When the Writer Loses Control of the Story and the Characters Takes Over

The path a short story takes from inspiration to completion is as wide and varied as short stories themselves. Some authors start with the opening scene while others start with the conclusion and work backward. Some do both. But sometimes the story takes on a life of its own, far different from the author’s original intent.  Author Stephen Terrell discusses the course of creating his short story “Unexpected Gifts.”

“Unexpected Gifts” is the concluding short story in “Homicide for the Holidays,” a collection of a dozen tales of murder, mayhem and even redemption included in Speed City Sisters in Crime's Christmas offering. The hardcover anthology also includes a dozen recipes, each related to a story in the book.  "Homicide for the Holidays” is the perfect Christmas gift for the readers or cooks on your list. The book is now available for pre-order (see below for links).  Release is set for November 1.

Stories Take A Life of Their Own

By Stephen Terrell

My short story “Unexpected Gifts” is quite different than the story I started to write. When I typed out the first words on my computer, the story I envisioned was a dark tragedy of greed, prejudice, and misunderstanding set against a Christmas backdrop. 

But a funny thing happened on the way to the final pages. The characters and the story itself would not let me write what I had in mind. The characters had a different story -- a true Christmas story -- to tell.

“That’s crazy,” you may say.  “You're the one writing the story. You can write anything you want.”

But most writers know that’s not true. A story sometimes takes on its own life and will not let the author have his way. That's what happened with "Unexpected Gifts." The resolution of the story (no, I won’t give it away) is quite different than what was intended when the first pages were written. 

I must admit that the characters knew best. The final version is a much better story than the one I originally planned. Here are the opening paragraphs of “Unexpected Gifts.”

 “Oh, baby, baby, baby! ! !  Momma’s gotta pee.”

Maria Wafford pushed her foot harder on the brake pedal and pulled her knees closer together. She held her breath. If something didn’t move soon, she was going to pee all over the heated white leather seats in her new Mercedes sedan. 

Johnny Mathis came over the seasonal satellite radio channel singing something about marshmallows and Christmas. Maria tried to sing along to get her mind off the intense urge in her bladder, but she couldn’t concentrate enough to follow the words.

“Hurry up. Please!”  The unhearing line of cars creeped forward a car length, then two.  Then stopped.

If you want to know what happens,  you’ll need to buy Homicide for the Holidays and read "Unexpected Gifts." The hardcover is a perfect holiday gift for any reader on your list. 

Pre-orders are now available on Amazon.com (click here), BarnesandNoble.com (click here) and Walmart.com (click here).

Finding Characters in the Church Pew

Writers can find inspiration for characters in any setting -- a coffee shop, a line at the grocery, or even in the next pew at church.  Author M.B. Dabney discusses the inspiration for the lead character in his short story “Killing Santa Claus.” 

This story is one of a dozen tales of murder, mayhem and even redemption included in  Speed City Sisters in Crime Christmas offering, a hardcover short story anthology titled "Homicide for the Holidays."  A perfect Christmas gift for the readers on your list, the book is now available for pre-order (see below for links).

The Hero in the Next Pew

by M.B. Dabney

When it was first proposed, I thought Homicide for the Holidays was an interesting project. But I found myself scratching my head for a suitable hero for my story, Killing Santa Claus. Then one day at a church meeting I looked across the table and there sat the prototype of my protagonist, Drake Curtis.

No, he’s not a homicide detective, as in my story, or even in law enforcement. He’s just a big, physically imposing man with a salt and pepper beard – and perfect for what I needed.

Here’s an excerpt from near the beginning of Killing Santa Claus. Drake, who has lost some of the joy of the season, has just hauled the Christmas decorations up from the basement and is in the kitchen talking to his wife, Shelly, when they are interrupted by a neighbor.

  _________________

They were both startled when a neighbor suddenly appeared, banging frantically on the patio door.

“Help me, please,” she said, pointing behind her back toward the street. “It’s my husband Henry. Help me, please.”

Despite the cold outside, Drake and Shelly left the house without coats and ran behind the woman, who kept babbling on about her husband.

“Just got home. The car. The garage. Engine on.”

Three doors down, they rushed up a driveway. The garage door was up and inside the garage was a car with the motor running. A man was slumped inside.

Drake opened the car door and Shelly reached inside to check the man’s pulse. She turned back and shook her head, confirming what was obvious to Drake.

Henry Gibson was dead.

His widow’s wails reverberated throughout the couple’s garage.

If you want to know more – you’ll need to buy Homicide for the Holidays, and read the story Killing Santa Claus. The hardcover is a perfect holiday gift for the reader on your list. 

Pre-orders are now available on Amazon.com (click here), BarnesandNoble.com (click here) and Walmart.com (click here).

Genesis of a Short Story: Author C. L. Shore Discusses Creation of "Claus, Santa: MIA"

Author C.L. Shore discusses the inspiration, characters, setting, and plot for her short story “Claus, Santa MIA.” This story set in post-World War II Indianapolis is one of a dozen tales of murder, mayhem and even redemption included in  Speed City Sisters in Crime Christmas offering, a short story anthology titled "Homicide for the Holidays," set for release November 2.

Creation of “Claus, Santa: MIA”

By C.L. Shore

When the Speed City chapter of Sisters in Crime was approached by Blue River Press to put together a Christmas anthology, we responded with enthusiasm.  I wanted to submit a story, but I sometimes find themes can inhibit my story-generating. Besides the link to a winter holiday, the story needed to be set in Indiana. I had my own condition, too:  I’ve written some dark crime fiction, but I wanted my Christmas story to be lighthearted. There would have to be a crime, but there would also have to be a happy ending.  I needed to think hard about my submission.

Christmas is a nostalgic time of year for many, and Christmas and Hoosier nostalgia said one thing to me:  L. S. Ayres. There’s the famous cherub (which first appeared in advertising for Ayres in 1945, the figurine on the clock appeared a year later). The amazing windows at street level displaying Christmas action scenes. The L. S. Ayres tearoom serving decadent holiday specialties in addition to their Chicken Velvet Soup. But, most importantly – the Santa Cottage.  Judging from the blog content I was easily able to find, there are many people nostalgic for L. S. Ayres, especially during the holidays.

Next, my protagonist, Mava, started to take shape. Mava is a young nurse, a few years out of her training at St. Vincent’s School of Nursing. She’s been close to the front in WWII. Just home from the war, she knows she needs a break from nursing. She is hired by L. S. Ayres for the Housewares Department, and finds a new friend in her coworker, Janet. Because Housewares is on the eighth floor, Mava has proximity to the Santa Cottage. A few days before Christmas, she meets Santa himself.

Actually, a young man named Nick has been hired for the Santa Claus role, and like Mava, he’s recently home from the European front. Also like Mava, Nick wants to promote happiness for the holidays.  But he fails to show up for work on December 24, and a bloodstained Santa suit is found on a downtown Indianapolis sidewalk. There are few clues, but Mava won’t rest until she finds out what happened to Nick.

If you want to know more – you’ll need to buy Homicide for the Holidays, and read my story Claus, Santa: MIA. Homicide for the Holidays will be released in early November, 2018.