Old Voices
Every have a significant piece of history that holds deep and power meaning for you but yet could be perceived as stupid/insane/melodramatic or some other negative view by others?
Rarely, if ever, I talk about my "voices" or characters. I am one of those writers who share a brain with the various characters I've taken on or created. I am not one who cannot move a character from Point A to Point B in a story, because let's be honest, this is my brain and these voices are part of my brain. However, characters have baulked at certain Point A to Point B plotting because the motivation wasn't right or the course wouldn't be one their character would make. So, as a writer, I modify motivation, circumstance, surroundings, events, etc. to achieve the necessary outcome. I cannot recall where a character changed my overall plot.
Not all my characters have been self-created. My protagonist for my novel was created by a fellow player in a role-play. She created the character for me, but he turned out to be one of the best villains. I am in love with his evil ways, so much so, that I had to put him in my novel.
But one of the first voices was given by a dear friend. It was a thank you early on in our relationship, when he e-mailed the Buffy mailing list we both subscribed. Being one of the few males on a Spike/Buffy-centric group, he was brave (or crazy) enough to send an e-mail asking for relationship advice. I e-mailed him back (sans group because some advice should be one-on-one). And that's, how they say, is that. We've been friends ever since. I still talk to him and hope to visit him again soon now that he's married and expecting.
As a thank you, he created me a voice. He gave it to me in the most unique and creative way. What I didn't find out, until years later, that he gave me the voice on his birthday. Yes, the voice is still with me, being the character that launched my belief in the fact that I could be a writer of fiction (now, whether I have achieved that goal, I have given up deciding. For the longest time, I thought being published would equal success. Last year, I completed a television script that I consider to be the best thing I've ever written. I felt like success to me.). And yes, I still visit that voice (because really, what's the point of having all these characters in my head if I can't visit and talk with them for a while?) from time to time.
Today is his and my friend's birthday. Happy Birthday.
Rarely, if ever, I talk about my "voices" or characters. I am one of those writers who share a brain with the various characters I've taken on or created. I am not one who cannot move a character from Point A to Point B in a story, because let's be honest, this is my brain and these voices are part of my brain. However, characters have baulked at certain Point A to Point B plotting because the motivation wasn't right or the course wouldn't be one their character would make. So, as a writer, I modify motivation, circumstance, surroundings, events, etc. to achieve the necessary outcome. I cannot recall where a character changed my overall plot.
Not all my characters have been self-created. My protagonist for my novel was created by a fellow player in a role-play. She created the character for me, but he turned out to be one of the best villains. I am in love with his evil ways, so much so, that I had to put him in my novel.
But one of the first voices was given by a dear friend. It was a thank you early on in our relationship, when he e-mailed the Buffy mailing list we both subscribed. Being one of the few males on a Spike/Buffy-centric group, he was brave (or crazy) enough to send an e-mail asking for relationship advice. I e-mailed him back (sans group because some advice should be one-on-one). And that's, how they say, is that. We've been friends ever since. I still talk to him and hope to visit him again soon now that he's married and expecting.
As a thank you, he created me a voice. He gave it to me in the most unique and creative way. What I didn't find out, until years later, that he gave me the voice on his birthday. Yes, the voice is still with me, being the character that launched my belief in the fact that I could be a writer of fiction (now, whether I have achieved that goal, I have given up deciding. For the longest time, I thought being published would equal success. Last year, I completed a television script that I consider to be the best thing I've ever written. I felt like success to me.). And yes, I still visit that voice (because really, what's the point of having all these characters in my head if I can't visit and talk with them for a while?) from time to time.
Today is his and my friend's birthday. Happy Birthday.