Stuck on a character

[SlaveMasterUK]

I have an interesting problem. I have recently finished and posted my first complete story, after working so late and so hard every night to finish it. Now I'm left with several unfilled hours each evening and nothing to do with them.

I decided to work on another unfinished project, but they all seem to have lost their appeal. Similarly I can't get a good idea for a fresh one. Every time I try to imagine something new, I become stuck on the lead character in my last story. The new stories all seem empty without her.

I modelled her appearence on someone I had a major crush on, perhaps as a fantasy, perhaps to say "If I can't have you, I'll create someone else based on you and do what I want with her." Perhaps for other reasons I don't understand. I didn't know the girl personally, so I gave my character the personallity I wanted my crush to have.

Half-way through writing the story, my crush left town and I haven't seen her since. Now when I remember her, all I remember is my character. I often get their names confused.

I don't understand why I can't get her out of my head and concentrate on something new. Do I have a crush on my own character? Have I failed to let go of the crush because I've been writing about her every night? Has anyone else ever had this, or am I just really fucked up?

Any and all replies appreciated here.

Confused.
Ax

 

[pop_54]

Hmmm

Now come in and lay on the couch, now tell me when did this, oh sorry I had my psychologists head on, hehe.

Serious though, it can happen, if I get wrapped up in a tale big time I find myself calling someone by a characters name occasionally if I'm sort of day-dreaming about the story as well as talking to a person, then it's quick appology and revert to their real name.

If you're so wrapped up with Gladys or whoever why not write about her again, another adventure, part two maybe. Failing that it's trawl the brain for friends and neighbours images and names.

Best I find to invent one from scratch if you can, and don't try to force yourself, take a break of a couple of days if you start getting a block.

pops............

 

[NoJo]

The fanstasy is more sexy and real for you than the reality. "Major crushes" as you call them, usually come about because we superimpose our fantasy on the real person, blurring the uncomfortable and unromantic reality through a soft-focus lens of our imagination.

Unfortunately for you, the real person is not around any more to dissilusion you (I mean, how long does it take before our "ideal" woman lets out a fart, says something we disagree with politically, loves a film we hate, etc, so we no longer think of them as perfect?) , so you're stuck with your constructed character -- who is probably not very much like the real person you based her on.

My suggestion: Write like the devil until it's out of your system. You'll probably end up doing some of your best stuff!

 

[wildsweetone]

lmao

...lets out a fart... ohhhhhhh Sub Joe you are such a charmer



SlaveMasterUK, hmm i can relate a little to your quandry, though for a different reason i think.

i have a character who has such a grip on me that it's driving me nuts. the conclusion? well, i figure that i simply haven't written his whole story yet. so, i will keep on writing about and for him until he lets me go.

 

[Chicklet]

Ax,

I have the same problem sometimes. I just use the same character. It doesn't need to be a sequel, just use her in a different situation. You know her so well you'll be able to tell a new story, describing the way she reacts. Just put her in with whatever new ideas you have floating around in your head.

Chicklet

 

[MathGirl]

Avathingies

Dear Pops and SubJoe,

Do you guys go the same avatar maker? Good Grief!

MG

 

[Dirt Man]

The BIG let down...

When I finished writing my first novel, there was such a tearing of my soul that I felt completely empty, and void in a world of black & white photographic images. Then came the editing process, and the re-writes, and re-editing, and on, and on until I was so sick of it that I knew it was ready for publishing, and sent it out into that void.... (panting for breath) And the vacuum came in collapsing the Universe. So I worked on my poetry for awhile. When that book was published I worked on short stories, another novel, and poetry in rotation. So that now when I finish one thing, I have something else to work on right away. And with the stories I post here I've become pretty well rounded as to things to work on when I finish something. So my suggestion is to expand your writing experiance into other genres, and see what happens.


As Always
I Am the
Dirt Man

 

[SubmissAngel919]

i would have to agree with Chicklet and SubJoe and hope that helps...
Wish i could offer some ingenious pearl of wisdom that would miraculously work, but alas, if i could i'd probably be selling it to any author who would listen instead of spending all my time here reading...
At any rate, i read your story and will be an endless fan from here on. i tried to leave feedback, but *exasperated* got a message stating i was a "spammer" and my IP address was blocked!! The nerve...*muttering* oh sorry, i suppose i'll have to post another thread elsewhere to continue that rant...
oh here's a thought, along the lines of my being a spammer, i could "stalk" you and harrass you with my compliments until you get so sick and tired of my posts that you write another until you shut me up...? Just a suggestion...

~submissangel919~

 

[The_Fool]

I read your post last night before I went home. At the time, I really had no answers, but after thinking about it some more I have come up with a possible solution. You are so immersed in this one story that you can no longer see the forest for the trees. One thing I would recommend is to read and not write. I remember reading the comment that one writer made that to be a good writer, you have to be a great reader. I have always taken that thought to heart. Of course I would rather read than breathe, but that's my problem.

I've also found that in reading, that other writers can give me other ideas related to their topic, character or setting. I am not plagarizing, just using them as an influence. Reading doesn't have to be fiction. It can be the newspaper, nonfiction, web-based, paper, audio, etc.

Anyway, just a thought....

 

[SlaveMasterUK]

i could "stalk" you and harrass you with my compliments until you get so sick and tired of my posts that you write another until you shut me up...? Just a suggestion...

~submissangel919~

Be my guest! I've never had a stalker before, so stalk away!

Thanks to everyone else too for all of your comments. I have a few ideas for what to do next, but I want to avoid writing the same thing over again. My next major novella will take some planning, so I think I'm gonna finish a few shorts while it distills.

ax