You know that feeling when you think you have everything under control…and then your plans unravel faster than yarn in a kitten’s paws?

That was me writing Framed in Amish Country.

I sat down, armed with coffee and an outline that would make any Type A proud. Those of you who know my writing process will understand this is not normal for me. I’m usually a pantser writer.

Anyway, my main characters Paige and Elijah were supposed to follow my carefully crafted path of danger, second chances, and sweet Amish settings. But somewhere around chapter ten, they started ignoring my plot points entirely. Paige refused to hide in the barn like I’d planned, and Elijah decided to reveal secrets I wasn’t ready to write yet.

I actually found myself talking out loud to my laptop—“This is NOT what I wrote in the outline!”—as if my characters would apologize and obediently return to the plan. They did not!

But here’s the funny, beautiful truth: as I let go of controlling every moment, the story got better. Deeper. More real. The characters’ struggles felt truer, the faith themes more heartfelt, and the suspense sharper than anything I could’ve forced.

In the process, I realized I do the same thing with God. I come to Him with a script for how my life should go—then get frustrated when the plot twists come. But He’s the ultimate Author. His story for me is richer, more layered, and yes, often wilder than anything I’d dare to write.

So, if you’re feeling like your plans have veered off course, take it from a writer whose characters went rogue: sometimes, the unexpected turns bring the best chapters.

Have you ever had a time when God rewrote your plans—and you were grateful He did?

Blessings (and happy reading!),

Mary