A Wrench in Your Plans
Your car won’t start. The power goes out. You wake up with a cold. Your kid falls in the toilet when he’s already dressed for school.*
There are a million things that can (and usually do) go wrong every single day — things that trip you up, slow you down, frustrate you to the nth degree.
In life those little Murphies** are just plain irritating! But I sort of love them when they happen in my writing.
I don’t plot in the traditional sense. I have a mental map of where my story is going, but sometimes my characters mess it all up. They don’t react the way I expect them to, or their feelings are more intense than I originally planned…or sometimes they blow up cars.
Do you let Murphies into your stories, or do you always have “control” of everything that’s happening in your plot?
I’ve found that my manuscripts are more intense, action-packed and interesting when I don’t edit out those little surprises (seriously…who saw the crocodile wrestler showing up in my new WIP?)
Now if I could only convince myself to accept the Murphies in my real life…
*Yeah…that happend today.
**Murphies are the results of Murphy’s Law. I sort of like the way it sounds. Maybe we can coin a phrase like, “I hope you don’t get Murphed today.” Or something like that.
There are a million things that can (and usually do) go wrong every single day — things that trip you up, slow you down, frustrate you to the nth degree.
In life those little Murphies** are just plain irritating! But I sort of love them when they happen in my writing.
I don’t plot in the traditional sense. I have a mental map of where my story is going, but sometimes my characters mess it all up. They don’t react the way I expect them to, or their feelings are more intense than I originally planned…or sometimes they blow up cars.
Do you let Murphies into your stories, or do you always have “control” of everything that’s happening in your plot?
I’ve found that my manuscripts are more intense, action-packed and interesting when I don’t edit out those little surprises (seriously…who saw the crocodile wrestler showing up in my new WIP?)
Now if I could only convince myself to accept the Murphies in my real life…
*Yeah…that happend today.
**Murphies are the results of Murphy’s Law. I sort of like the way it sounds. Maybe we can coin a phrase like, “I hope you don’t get Murphed today.” Or something like that.
16 Comments
Carol Riggs
Haha, yes, I can handle Murphies (love that term) in my writing with more welcoming arms than in my real life! I love ’em in my writing. 🙂
JEFritz
I write like you do, so sometimes the Murphies just jump in there. Also, it’s more fun when nothing goes as the character plans.
Shallee
I love the phrase about getting Murphed. 🙂
I outline before I write, but I ALWAYS get off track. Little Murphies slip in, and it’s often where some of the best stuff happens, like you said. I love it!
Liz
YES! I try to keep to my outline, but then things happen. Characters appear. Situations that I didn’t expect creep in. And suddenly the story is that much better.
BTW, love your blog design. (It looks slightly familiar…)
Shiv
I used them all the time, but didn’t know they were murphies. lol! All for Murphies … Yes! Murphies for President too!
Jeigh
I will totally do my part and help spread “Murphies” (the catchphrase, not actual Murphies) around. That sounds so wrong.
Christine Tyler
Lol, spreading murphies almost sounds like an STD!
I definitely need more murphies in my MS.
Becky Wallace
LOL. You guys are awesome! Thanks for not thinking I’m totally insane for believing in Murphies! They’re real!
Margo Berendsen
Oh I know what you mean! As frustrating as the Murphies are in the life, it is kind of fun when they pop in out of nowhere in your writing! I’ve discovered so much fun with them!
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