Falling in love with your own characters

[EmilyMiller]

I know something along these lines has been posted before. This is a new thing for me as most of the characters in my early work were based on actual people. Even in some more recent work, the disguise worn by characters is kinda thin (e.g. Dungeon 101, or Off the Shoulder).

But, in my latest - Jacob’s Progress (UPDATE: just published) - no character is consciously based on anyone I know. And I kinda fell in love with one of my two FMCs. I found myself actually welling up when writing two sections involving her (and again when editing them).

Is this normal?

Em

 

[MillieDynamite]

Steven King says,

“Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.”​

He isn't talking about characters, though. He's talking about the lines you love for how eloquent you think you have been. If it doesn't have a place in the story, kill it. But this is from a guy that waxes on in plotlines and then drops the characters with nothing mentioned about them again. But, sometimes, we have to hurt those we love in a story for the sake of the story. Sometimes, we must kill that loved one for the betterment of the tale.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I know something along these lines has been posted before. This is a new thing for me as most of the characters in my early work were based on actual people. Even in some more recent work, the disguise worn by characters is kinda thin (e.g. Dungeon 101, or Off the Shoulder).

But, in my latest - Jacob’s Progress (still to be published) - no character is consciously based on anyone I know. And I kinda fell in love with one of my two FMCs. I found myself actually welling up when writing two sections involving her (and again when editing them).

Is this normal?

Em

It’s the reason I’m here.

Fell in love with characters…wanted a sequel…contacted the author…permission given…and that was that.

Even with HOT AND FUZZY I felt that way. Sad it’s over, but you just move on to the next story.

Ferpectly mornal.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Steven King says,



He isn't talking about characters, though. He's talking about the lines you love for how eloquent you think you have been. If it doesn't have a place in the story, kill it. But this is from a guy that waxes on in plotlines and then drops the characters with nothing mentioned about them again. But, sometimes, we have to hurt those we love in a story for the sake of the story. Sometimes, we must kill that loved one for the betterment of the tale.

He's also a guy who re-issues longer versions of his earlier books, like The Stand, because his publishers know that they can sell it. (I've never read the longer one.) I feel like saying, "Steve, I think we all got the point the first time around."

 

[gunhilltrain]

I know something along these lines has been posted before. This is a new thing for me as most of the characters in my early work were based on actual people. Even in some more recent work, the disguise worn by characters is kinda thin (e.g. Dungeon 101, or Off the Shoulder).

But, in my latest - Jacob’s Progress (still to be published) - no character is consciously based on anyone I know. And I kinda fell in love with one of my two FMCs. I found myself actually welling up when writing two sections involving her (and again when editing them).

Is this normal?

Em

First of all, I think I've only used two people I actually knew as a basis for main characters. Also, I think you mean "finding them interesting enough to use them in further stories." (I'm guessing that.) That might mean that you find something admirable, if that is the right word, about them, although they may have flaws anyway. I'm trying to write a sequel about someone who is mostly unsympathetic, but not completely hateful either. That is a bit challenging.

So in that sense, I'd say yes, it is normal.

 

[Red_Herring4]

But, in my latest - Jacob’s Progress (still to be published) - no character is consciously based on anyone I know. And I kinda fell in love with one of my two FMCs. I found myself actually welling up when writing two sections involving her (and again when editing them).

Is this normal?

I think it's a great sign that you've become so emotionally invested in one of your characters. It means you've created a living, breathing person rather than a cardboard cutout who exists only to further the plot. When you care what happens to the characters in your story, it's likely that your readers will too. Congrats!

 

[John_Vandermeer]

I posted what was the most recent thread on this topic I believe. And the answer is yes, I have fallen for a character I have written. I mean, I have had the hots for every FMC I have written. But when the FMC in Do Not Try This Alone broke up with the MMC, effectively ending the story, I was as heart broken as the poor sap. Mind you, he even gave her a ring before she summarily dumped him. And no, she was not that kind of cruel bitch. It was an incestuous relationship... not going to work HEA...

 

[gunhilltrain]

It’s the reason I’m here.

Fell in love with characters…wanted a sequel…contacted the author…permission given…and that was that.

Even with HOT AND FUZZY I felt that way. Sad it’s over, but you just move on to the next story.

Ferpectly mornal.

Sorry, I can't keep track of everything that goes on in AH. (Who could?) Which author are you referring to for permission?

As for sequels, sometimes they seem natural, sometimes they come into ones's head much later. sometimes there never is one. I'm sure it's impossible to predict which will happen.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I think it's a great sign that you've become so emotionally invested in one of your characters. It means you've created a living, breathing person rather than a cardboard cutout who exists only to further the plot. When you care what happens to the characters in your story, it's likely that your readers will too. Congrats!

That’s a lovely way to think about it, thanks

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

Sorry, I can't keep track of everything that goes on in AH. (Who could?) Which author are you referring to for permission?

Simon Pegg?

As for sequels, sometimes they seem natural, sometimes they come into ones's head much later. sometimes there never is one. I'm sure it's impossible to predict which will happen.

 

[MillieDynamite]

He's also a guy who re-issues longer versions of his earlier books, like The Stand, because his publishers know that they can sell it. (I've never read the longer one.) I feel like saying, "Steve, I think we all got the point the first time around."

And yet, in the stand, the third version, I think, there is still a glaring continuity error in one of the scenes set in Denver. When a man walks away down Broadway, the others then walk down Colfax and look back at him, still standing in his front yard. UGH!

