Christina Westover's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
If there is a message in Precipice, it is that love is love--gay, straight, or lesbian, love is the ultimate goal of any relationship.I wanted to present characters who would be liked because of their personalities, their interests, regardless of their sexuality.This was mostly accomplished with Jackson, who is bisexual, and with Amber, a lesbian who falls in love with a man for the first time.I wanted to write a mainstream novel about sexual diversity without having it labeled a gay or lesbian novel, as I felt this greatly limited the audience it would reach.Besides, sexuality isn't the focus of Precipice.No, sexuality only makes the characters more life-like, more human, more honest.My favorite thing about Precipice, was that I finally found a way to write the multi-dimensional characters which interested me without limiting them to a certain genre of book.In this respect, writing Precipice was a period of total artistic freedom for me.
It is a well known fact that Kurt Cobain supported gay rights, another reason why this novel is dedicated to him.
It is a well known fact that Kurt Cobain supported gay rights, another reason why this novel is dedicated to him.
As a newly published author, I've had both favorable and unfavorable reviews.I am aware that not everyone is going to like how I write, what I write, or even deem me worthy of being published--some will even write reviews on my novel without having read the work in its entirety.
As literary artists, one cannot allow the fear of what others may think to hamper the creative process.Some of the world's best known pieces of literature have been criticized or banned for reasons as trivial as making the region of the book's setting look bad--as is the case in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." Lewis Carroll's "Alice In Wonderland" was banned at one time in China for depicting animals which were as complex and intelligent as humans. "Animal Farm," "Candide," "Madame Bovary," "The Da Vinci Code"--they're all novels which were at one time banned or censored by people who did not like them for various reasons, or who viewed them as some sort of threat.
What it all comes down to is this, you'll never be able to please everyone and you shouldn't even try.Be passionate about what you write, believe in your ability to convey timeless ideas, and let no one tell you what what you're capable of.After all, what would the world be like if Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck had allowed the opinions of others to stop him?
As literary artists, one cannot allow the fear of what others may think to hamper the creative process.Some of the world's best known pieces of literature have been criticized or banned for reasons as trivial as making the region of the book's setting look bad--as is the case in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." Lewis Carroll's "Alice In Wonderland" was banned at one time in China for depicting animals which were as complex and intelligent as humans. "Animal Farm," "Candide," "Madame Bovary," "The Da Vinci Code"--they're all novels which were at one time banned or censored by people who did not like them for various reasons, or who viewed them as some sort of threat.
What it all comes down to is this, you'll never be able to please everyone and you shouldn't even try.Be passionate about what you write, believe in your ability to convey timeless ideas, and let no one tell you what what you're capable of.After all, what would the world be like if Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck had allowed the opinions of others to stop him?
As someone who has been depressive since childhood, I have always found literature and music to be the only escape from the darkness. Writing "Precipice" was the only thing which made me feel happy during moments of extreme depression, the only thing which allowed me to sleep at night. I am not the only one who has endured this. Edgar Allen Poe, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Vincent Van Gogh, Lord Byron, and William Blake,and Kurt Cobain among others were known for their depression and creativity.
Studies linking creativity and manic-depressive illness, known as bipolar disorder, have shown that because of fluctuations in mood, thought, and behavior, those with bipolar disorder sometimes have moments of unusually focused and creative thinking which result in higher levels of creative productivity. Abstract thinking is a shared trait between creativity and psychopathology often found in writers, especially poets. This correlation is not new and dates back to the time of Aristotle.
"Touched with Fire:Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament" by Kay Redfield Jamison is a fantastic and intriguing read if you wish to expand on this topic. I am certainly not implying that all artists, literary or otherwise, suffer from manic-depressive illness. I simply think it important to recognize this phenomenon, to educate ourselves on psychological issues which affect many of those in our lives, and to remind those with such disorders that they are capable of accomplishing truly amazing things!
Studies linking creativity and manic-depressive illness, known as bipolar disorder, have shown that because of fluctuations in mood, thought, and behavior, those with bipolar disorder sometimes have moments of unusually focused and creative thinking which result in higher levels of creative productivity. Abstract thinking is a shared trait between creativity and psychopathology often found in writers, especially poets. This correlation is not new and dates back to the time of Aristotle.
