“When you are in the middle of a story, it isn’t a story at all, but only a confusion, a dark roaring, a wreckage of shattered glass and splintered wood, like a house in a whirlwind, crushed by the icebergs or swept over the rapids, and all aboard powerless to stop it. It’s only afterwards that it becomes anything like a story at all, when you are telling it to yourself, or to somebody else.”

Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace

And Janga makes a good point. (I type that a lot.) If the character didn’t change in his/her reaction to things, then he/she isn’t changing and there’ no arc. So consistency is good but not the ultimate goal. Not in everything anyway.

In other words, I’m using “but the character is changing” as my excuse when someone points out my heroine isnt’ consistent.

I think you just have to write Lacey and see where she takes you. Most people aren’t consistent–especially when it comes to stressful situations and l-o-v-e.

And Hellion, I love how Livie confronts people but that’s mostly because she erupts like I do. So, yes, it does happen. Though I tend to hold it all in and then when I erupt, I’m like but you never gave me that last bit of chocolate! LOL

Misty Jo- Thank you I appreciate you stopping by.

Janga- You are such a wonderful soul. You always have a provoking thought or quote for every instance. Thank you for the insight into humans being humans. We are inconsistant, I’m just trying to avoid Lacey appearing bipolar:)

Hal- You’re WIP is wonderful, I read chapter eight and I think you have a wonderful handle on your characters. I’m sure your plot issues will iron out as you progress. Thank you for the encouragement:)

Who was the guy who said if you wait long enough people will surprise you (in a good way)?

I am mostly a panster, but I do write fairly detailed character bios early in the process. That strategy evolved out of the character interviews we did on the EJ board(as it was then). Even so, my characters do things that surprise me. I’m not so sure that complete consistency is desirable anyway. I think it was Emerson who said, “Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”

Terri - great analogy! I’m a plotter (I love outlines!) but even with that, I often still feel like I’m writing blind. Glad to know I’m not the only one

I’m 50k words into my WIP, and I feel like I’m just now getting to know these characters as well as I should. So there’s no consistency, because I just didn’t know them well enough in the beginning to be consistent. I did character sketches at the beginning, but now that I know so much more about them both, I could probably do completely new character sketches.

And my plot is so convoluted that I’m afraid when I’m done and step back, I’m going to find seven walls and two roofs That’s what edits are for, right?

And ps - I am loving Lacey, Lisa! Can’t wait to read more about her