We all have them. Characters that we just can't get enough of, whether we're reading about them, or writing their stories. But what makes us love these characters so damn much?
I was wondering this week what makes us writers tick when we choose the characters we do. Are they people we want to be? People we are? People we could never be but want to test drive? What's the story?
As for me, I want to be Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica. I've always been a sucker for a tough chick who says all the things I want to say, but am too darn nice to actually let fly from my lips. I like tough gals who don't have to wear thigh high leather boots and a corsett to fight bad guys, but can do it in sweat pants and a hoody and be just as awesome.
In real life, I try to be badass as often as possible just for the fun of it. I lift weights, drink Scotch and whiskey *neat*, and have bungee jumped ( discount bungee no less.) This bleeds into some of my characters because a normal chick who becomes an awesome tough chick relates to my inner fantasy of being that chick. Minus the cigar smoke, because eww.
On the flip side I also love writing really evil people, because I'll never actually get to be evil. I don't actually want to murder anyone, but it is sort of morbidly fascinating to don a murderer's skin for awhile and write them out. I like it when my characters are super bitchy, because I myself try really hard not to be bitchy on a day-to-day basis.
Is that wrong? I'm not sure.
You tell me! How do YOU write your characters? Why do you love them?
Are they are a part of you, or just something you like to try on for an hour?
What people do you love to write and why?
8 comments:
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Crazy blogger :).
I seem to have the most fun writing baddies. I also think that if I ever acted in a movie, I would want to be a villain. Maybe it's because I've always been such a goody-goody.
:-)
I think there's a little bit of me in all my characters. Some of them more than others. And most of them are loosely based on people I know.
I'm like you. I like the characters that say the things I'm too chicken to say. It's pretty obvious from my writing when I'm having a bad day, because my characters will often get into a huge argument or one will be particularly obnoxious and rude. That stuff doesn't always make the final cut, but it's great for creating tension. And just a little therapeutic. :)
I'm with Abby. I'm a little bit like all of my characters, but the characters are extremely different. Some of them have qualities I admire, some of them have qualities I hate, but all of them are fun people to be around and listen to. My personal favorites are the ones who are brilliantly annoying while still coming off as extremely polite.
Abby--that is too funny about the character fights! :D I should try that some time.
CQ--I'm intrigued by these annoying polite people ;)! I want to read your book now to find out how that works.
Oooh, I love Starbuck. Seriously, if it wasn't for her I don't think I would have gotten into BSG at all (although once I did there were many other things about the show I ended up loving as well).
Frak, yes--a fellow geek ;)!
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