"Touched with Fire:Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament" by Kay Redfield Jamison is a fantastic and intriguing read if you wish to expand on this topic. I am certainly not implying that all artists, literary or otherwise, suffer from manic-depressive illness. I simply think it important to recognize this phenomenon, to educate ourselves on psychological issues which affect many of those in our lives, and to remind those with such disorders that they are capable of accomplishing truly amazing things!
Readers often ask me if I am my character Virgil, the hero in my novel "Precipice." I always reply with the same answer, "The book is fiction." In reality, pouring your heart and soul into your writing requires understanding of what you have experienced in life. It requires knowing where you have been, where you are now, and where you want to be in the future. It means writing about those things and people you feel most passionately about.
Charles Dickens worked at age 12 to help support his family while his father was imprisoned. He later recounted his impoverished childhood in his novel "David Copperfield."
Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Mitchell, Author of "Gone With The Wind" wrote a scene in which Scarlett O'Hara receives news of her mother's illness only to return home to find she had already died. This happened to Mitchell.
J.R.R.Tolkein often visited his aunt's farm of "Bag End," using the name and scenery in his books. His wife Edith was the inspiration for much of the "Simarillion," and he often referred to her as "my Luthien."
"Ham on Rye" is the semi-autobiographical account of Charles Bukowski's coming-of-age in Los Angeles where he grew up during the Great Depression. The characters in the hero's family all mirror actual members of Bukowski's family.
Fiction is often autobiographical or semi-autobiographical in nature. Writing what you know brings depth and vulnerability to the characters and storyline. It is also a way of preserving the memories you keep close to you. "Precipice" is fiction, though everything Virgil remembers and feels about his grandmother is not!
Charles Dickens worked at age 12 to help support his family while his father was imprisoned. He later recounted his impoverished childhood in his novel "David Copperfield."
Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Mitchell, Author of "Gone With The Wind" wrote a scene in which Scarlett O'Hara receives news of her mother's illness only to return home to find she had already died. This happened to Mitchell.
J.R.R.Tolkein often visited his aunt's farm of "Bag End," using the name and scenery in his books. His wife Edith was the inspiration for much of the "Simarillion," and he often referred to her as "my Luthien."
"Ham on Rye" is the semi-autobiographical account of Charles Bukowski's coming-of-age in Los Angeles where he grew up during the Great Depression. The characters in the hero's family all mirror actual members of Bukowski's family.
Fiction is often autobiographical or semi-autobiographical in nature. Writing what you know brings depth and vulnerability to the characters and storyline. It is also a way of preserving the memories you keep close to you. "Precipice" is fiction, though everything Virgil remembers and feels about his grandmother is not!
I recently came across a blog with a posting about Cutting titled "To Calm A Seaweed Monster"
https://lestylofontaine.wordpress.com/
. Written by a young California woman named Ariela, I was blown away by the fact that she had the courage to candidly write about such a dark topic, when I myself have refrained from speaking about such things for years.In truth, I have always been afraid that if people found out I used to self-mutilate, if they understood how self-destructive I have been in the past and how the urge still remains (even though I no longer give in to this), they would be afraid of me--be afraid to be around me, or they would view me as unstable.
The fact remains that we live in a world where people just do not know how to treat one another. Abuse happens on a daily basis on many levels, and some people become consumed with such suffocating and raging emotions that they turn to drugs, alcohol, or other compulsive behaviors to help them to cope. Self-mutilation is just that, a coping behavior, something used to help an individual to LIVE--a sort of distraction which localizes the pain, turning emotional pain into a physical pain which may then be cared for.
This self-destructive behavior can range from cutting, scratching and burning to even hitting oneself. I once had a therapist tell me, "Don't give yourself airs, you're an extremely violent person, but you're only violent to yourself." It made me appreciate that while I wasn't allowing anyone else to abuse me, it wasn't right that I continued to abuse myself.
