @roguepodron or send your stories to [email protected].
Website: roguepodron.tumblr.com
Hosted by Meg, Danny, Saf, and Heath.
NEXT WEEK: X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble, chapters 38-42.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Rogue Podron Mission 2 – 8: Dr. Corran’s Love Center Now Accepting New Clients
All wings report in! Join us for another week of giggles and dramatic readings! This episode: X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble Chapters 27-32.
This week on Rogue Podron, we discuss why we don’t need to be concerned about the Rogue One marketing, whatever became of Cray Cray Krey-fey, why Fliry Virru is terrifyingly wonderful, an epic chapter reading, and more!
Listener Question of the Week: Who is more infuriating – Corran Horn or Kirtan Loor? Tweet your answers to @roguepodron or send your stories to [email protected].
Website: roguepodron.tumblr.com
One of our great listeneres wrote a FANFIC inspired by our ramblings!! Check it out: archiveofourown.org/works/6207184
Hosted by Meg (shownoter), Danny (editor), Saf (tweeter), and Heath (photoshopper and tumblrer).
NEXT WEEK: X-wing: Wedge’s Gamble, chapters 33-37.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
