The main character in my YA manuscript DWARFED, is a Grace
Sullivan, who happens to be one of my favorite characters that I’ve ever
created. I love how spunky, intelligent, and independent she is. Yes, she’s a
dwarf, and that does add some complications to her life, but as far as she’s
concerned, it’s just a physical trait, the same as her red hair, blue eyes, bowed
legs, and freckles. What she can’t understand is why her height seems to be so
important to everyone else.
I had no choice but to write about Grace, no sooner did my
imagination conjure up a vague impression of this lively teenager, than she
proceeded to start beating at the inside of my skull, insisting I start getting
her down on paper. I’m so glad I did. Even though I was shorter than most of my
classmates (an unexpected growth spurt in high school shot me from 4’10” to 5’5”)
I didn’t face nearly the challenges that Grace did. In order to do her justice,
I’ve spent an incredible amount of time researching and learning about a truly interesting
culture, something I might not have ever done had it not been for my decision
to write DWARFED. While I really want to see DWARFED get published, and
hopefully sell gazillions of copies, I can honestly say that writing it and
researching it has made me a better person.
What about the rest of you writers. How have the characters
you’ve created changed you?
That is an interesting question, Jess! Now my wheels are turning. I'm not sure if they've made me a better person, but, they certainly have brought a lot of introspection into my life. I'm constantly forced to ask myself, "Where did that come from?" And then I dig, trying to find that part of me that surfaced through the words and actions of a character. This writing life is so interesting. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think your MC, Grace, is fabulous. Unique, too. I can't think of any other books I've read that have a dwarf as even a predominant character.
I guess if I had the time and the patience, I'd read George R.R. Martin's books. I do love his dwarf character on the TV series adapted from the books.
Introspection is a good thing. I've yet to read/watch Game of Thrones, but I do have a soft spot for Peter Dinklage, he was amazing in the Station Agent.
DeleteThis writing thing sure is full of fun and exciting twists and turns.
Good question. I love your character, Grace, she's tangible in so many ways, you can sense the complexity there. I'm always a bit worried that my characters may sound and act too much alike (like me), especially in scenes they share. One time as I was writing "White Tiles", a short story about a woman loosing her sanity, did I stop halfway and think: oh damn, that's me, that's my drama decoded right there. It was both horrible and educational. :)
ReplyDeleteWith "White Tiles" was it a case of the character mirroring you, or you developing a strong emphatic link to your character? Just curious.
DeleteOne of the manuscripts I wrote prior to DWARFED, I was so determined that the character wouldn't be mirror me, that I went out of my way to make her responses completely opposite my own. The problem was that she turned into a flat and unlikeable character.
I'm glad you like Grace. I've become quite fond of her, she's a fun voice to have in my head.
The character was a daunting reflection of myself at that time, and unintentionally so. I think that's what was so shocking to me. That was the time when the need to change up the "me"-part in my characters flared up also, but as you said, nothing good came with it.:)
DeleteI think writing can't be impersonal, and authenticity in a character is always based on something we "know". That's why I do have my problems with certain bad guys in stories, the ones that are exaggerated to a point where they become incomprehensible.I like the "bad guy" Cersei in Game Of Thrones. She craves power and hates the whole world but she loves her children above all things. For me, that makes "being bad" much more interesting and relatable.
Came to comment on your SS post, and saw this. I like to say that sometimes, you write the story, but at the best of times, the story writes on you. I have experienced the phenomenon you're talking about once, with a manuscript that has been accepted for publication, but isn't yet out. Those characters changed me, which seems odd, given they come from my imagination. Yet as I did the research needed to breathe life into them, the people they became somehow managed a subtle alteration of my heartbeat.
ReplyDelete