Ten years of therapy later, I am pleased to say that I am happy to be alive, happy that I am no longer violent to myself. There are still so many out there who are--they're your sons and daughters, your husband or wife, your mother or father, your friends. Let's start this new year off with compassion and love for one another--because, when people are writing about these topics, they're a warning sign to every member of society that we need to be more kind to each other and ourselves.
https://lestylofontaine.wordpress.com/
. Written by a young California woman named Ariela, I was blown away by the fact that she had the courage to candidly write about such a dark topic, when I myself have refrained from speaking about such things for years.In truth, I have always been afraid that if people found out I used to self-mutilate, if they understood how self-destructive I have been in the past and how the urge still remains (even though I no longer give in to this), they would be afraid of me--be afraid to be around me, or they would view me as unstable.
The fact remains that we live in a world where people just do not know how to treat one another. Abuse happens on a daily basis on many levels, and some people become consumed with such suffocating and raging emotions that they turn to drugs, alcohol, or other compulsive behaviors to help them to cope. Self-mutilation is just that, a coping behavior, something used to help an individual to LIVE--a sort of distraction which localizes the pain, turning emotional pain into a physical pain which may then be cared for.
This self-destructive behavior can range from cutting, scratching and burning to even hitting oneself. I once had a therapist tell me, "Don't give yourself airs, you're an extremely violent person, but you're only violent to yourself." It made me appreciate that while I wasn't allowing anyone else to abuse me, it wasn't right that I continued to abuse myself.
Ten years of therapy later, I am pleased to say that I am happy to be alive, happy that I am no longer violent to myself. There are still so many out there who are--they're your sons and daughters, your husband or wife, your mother or father, your friends. Let's start this new year off with compassion and love for one another--because, when people are writing about these topics, they're a warning sign to every member of society that we need to be more kind to each other and ourselves.
For years now, I have had the same Muse. A woman I was once deeply in love with, she was always who I wrote about when speaking of love, even when in relationships with others. I think most writers have such a Muse--that face which comes to memory when recalling what it is to long for someone, to physically ache for them, a dream which you cannot let go of. This Muse stirs your imagination when you remember what it is to feel completely fulfilled both emotionally and physically--unconditionally loved, without fear of those feelings ever fading.
Writing this Muse, I have sometimes had a twinge of guilt knowing that these feelings were kept alive even after the relationship which had ignited them no longer existed. I would look into my new lover's eyes and tell her that I loved her more than I had ever loved anyone--and yet, I would write about the Muse whose memory still haunted me. Virgil Daly's girlfriend Amber, in my novel "Precipice" was my Muse fused with how I felt about the woman I was involved with at the time of writing.
Last night, something amazing happened--something I never thought I'd live to experience. I had a dream about my Muse. I dreamed I saw her at a gathering, and without hesitation, I walked up to her, took her hands in mine, and said, "Thank you for everything, for loving me. Keep well." I saw her smile, and that was that!
When I let go and walked off, the longing and desire I once felt for her love no longer existed. Upon awakening, I realized I am completely over her and had finally let her go!
It is perfect timing, too, as I have acquired a new Muse these days--a green-eyed beauty named Lily Sauvage who I believe I met before, once upon a dream. 2011--a New Year with a New Muse, and hopefully, the beginning of a novel which will still be read hundreds of years from now: )
Writing this Muse, I have sometimes had a twinge of guilt knowing that these feelings were kept alive even after the relationship which had ignited them no longer existed. I would look into my new lover's eyes and tell her that I loved her more than I had ever loved anyone--and yet, I would write about the Muse whose memory still haunted me. Virgil Daly's girlfriend Amber, in my novel "Precipice" was my Muse fused with how I felt about the woman I was involved with at the time of writing.
Last night, something amazing happened--something I never thought I'd live to experience. I had a dream about my Muse. I dreamed I saw her at a gathering, and without hesitation, I walked up to her, took her hands in mine, and said, "Thank you for everything, for loving me. Keep well." I saw her smile, and that was that!
When I let go and walked off, the longing and desire I once felt for her love no longer existed. Upon awakening, I realized I am completely over her and had finally let her go!
It is perfect timing, too, as I have acquired a new Muse these days--a green-eyed beauty named Lily Sauvage who I believe I met before, once upon a dream. 2011--a New Year with a New Muse, and hopefully, the beginning of a novel which will still be read hundreds of years from now: )
Most of us have had a roommate or two in our lifetimes. Whether it was the brother or sister you shared a room with as a kid, the uncle who took over your room after losing his job and moving in, or that first apartment in your twenties which was just short of being the sort of crazed party house your parents always warned you about--we have all experienced a roommate situation in one way or another.
