Sometimes writing for different characters can be a bit of a challenge. Recently I finished the first draft of my -cough- highly anticipated screenplay, and I find that the character that gave me the most difficulty was my main protagonist. I worried sometimes that he was being overshadowed by more dynamic characters, and that his character arc wasn’t complete enough. I suppose that is what second drafts are for.
I have also encountered this challenge while writing for Raccoon Toons. There was a time when I felt that Michael wasn’t as strong as a character as he needed to be. There were times when I felt like he was standing beside me screaming in my ear demanding to be let out so he can wreak some havoc of some kind. Wendy was likewise a major problem for me until I consciously made an effort to refine her as a character. I’m pleased with the progress they’ve all made, but hopefully they’ll be lots more comic strips and cartoons to continue to develop their personalities.
I think one of the coolest experiences in writing happens when your characters dictate the story to you. There are times when I write that I sit back and let the characters tell me what’s happening in their stories. I think those are the most rewarding not only because I get to be surprised at what’s happening in the story, but also because I feel that if the characters are strong enough to write themselves, then maybe I’ve done something right in getting them to that point.