Growing up, I was told that a writer had to have a well-constructed plan created before starting a book. You needed to create characters and have them figured out well in advance. You needed to know all the details before writing the first chapter. And you needed to know the ending before you started.
I think this is wrong. Overly structured writing, much like an overly structured life, doesn’t work. It’s awkward, it is uncomfortable, and it’s not fun. The characters create themselves, as do their storylines, and really, that’s what makes the entire process magical and exciting. If your imagination is allowed to run wild, it can go to many exciting places.
I often say that attempting to force your characters to be or act a certain way steals something from the creative process. It's similar to forcing your children to be something they are not. If Billy Jr. hates hockey, he's not going to become an NHL star, and even if he does, it's not going to end well if his heart isn't into it. You can't play God with characters, but you can let them lead the way. That makes the best storytelling of all.
Canadian author Mima is known for her complicated and diverse characters, a dark style and for never shying away from controversial topics. To request an interview or if you are interested in doing a book review, please send requests here
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