Living in San Francisco, where a tiny apartment like mine rents for $1350 USD a month (and this is on the low end of the scale in this city), a roommate is often a necessity unless one wishes to waste money on rent which could easily be spent on having fun or purchasing necessities such as toothpaste and toilet paper. A few months back, I found myself a roommate--a young artist with immense talent and skill at drawing portraits. A full-time student with a part-time job who would almost never be home, he seemed like a perfect roommate.
Except for having to lay down the law a few times about how long and how frequently guests are allowed to stay, I do not have many complaints about him--but there is ONE.
He uses a MAN-BRUSH. In case you do not know what this is, a MAN-BRUSH is a brush used in the shower--the sort with a long thin handle used for reaching those areas which your arms and hands cannot. I always sort of imagine him soaping up the tip of the bristles reaching over his head with it and singing "Rub-a-dub-dub" as he scrubs his back. I'm sure you're thinking to yourself, "At least he takes showers!" To which I would have to respond that I'm not finished with this story!
Almost every time I get into the shower, the head of the MAN-BRUSH is resting on the wash cloth I use for washing my body! When I asked him about this, he said, "What's the big deal, I keep my body clean." The big deal being that I do not want to wash myself with a cloth which has been touching the brush which scrubs the unknown parts of the body of someone who never cleans his room or purchases a new toothbrush! Oftentimes, while in the shower, the MAN-BRUSH falls off the shelf where it rests, and makes a racket as it hits the base of the bathtub.
Well, something wonderful happened--something sublime! I returned home from work to find the MAN-BRUSH in the trash can. Apparently, its head had detached from its handle. I had to put a hand over my mouth to keep from cracking up and having the roommate hear this. When I asked him what happened, he said the head fell off while he was scrubbing his back ("Rub-a-dub-dub"), and that next time he purchases one, it will be made out of wood so the handle won't break off! So far so good, no new MAN-BRUSH.
All I can say for myself is, as a lesbian who has spent the majority of her adult life living with women, I had forgotten what it was like to live with a man. It hasn't been as easy as I thought, but then, I'm sure he's thinking the same thing!
Living in San Francisco, where a tiny apartment like mine rents for $1350 USD a month (and this is on the low end of the scale in this city), a roommate is often a necessity unless one wishes to waste money on rent which could easily be spent on having fun or purchasing necessities such as toothpaste and toilet paper. A few months back, I found myself a roommate--a young artist with immense talent and skill at drawing portraits. A full-time student with a part-time job who would almost never be home, he seemed like a perfect roommate.
Except for having to lay down the law a few times about how long and how frequently guests are allowed to stay, I do not have many complaints about him--but there is ONE.
He uses a MAN-BRUSH. In case you do not know what this is, a MAN-BRUSH is a brush used in the shower--the sort with a long thin handle used for reaching those areas which your arms and hands cannot. I always sort of imagine him soaping up the tip of the bristles reaching over his head with it and singing "Rub-a-dub-dub" as he scrubs his back. I'm sure you're thinking to yourself, "At least he takes showers!" To which I would have to respond that I'm not finished with this story!
Almost every time I get into the shower, the head of the MAN-BRUSH is resting on the wash cloth I use for washing my body! When I asked him about this, he said, "What's the big deal, I keep my body clean." The big deal being that I do not want to wash myself with a cloth which has been touching the brush which scrubs the unknown parts of the body of someone who never cleans his room or purchases a new toothbrush! Oftentimes, while in the shower, the MAN-BRUSH falls off the shelf where it rests, and makes a racket as it hits the base of the bathtub.
Well, something wonderful happened--something sublime! I returned home from work to find the MAN-BRUSH in the trash can. Apparently, its head had detached from its handle. I had to put a hand over my mouth to keep from cracking up and having the roommate hear this. When I asked him what happened, he said the head fell off while he was scrubbing his back ("Rub-a-dub-dub"), and that next time he purchases one, it will be made out of wood so the handle won't break off! So far so good, no new MAN-BRUSH.
All I can say for myself is, as a lesbian who has spent the majority of her adult life living with women, I had forgotten what it was like to live with a man. It hasn't been as easy as I thought, but then, I'm sure he's thinking the same thing!
