Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

You are part of your Characters...?

When I write stories, all my characters portray a part of me. The mysterious good/bad guy, can be stubborn, rude, and somewhat wise that has a softer side. The main character has a personality thats kind, and giving, along with the teenage girl anger, frustration and whiney-ness(=. Sometimes when I'm writing and reach a part that is a good stopping point, a part that one of my characters feels trouble or grumpy or frustrated- I then feel that way for the day. If a part is- i dont know how to put this... like exciting, or "on edge", I feel like that. My adrenaline goes up when I'm writing a scary, or action adventure part.

I know in poems you always put some type of feeling into it, but with stories... Do you feel yourself in your characters' positions? Do you base some events on your experiences? Do you experience their emotions as you write their story? (= I hope you enjoy telling about it, and i do appreciate you sharing!! ((=

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Permalink Reply by Aries on March 8, 2011 at 7:23pm

My character's defining trait is one of my own traits turned up to 11, makes it easier to write them I feel if I do that.

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Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on March 9, 2011 at 6:55am

I don't think it's possible to write and not put a part of yourself in it, Brooklynn. When your heart's in the character, it shows. To write well, you need to be able to immerse yourself like that into a character.

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Permalink Reply by Sally Pomeroy on March 9, 2011 at 7:04am

My characters are cooler than I am, that's why I love to be around them, to see what they're going to do next. The biggest part of me that is in them is that they make mistakes and do dumb things, but it's not the end of the world. They survive, they win, and they're still cool. They're the best of what I would like to be.

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Permalink Reply by Brooklynn Macey Derryberry on March 9, 2011 at 3:33pm

Same here! I miss writing and being with my characters when i cant write. its like they are cooler and so much better than me in so many ways. i enjoy writing about them, and creating their story. But the story is there, im just the one to put it in readable words(= My characters can give me confidence. heh.. it might be crazy to say.. but they are pretty much my best friends((=
Sally Pomeroy said:

My characters are cooler than I am, that's why I love to be around them, to see what they're going to do next. The biggest part of me that is in them is that they make mistakes and do dumb things, but it's not the end of the world. They survive, they win, and they're still cool. They're the best of what I would like to be.

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Permalink Reply by Brooklynn Macey Derryberry on March 9, 2011 at 3:36pm

I've tried writing without putting myself into it. YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS?! It doesnt even create a story! It doesnt create anything really. i cant imagine not putting myself into character. its the one place i can be myself, in different ways. Its weird to say but, its satisfying(= I dont know or understand howbut it just is.

Kay Elizabeth said:

I don't think it's possible to write and not put a part of yourself in it, Brooklynn. When your heart's in the character, it shows. To write well, you need to be able to immerse yourself like that into a character.

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Permalink Reply by Brooklynn Macey Derryberry on March 9, 2011 at 3:38pm

Its difficult to write without putting yourself or your emotions into your writing! to me, is hard, and very difficult because i've always expressed myself in writing. its much easier to write when you put yourself into it(=

Aries said:

My character's defining trait is one of my own traits turned up to 11, makes it easier to write them I feel if I do that.

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Permalink Reply by Sally Pomeroy on March 9, 2011 at 6:34pm

That's so true, they are good friends. But now you have friends here, too. People who are maybe Not so Cool, fallible, but kind, and crazy about the same thing you are.

Brooklynn Macey Derryberry said:

Same here! I miss writing and being with my characters when i cant write. its like they are cooler and so much better than me in so many ways. i enjoy writing about them, and creating their story. But the story is there, im just the one to put it in readable words(= My characters can give me confidence. heh.. it might be crazy to say.. but they are pretty much my best friends((=
Sally Pomeroy said:
My characters are cooler than I am, that's why I love to be around them, to see what they're going to do next. The biggest part of me that is in them is that they make mistakes and do dumb things, but it's not the end of the world. They survive, they win, and they're still cool. They're the best of what I would like to be.

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Bradford on March 13, 2011 at 6:05am

I agree with the fact that you can't really write effectively without putting a piece of yourself in your work. For me, when writing the part of a villain or other "evil" roles, it feels almost like a therapy; dredging up all these negative feelings to write with, and then extracting them onto a page.

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Permalink Reply by Sally Pomeroy on March 13, 2011 at 4:15pm

That's a cool insight! I don't write our villains, my partner does. I guess he needs that therapy.

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Permalink Reply by Robert L. Allen on March 14, 2011 at 1:06am

Great discussion Brookynn. You hit it well!!! I have written and then reread and wonder where I dug this stuff up, then I realize it's part of me. Even the female characters. Their habits, the way they speak and act and so on. It's great fun. Again Wonderful topic. Thank You...

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Permalink Reply by Brooklynn Macey Derryberry on March 14, 2011 at 2:16pm

Ha im Not very cool and i have no idea what fallible means, but im going to look it up! Ha but thanks! Yeah, the people here are so nice and and fun to talk to. It's great. I feel in my characters, they can understand things i feel, things that i dont want anyone to know or tell anyone(= It's great.
Sally Pomeroy said:

That's so true, they are good friends. But now you have friends here, too. People who are maybe Not so Cool, fallible, but kind, and crazy about the same thing you are.

Brooklynn Macey Derryberry said:
Same here! I miss writing and being with my characters when i cant write. its like they are cooler and so much better than me in so many ways. i enjoy writing about them, and creating their story. But the story is there, im just the one to put it in readable words(= My characters can give me confidence. heh.. it might be crazy to say.. but they are pretty much my best friends((=
Sally Pomeroy said:
My characters are cooler than I am, that's why I love to be around them, to see what they're going to do next. The biggest part of me that is in them is that they make mistakes and do dumb things, but it's not the end of the world. They survive, they win, and they're still cool. They're the best of what I would like to be.

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Permalink Reply by Brooklynn Macey Derryberry on March 14, 2011 at 2:21pm

That's a great way to put it! Like, i have trouble with putting how i feel or what i want to say or how to describe what i want to say. But that puts it right on the spot! I feel the same way, its somehow refreshing. (=

Lindsey Bradford said:

I agree with the fact that you can't really write effectively without putting a piece of yourself in your work. For me, when writing the part of a villain or other "evil" roles, it feels almost like a therapy; dredging up all these negative feelings to write with, and then extracting them onto a page.