We’ve been talking a bit about characters who take off on their own occasionally, going their own way, bending the rules, arguing with the author, changing sides, telling their own jokes or insisting on a higher degree of professionalism, even if it causes logistic problems for the writer (me).

Okay… so, I have an absolute monster brat of a kid in Va’el (introduced in book two, The King’s Sacrifice). As an older character, Va’el will make a pretty vicious individual, but here he had to make an appearance and his age right now is ten. He surprised me when he immediately threw a tantrum amid much shouting and throwing things and whacking his butler. Actually, he was so obnoxious, he made me laugh – so I kept him with everything exactly as it erupted.

[Continue reading…]