Precipice
Christina Westover
ISBN: 978193560652
Black Rose Writing
Reviewed By Renee Washburn
Official Apex Reviews Rating:5 Stars
Radio talk show host by day and passionate artist by night, Virgil Daly is on
a desperate quest for true fulfillment. Constantly torn between the disparate
extremes of pleasure and pain, Virgil’s daily torment is only further compounded
when he learns that someone is determined to kill him. Ultimately, with his very
life at stake, Virgil is forced to confront his innermost demons – eventually coming
to the realization that the concepts of “escape” and “freedom” are not one and the
same...
Deeply insightful, Precipice is a hauntingly compelling read. In it, author
Christina Westover paints an engrossing portrait of a conflicted soul in constant
flux, chronicling Virgil’s often fruitless efforts to discover true meaning in his life.
Though his particular situation may be unique, the symbolic struggle of Westover’s
troubled protagonist is by no means an isolated example of the daily challenges
with which we all contend. As such, readers from all backgrounds are sure to
relate both to the weariness of Virgil’s tired soul, as well as to his stubborn refusal
to be victimized by the daunting tests and trials that come his way. Strongly
recommended.
Christina Westover
ISBN: 978193560652
Black Rose Writing
Reviewed By Renee Washburn
Official Apex Reviews Rating:5 Stars
Radio talk show host by day and passionate artist by night, Virgil Daly is on
a desperate quest for true fulfillment. Constantly torn between the disparate
extremes of pleasure and pain, Virgil’s daily torment is only further compounded
when he learns that someone is determined to kill him. Ultimately, with his very
life at stake, Virgil is forced to confront his innermost demons – eventually coming
to the realization that the concepts of “escape” and “freedom” are not one and the
same...
Deeply insightful, Precipice is a hauntingly compelling read. In it, author
Christina Westover paints an engrossing portrait of a conflicted soul in constant
flux, chronicling Virgil’s often fruitless efforts to discover true meaning in his life.
Though his particular situation may be unique, the symbolic struggle of Westover’s
troubled protagonist is by no means an isolated example of the daily challenges
with which we all contend. As such, readers from all backgrounds are sure to
relate both to the weariness of Virgil’s tired soul, as well as to his stubborn refusal
to be victimized by the daunting tests and trials that come his way. Strongly
recommended.
As someone who is a member of an extremely dysfunctional family, I have always found it to be of great comfort when reading about others who have survived childhoods riddled with abuse, poverty, and neglectful parents only to succeed as adults. It is a testimony to how resilient we as humans truly are--a testimony to how the drive to love and be loved can help us to rescue ourselves from those dark places where many of us originated.
One of eight children, a Russian Jewish immigrant who once watched as his family's home burned to the ground, Irving Berlin quit school at age 8 to work as a newspaper boy to help support his family. He learned that if he sang songs while selling papers, people often tossed extra coins to him in appreciation. He grew up to be one of the greatest American Composers and lyricists, whose ballads made The Jazz Age memorable.
Abandoned by her father, Ella Fitzgerald's mother died of a heart attack when Ella was only fifteen-years-old. She was cared for by an aunt, even spending time in an orphanage. She made her singing debut two years later at age 17, and went on to be called the "First Lady of Song." She was the winner of fourteen Grammy Awards among others.
Author Dean Koontz lived an impoverished childhood, suffering through the abuse of an alcoholic parent. He has written well over fifty books, including ten hardcovers and thirteen paperbacks which reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. His books often reflect his childhood pain, his sensitivity, and his spirit to succeed.
Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple" was the youngest of eight children in a household which barely made ends meet. Her father was a farmer who earned $300 dollars a year, while her mother worked as a maid to help support their family. It was her mother's $17 dollars a week which helped to put her through college. Alice Walker has since won the Pulitzer Prize for her contribution to literature.
One cannot forget Marilyn Monroe whose vulnerability on screen made her appear to be more childlike than the sex goddess she was known as. She never knew her father, and lived an unstable existence due to her mother's mental illness.She spent her childhood in foster homes where she suffered abuse on many levels. She grew up to be a gifted actress, model, and singer.
