Just wondering, how many more people who write something that a character does or says, something that on the face of it seems just part of moving a scene along, but much later in the story that throw away moment becomes relevant without your meaning to use it. I know that somewhere the subconscious comes into play, for me it is usually nearer unconscious. But joking apart, I never plan formerly, by that I mean I don't write notes, I do seem to always be running over ideas in my head and when I get the chance to sit and write then they take over. However, these things are not planned consciously, the story just goes that way and there is that bit from three, four or six chapters ago making itself useful.
So there we are, my question is how many of us do this. I do so hope it is all of us and not just me, if not I must be "The chosen one" that I have so often read about!
Just wondered. Regards Paul.
Oh yes a P.S. here
If it has happened and I'm sure it has. Did it make a big difference to the story, did it change the way you were intending to go?
Paul
Thank you all for your replies, I am always amazed when I get answers from people who know what they are talking about, it is great, thank you.
It came about from a part I had written when my protagonist, who is popping backwards and forward in time, was saying goodbye to a young H.G. Wells and passed him his address after they had had an adventure together in the 1800s, just a few years before Wells was born.
At the time I wrote it, when I read it back I had no idea why I had had him do that, there was no chance of a meeting as Wells would have died by the time Tom (the protagonist) was five, so no meeting of minds but I left it in, for some reason it had to stay.
However, I found myself typing a visit from the man a few weeks after Tom was born, and he leaving a gift of his science fiction books for Tom, to be given to him on his fifteenth birthday, which was just a few days off when they were together in the 1800s. I didn't consciously plan either of the passages.
So now that you have told me I am not unique, my wife has told me I am not a superhero of any sort and now I must stop wearing my underwear over my clothes, she also pointed out that as I wear the old fashioned wild west all in one style, you know the ones with the buttoned trap door in the back, that it didn't have quite the effect I was aiming for. She also pointed out that maybe I should have left them in soak for a day or two as the trap door looked as if it had been to close to some wild west action on occasion.
Tell people the truth and they never believe it!
Sorry about the rambling I can't help it. Again thanks I will never try and force anything like that, as Jonathan has mentioned it is not a good read when it looks contrived.
Regards Paul.
That's what I call an 'Oooh!' moment - an idea that comes out of the blue but actually explains something that's happened already, or fills a gap in the plot. I think the brain works away in the background when we're doing something else.
I know I had several such moments when writing the novel, and getting excited with what each one was actually doing to the story, without my having to sit and work them out for myself!
It's all part of that alchemy known as writing.
Fear not, Paul - you're quite normal for a writer!
Lorraine
It's magic when it happens out of the blue, but it doesn't always have to be that way. Tiny character attributes or actions can always be edited in on the 'he needs to put that item in his pocket in Chapter 5 so he can use it in Chapter 36' principle. A bit like an RPG, I suppose, where you collect items or power-ups on your journey for future use.
The hard part can be making whatever it is seem a natural part of the writing rather than a deliberate plant.