 

[gunhilltrain]

I posted what was the most recent thread on this topic I believe. And the answer is yes, I have fallen for a character I have written. I mean, I have had the hots for every FMC I have written. But when the FMC in Do Not Try This Alone broke up with the MMC, effectively ending the story, I was as heart broken as the poor sap. Mind you, he even gave her a ring before she summarily dumped him. And no, she was not that kind of cruel bitch. It was an incestuous relationship... not going to work HEA...

It was incestuous and yet he gave her a ring? That's a new one for me. Was it blood relatives?

As for being dumped, I have one guy who only lasted four months with her, and then he has to deal with her for another three years. (They work together, but on a student paper.) Then ten years later they meet by accident, and she wants him back. At this point I have him spending a couple of weeks assessing the situation. I haven't decided the outcome yet.

 

[stickygirl]

I know something along these lines has been posted before. This is a new thing for me as most of the characters in my early work were based on actual people. Even in some more recent work, the disguise worn by characters is kinda thin (e.g. Dungeon 101, or Off the Shoulder).

But, in my latest - Jacob’s Progress (still to be published) - no character is consciously based on anyone I know. And I kinda fell in love with one of my two FMCs. I found myself actually welling up when writing two sections involving her (and again when editing them).

Is this normal?

Em

Am I normal?
Sobbed at some of my stories, even as I typed. I have a waterproof keyboard

 

[MillieDynamite]

My adoptive father's sister hoped for years and years that Dad and his high school sweetheart would get back together. Even during his first two marriages, she wanted him and his first love to find each other. Hopeless romantic. But not she's more than happy that he and Mum are together.

It was incestuous and yet he gave her a ring? That's a new one for me. Was it blood relatives?

As for being dumped, I have one guy who only lasted four months with her, and then he has to deal with her for another three years. (They work together, but on a student paper.) Then ten years later they meet by accident, and she wants him back. At this point I have him spending a couple of weeks assessing the situation. I haven't decided the outcome yet.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Am I normal?
Sobbed at some of my stories, even as I typed. I have a waterproof keyboard

Oh, hun.



Em

 

[MillieDynamite]

Am I normal?
Sobbed at some of my stories, even as I typed. I have a waterproof keyboard

Probably far closer to normal than I!

 

[gunhilltrain]

And yet, in the stand, the third version, I think, there is still a glaring continuity error in one of the scenes set in Denver. When a man walks away down Broadway, the others then walk down Colfax and look back at him, still standing in his front yard. UGH!

There's a third version?! Stephen needs to check his maps. He's got a couple of incongruous, although not egregious, things in the first version. Probably too complicated to explain here.

 

[gunhilltrain]

My adoptive father's sister hoped for years and years that Dad and his high school sweetheart would get back together. Even during his first two marriages, she wanted him and his first love to find each other. Hopeless romantic. But not she's more than happy that he and Mum are together.

It was not impossible, but highly unlikely, that the high school scenario would have happened. Their young ages at the time weigh pretty heavily against it. A better rule of thumb is to grieve for a while, and then move on. Difficult at the start, but healthier in the longer run as you just demonstrated.

 

[AchtungNight]

I’ve fallen in love with my characters, sure. Part of the reason I started writing celebrity fanfics is that love. I will add this to what has been said already. Love can be transformative when it is good and true. I hated and feared many things about my characters before I got to know them and decided to write about them. After writing about them, doing it right by my standards and my readers’, I appreciate the real people on whom I based the characters even more. They helped me satisfy various needs, including the need to become comfortable with controversy and unfamiliarity. Erotic and romantic needs too. Specifics can be provided upon request.

Ultimately however I am happy to hand the characters based on people I don’t fully know off to other lovers who know them better and are more acceptable to them than I might be. They’re all just muses for me in the end. For my lifetime love I’m looking for a higher level of power than just a muse. Probably not a Greek goddess either, unless you can find me one with minimal flaws. I will not explain the analogy if not requested, I hope it is understood.

And yeah, Stephen King is great. The Stand is one of my favorite works of art from him. Ultimately though later stories like Shawshank & Needful Things are better. And he gets better with age. But yeah, the Stand is surely vinegar by now, Stephen. Probably should stop trying to make it fine wine. You got other recipes to share before your main vine withers? I hope so.

 

[Wriggle]

Within my non-erotic writing, I am certainly in love with quite a few of my characters - even the ones based on me.

Characters in my sexual writing I tend to lust over.

 

[Rob_Royale]

My stories mostly feature sexy older women and are usually based on women I've known. So in a big way, I always have been in love with them and it's why I'm here.

 

[Biggalute]

I definitely fall in love with some of my characters. Some are pure fantasies, with attitudes to life and sex that I would love for everyone to have. Others are based on friends or girlfriends and express daydreams that I've had about them. x

 

[Biggalute]

Am I normal?
Sobbed at some of my stories, even as I typed. I have a waterproof keyboard

That's wonderful x

 

[Djmac1031]

Some more than others, but yeah, definitely formed attachments with many of my characters.

To the point of caring about them as if they were real and sympathetic to what they were going through. Despite it being ME putting them through it lol.

Hey, if WE don't care about our own characters, who will...?

 

[onehitwanda]

I think I have a little girl crush on most of my characters. Were I forced to choose, though, it would be Lea. Like @stickygirl, there were bits of "On the Simplicity..." where I had to take a break for a couple of hours.