Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.
–E.L. Doctorow

A couple of my coworkers think it’s very odd when I say that my characters speak to me. They are perhaps worried that it is a sign of mental illness. (Um, I am a writer . . .) But I have to say I treasure those times. That’s when I know the story is going in the right direction, or that I’m learning something important about the character.

Take my current WIP (I really should come up with a title for it). I was writing along quite nicely when I suddenly discovered that my heroine has been getting hang-up calls. I had one of those, Hmm, this is interesting, moments. I have no idea who is calling the heroine, but I’m going with it. It adds depth and complexity to the story.

And those are the times I love–when the plot I’ve created becomes bigger through the writing. I hope it makes things more interesting for the reader as well. Now if I could just get one of the characters to help me with the title of the book.

I wonder who’s on the other side of that phone . . .