There is a group of people that live inside my head and I rather like it. They're mostly in their teens, are both male and female, and they all moved in while I was writing their particular stories. The interesting thing is that many of them do not choose to move out.
I would worry about this if I didn't like it so much. After all, since I am such a slow writer I tend to live with my characters for extended periods of time, so it's no wonder we all get cozy the longer we hang around together. For at least two of them, finishing their story after taking so long to do it almost broke my heart because as soon as it was finished, the nature of our relationship changed a bit. They knew they would take a back seat to whomever was moving in next, and I knew it would never be the same again because I finally had their story in its entirety. But at least they're both still around.
On the other hand, in return for free rent in my synapses, they gift me with different points of view and sometimes that makes life both more bearable and more interesting. When I'm in a situation that is distressful, worrisome, or just downright more annoying than it ought to be, sometimes I will try looking at that situation from the point of view of one or more of my characters. Perhaps some bozo in a huge gas guzzler just cut me off during a lane change on Highway 53. How would my buddy Jake react to that? Or would he even bother? Or maybe a complete stranger was inexplicably rude to me at the grocery store. What would my good friend Finn do in that situation? Actually, I know exactly what he would do and if I did that I would probably get arrested. But just the thought of it can make me feel so much better. Sometimes just that little tweak in perspective will be enough to shift my mood or even make me laugh out loud. For someone like me, who is waaayyy too sensitive, that can be a life saver.
Maybe all of this makes me a bit mad, I'm not sure. My husband would simply say that by definition, fiction writers are mad anyway and maybe he's right. Whatever, it works for me. I don't have multiple personality disorder. I'm just a fiction writer. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I would worry about this if I didn't like it so much. After all, since I am such a slow writer I tend to live with my characters for extended periods of time, so it's no wonder we all get cozy the longer we hang around together. For at least two of them, finishing their story after taking so long to do it almost broke my heart because as soon as it was finished, the nature of our relationship changed a bit. They knew they would take a back seat to whomever was moving in next, and I knew it would never be the same again because I finally had their story in its entirety. But at least they're both still around.
On the other hand, in return for free rent in my synapses, they gift me with different points of view and sometimes that makes life both more bearable and more interesting. When I'm in a situation that is distressful, worrisome, or just downright more annoying than it ought to be, sometimes I will try looking at that situation from the point of view of one or more of my characters. Perhaps some bozo in a huge gas guzzler just cut me off during a lane change on Highway 53. How would my buddy Jake react to that? Or would he even bother? Or maybe a complete stranger was inexplicably rude to me at the grocery store. What would my good friend Finn do in that situation? Actually, I know exactly what he would do and if I did that I would probably get arrested. But just the thought of it can make me feel so much better. Sometimes just that little tweak in perspective will be enough to shift my mood or even make me laugh out loud. For someone like me, who is waaayyy too sensitive, that can be a life saver.
Maybe all of this makes me a bit mad, I'm not sure. My husband would simply say that by definition, fiction writers are mad anyway and maybe he's right. Whatever, it works for me. I don't have multiple personality disorder. I'm just a fiction writer. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Veery cute and a well understood affliction.
ReplyDeleteJust think. No one can call you "empty headed."
ReplyDeleteGreat post. We do love those characters that won't go away. They're probably waiting for a sequel. :)
This is actually quite comforting to hear, I don't really want to forget my characters ^^
ReplyDeleteAnd anyway, being mad is a lot more interesting than being sane, wouldn't you say?
This is an enjoyable post. I'm a slow writer as well. The characters hang out in my head for a long time before they ever make it to the page.
ReplyDelete