The best writing advice I’ve ever received came unexpectedly. In my early 20s, I joined one of the best writer’s workshop groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. During a critique session, a fellow writer asked, “Why not let your characters tell their own stories?”
It felt like a slap. It hit like a brick.
That advice came from another struggling writer. Not a mentor. Not a teacher. Not a coach. And I’ve never forgotten it.
Wrestling With An Angel: How Merkabah Took Control of My Story
I’m writing a novel about an angel who leaves the Timeless Halls to investigate Abel’s murder. It’s Book One in The Merkabah Chronicles.
I knew when I started where I wanted the story to go. I didn’t know how to get there. While revising, I discovered that the characters have ideas of their own. Secrets. Desires. In some cases, they’ve blindsided me.
For instance, in one scene, Merkabah was supposed to be the voice of reason, a man of peace. Instead, he contemplates the very kind of evil he detests. Ultimately, he does the right thing. But he struggles.
After three revisions, I’ve learned something. My ideas are not better. My plan is not divine. And I’m not ashamed to admit that.
Playing God Is An Humbling Experience
Remember how Jesus told his disciples they’d do greater works than he? It’s a bit like that.
Imagine this: The Almighty Creator told mere pots of clay that—as cracked as they are—they would outperform Him. That’s the message I send to my characters every time I write.
Sure, I create them. I give them their personalities. I define them. Just as God, our Creator, defines us. But, also like God, I give the characters I’ve created in my image the freedom to step outside my plan. To exercise free will. To live. To surprise … even me.
I believe this leads to better stories and better characters.
In the end, telling stories isn’t about me. It’s about the characters I create. By allowing them to tell their own stories, it’s making me a better writer. And if I reveal a little of myself through those characters, even better. Because that’s what God does through us.
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First published at Substack. Image created by ChatGPT.
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