What happens to characters waiting to be written?

Anna is waiting. She's fully developed. She has personality, depth, a supporting cast—she even has a cat. But Anna has been stuck here for years, watching far lesser characters get called into their own stories.
James is new. He's still taking shape. His backstory and motivation are changing every day. But James is so detailed, so crisp—so beautifully written—he must be destined for something great...He might even be a main character.
They both know it's only a matter of time before they're separated—but they don't want to wait for an unseen author to cast their fates. Drawn together and longing for more, James and Anna dare to build a narrative of their own.
A fan-favorite from her Scattered Showers collection, "In Waiting" is a new short story by Rainbow Rowell—written with her trademark wit and heart—and an uncanny, unconventional romance.