S20E4 - Myth Four: Characters Control the Author

In any writing group, you'll encounter someone who says their characters are like living voices in their head that control their own actions throughout a story. This idea, however, is like saying mortals control Zeus. While it's true that authors can develop characters so fully that they become like living people in their mind, the author is still in ultimate control.

In this episode, we discuss why this myth exists, how it can help in some ways, and how allowing characters to control the story can do real harm to the outcome of the story.

First aired March 11, 2021.