Flip it Wednesday? Creating unexpected characters – Lisa Nicol

Yesterday we played around with creating the unexpected in our stories. I must say, after blogging my mind was buzzing with possible stories about the butterfly. I wrote those ideas for stories in my note book so I don’t forget them.

Unexpected characters seem to trigger my imagination, the same way they do for the reader.  The characters have immediate interests and flaws. They start to walk and talk and do things in my mind.

Like the butterfly that prefers to walk rather than fly. She is also terribly clumsy but enjoys lifting weights. You can see how story lines begin to grow.

How about you? Did you guys have a go at flipping expectations? In my last book – The What on Earth Institute of Wonder – I had an unexpected sort of character (apart from the talking bird, the girl who could talk to animals, the eight-year-old doomsday prepper and the boombox-carrying, underage teenage driver). He was the town postman. But he was not like your usual postman of course. Instead he became the villain of the piece. His name is Mr Longhorn and he’s a dastardly fellow with the most repulsive feet you’ve ever seen. He also appears to shop in the children’s section because he wears a lot of Peter Rabbit PJs and all his clothes are way too small. What’s with that? I don’t dare to think about it too much really…….

Happy flipping Wednesday everyone!!