Last updated on 04/19/2025
Who’s telling this story, anyway?
Some characters are polite. They wait their turn. They sip tea quietly in the corner of your imagination until you invite them to the page.
But others? They crash through the door without knocking. They take over your thoughts at inconvenient hours—in the shower, at red lights, in the checkout line. They demand to be written, and they don’t care about your plans.
Today, we’re going to talk about these relentless voices. Who are they? Why do they show up? And most importantly, how can you work with them instead of fighting them off like a literary exterminator?
Why Certain Characters Get Loud
So, why do some characters refuse to quiet down?
First, it usually means you’ve tapped into something personal. These characters often carry a piece of your subconscious. They’re whispering things you need to hear, even if you didn’t invite them to the conversation.
Second, they might represent untold tension. Maybe they embody a conflict you’ve been circling in your writing without really facing head-on. Their persistence is a flashing neon sign: Hey, pay attention to me.
Third, it can be sheer narrative chemistry. Some characters arrive fully formed, like they walked straight out of a smoky jazz club and into your manuscript. They have stories to tell, voices that crackle with life, and the audacity to tell you how to write them.
Example: Think of writers who “hear” their characters argue, interrupt, even mock them while drafting. If this happens to you, you’re not alone. It’s often a sign that your internal creative compass is locked onto something magnetic.
Listening Without Losing Control
Alright, so you’ve got a noisy character. How do you listen to them without letting them derail your entire project?
First, give them a sandbox. Open a side document or dedicate a few pages in your notebook just to let them rant. Let them pour out their backstory, their motives, their wild philosophies about life and death and tacos at 3 AM. Sometimes, they just need space to stretch their legs.
Second, ask them questions. Treat it like an interview. Why are you so loud? What are you fighting for? Who did you leave behind? This builds depth while keeping you in the driver’s seat.
Third, set boundaries. Remember: you’re the author, not a hostage. If a character wants to take over a story that isn’t about them, you can say, “Not yet.” But promise them you’ll return. Make a note for a future piece. They’ll usually settle down if they know they’re not being ignored.
I myself have had characters hijack my entire writing session, leading me far off my original outline. What did I learn? Let them talk, but keep your hand on the wheel. You’re not a passenger. You’re the captain of this ship, even if your first mate has a lot to say.
It’s a fine dance, this balance of control and chaos. But when you get it right, the story sings.
Harnessing the Energy
Now let’s flip the script. A noisy character is not a problem to solve. They’re a gift.
That energy? That insistence? It’s pure creative fuel. These characters often carry emotional intensity that can elevate your writing from good to unforgettable.
Use their momentum. Let their passion infect your prose. Let their contradictions create tension on the page. Characters who won’t shut up often lead to stories that readers can’t put down.
And here’s the beautiful part: these loud characters can pull quieter ones into the spotlight, too. Like a charismatic friend at a party, they draw others out of their shells. Before you know it, your whole cast feels more alive.
Consider using freewriting sprints where you let this character narrate a scene in their own voice, even if it’s not part of the main project.
Let Them Speak
Here’s the truth: characters who won’t shut up are the dreamers, the rebels, the troublemakers. They’re also the ones who make your stories pulse with life.
So don’t shut them out. Let them speak. Let them rant. Let them whisper their secrets and scream their frustrations. Let them interrupt your carefully laid plans.
Because in the end, writing is a conversation between you and the wild voices inside your head. And sometimes, the loudest ones have the most important things to say.
Until next time, keep listening to the voices that won’t let you sleep. They’re the ones worth writing down.
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