How much of you is in your characters? How many of them have things in common with people you know in real life?
My first published book just came out this month (which still doesn't seem real, by the way!) and people keep telling me they're reading it. I've been so thankful for the support! But what keeps making me laugh is the way people keep trying to find real life people in the story. I don't deny that a lot of me slipped into this main character, and yeah, now that people mention it, the hero does have one or two things in common with my hubby...
But seriously? They really are made-up people.
I think that's one of the things that scares me most about people actually reading what I've written. I'm worried they'll take everything my heroine thinks, every way she views the world, and think that I do too. And really? It's not true. We may have a lot in common, but we are different people.
(Side note: I even wrote a heroine once who didn't like coffee. Can you imagine the creative thinking that took for me??)
I do draw inspiration from friends and family members to keep characters authentic. But you can't go through my stories and draw direct parallels.
At least none that were intentional on my part. Haha.
What about you? Do you base people in your stories firmly on people you know in real life? Do you take inspiration?
And perhaps the one I'm most curious about--how much of you is in your heroines? (Tell me I'm not the only one who wonders that when I read a book?)
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My main characters are usually quite a bit like me, but only in one area. I will give them one trait that is totally me, but it can't go beyond that. Some of my characters might have come from a person I know, but usually by the time I'm finished writing, they've grown so much you can't tell.
ReplyDeleteI like that idea--giving them on specific trait! And ditto on the second part of what you've said. Once or twice I have taken a character and based them on someone, but usually they've changed so much by the end that even I don't recognize them! Haha.
DeleteI think it helps me personally, since I think it's virtually impossible for some of my personality not to bleed through into the character, but if I make sure its only one aspect, then my readers who know me don't think I'm vain and self centered lol.
DeleteMy family are usually my first beta readers and a lot of times I'll be like "You know he was based off that dude from etc." And they're like "No way!" It's pretty fun :)
I am actually going to rewrite my novel because I don't really like my main protagonist--I couldn't relate to her. I think this time around (it's my fifth draft), I'm going to put a little more of me in her, so I can relate to her easily, but I'll also add some other traits that make her a different person.
ReplyDeleteI understand this problem too! I realized yesterday that sometimes I get so focused on the story that I forget to make them REAL people. I write romantic suspense, and so, sure, they're going to be worried about staying alive...but does my heroine like to paint her nails? What does she do for fun? Does she have a pet? Sometimes I forget to give them likable traits like that and don't like them as much. Good luck on putting more of you in your character so she's relatable! =)
DeleteCongratulations on the book! The story I just finished is heavily, heavily based on my experience, but the character isn't EXACTLY me. You wouldn't think so, though. I definitely understand the resemblance, but it's hard to make people believe that fiction is just that... Fiction. Lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ashley! I'm incredibly excited! =) What you said makes perfect sense, that she's a lot like you and isn't. One of my favorite things is not even realizing that I AM a certain way until I read one of my characters and realize where her traits came from...haha.
DeleteCongrats on your new release!
ReplyDeleteMy upcoming release has some of me in both a male and female character. I'm not sure how it happened, as this will be my fifth book and it's never happened before!
I have written about friends before too - my adopted cousin is in "Remembering the Alamo". Studying his character for the book was a very good experience.
Thanks Alicia! That's awesome that there's part of you in two characters!
DeleteAnd how fun that you really did include someone you really know as a character--I'm sure that was really interesting and fun!