A writer in my writing class last year was getting frustrated. She had outlined her mini story, but as she started to put words on paper, the story started to drift from her original intent. I remember the angst on her face when she asked, “Is that normal?”

Yes, Virginia, it is normal. In fact, it might be more normal than you think. I assured her — whether it’s a short story or a novel or even a journal or blog entry — just about every writer has experienced it. I often refer to it as a “plot twist.”

Your plot is the heart of your story. Without a plot, be it predefined or just an idea, the story stops beating. If your story stops beating, your audience is going to stop reading.

That being said, the soul of your story is your characters. They drive the story, especially the…