1. I generally have a fair idea where I'm going with a story, though I'm a bit vaguer about getting there. However, subplots, twists, and abrupt plot derailments have been known to happen. Often. (As I've said elsewhere, I intended Halfway to be 15K or less. Interestingly enough, in even it's present "I'll be lucky if it's 150K" mutated form, every single element I originally planned is still there. It's just really, really been added to.)
2.I don't know that I'd say the characters do it. They will sometimes alter certain things based on their personalities, or bring up things I hadn't previously thought of, but it never really feels like they're 'taking control' the way I hear some people describe. The characters, plot, structure, etc., all are a unit and changes to any one element arising from a character aren't necessarily more common than changes to a character from other elements--and further, the whole thing functions as such an integral whole that I usually miss what 'causes' a shift because of the way it shifts everything.
3. I do tend to have problems with other authorial styles creeping into my 'voice' if I'm reading while writing--particularly if the author has as very distinct style, as King often does. I've discovered I'm fine if what I'm reading is in a different POV, though--first person while I'm writing in third, third person if I'm writing in first. Unfortunately, third person books are a lot more common....
2.I don't know that I'd say the characters do it. They will sometimes alter certain things based on their personalities, or bring up things I hadn't previously thought of, but it never really feels like they're 'taking control' the way I hear some people describe. The characters, plot, structure, etc., all are a unit and changes to any one element arising from a character aren't necessarily more common than changes to a character from other elements--and further, the whole thing functions as such an integral whole that I usually miss what 'causes' a shift because of the way it shifts everything.
3. I do tend to have problems with other authorial styles creeping into my 'voice' if I'm reading while writing--particularly if the author has as very distinct style, as King often does. I've discovered I'm fine if what I'm reading is in a different POV, though--first person while I'm writing in third, third person if I'm writing in first. Unfortunately, third person books are a lot more common....
There's always graphic novels, at least.
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