These are just a few well-known examples of individuals who have succeeded despite the lack of a nurturing, stable home life. More and more, I meet people like these all the time, and it inspires me to push myself, to break the cycle of abuse I have witnessed, to be the best human and parent I can be. If this post teaches you anything at all, I hope it is a reminder that you are NOT your past, and that you have everything you need to create the future you desire.
One of eight children, a Russian Jewish immigrant who once watched as his family's home burned to the ground, Irving Berlin quit school at age 8 to work as a newspaper boy to help support his family. He learned that if he sang songs while selling papers, people often tossed extra coins to him in appreciation. He grew up to be one of the greatest American Composers and lyricists, whose ballads made The Jazz Age memorable.
Abandoned by her father, Ella Fitzgerald's mother died of a heart attack when Ella was only fifteen-years-old. She was cared for by an aunt, even spending time in an orphanage. She made her singing debut two years later at age 17, and went on to be called the "First Lady of Song." She was the winner of fourteen Grammy Awards among others.
Author Dean Koontz lived an impoverished childhood, suffering through the abuse of an alcoholic parent. He has written well over fifty books, including ten hardcovers and thirteen paperbacks which reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. His books often reflect his childhood pain, his sensitivity, and his spirit to succeed.
Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple" was the youngest of eight children in a household which barely made ends meet. Her father was a farmer who earned $300 dollars a year, while her mother worked as a maid to help support their family. It was her mother's $17 dollars a week which helped to put her through college. Alice Walker has since won the Pulitzer Prize for her contribution to literature.
One cannot forget Marilyn Monroe whose vulnerability on screen made her appear to be more childlike than the sex goddess she was known as. She never knew her father, and lived an unstable existence due to her mother's mental illness.She spent her childhood in foster homes where she suffered abuse on many levels. She grew up to be a gifted actress, model, and singer.
These are just a few well-known examples of individuals who have succeeded despite the lack of a nurturing, stable home life. More and more, I meet people like these all the time, and it inspires me to push myself, to break the cycle of abuse I have witnessed, to be the best human and parent I can be. If this post teaches you anything at all, I hope it is a reminder that you are NOT your past, and that you have everything you need to create the future you desire.
Ever since I was a small child, I was so good at creating fictional characters that I often spent hours creating dialogue between fictional friends and myself. I would even stand before the mirror, watching intently, noticing the subtle facial expressions made when pretending to be a character, and then speaking as myself.
While writing "Precipice" I had a doctor tell me I spend so much time with the friends I create in my mind, that I have no energy for friends in the real world. It was reminiscent of the Nirvana song "Dumb" in which Kurt Cobain sings, "I'm so happy, 'cause today I've found my friends, they're in my head."
As silly as the above sounds, characters are crucial to a novel. Most works of literature would not be memorable despite the well written prose, if not for memorable characters. You know--people like Scarlett O'Hara from "Gone With The Wind," Jean Valjean from "Les Miserables," or Tom Joad from "The Grapes of Wrath."
When creating a character, I start out with a biography of sorts. I write their full name,date of birth, city of birth, physical attributes, their role in the family, etc. I then write the character's likes and dislikes. I like to add flaws and distasteful habits to my characters. I like to make sure they are neither all good or all bad, all straight or all gay--for the human race is far from predictable. I try to be objective to ensure I am not merely writing myself into a story, but that the character is a person I myself am eager to learn and to know.
While I would never consider myself a performer or actress, a certain amount of acting is required when creating characters. Once you have the history and descriptive detail to give you an idea of who it is you are writing about--you must BECOME this person in order to write a story which is no longer yours--but his or hers.This is when something MAGICAL takes over! You find your characters responding in ways you would never think of. You find them laughing at jokes you wouldn't particularly care for,you find them starting to breathe and live onto each page. It is when you FEEL them inside of you, yet so separate from you as a person, that you've created something grand. When finishing a book feels as though you've had to say goodbye to a dear friend, and there is a loneliness at the pit of your stomach, you can rest assured that your readers will feel the same way. It is the magic of art!
While writing "Precipice" I had a doctor tell me I spend so much time with the friends I create in my mind, that I have no energy for friends in the real world. It was reminiscent of the Nirvana song "Dumb" in which Kurt Cobain sings, "I'm so happy, 'cause today I've found my friends, they're in my head."
As silly as the above sounds, characters are crucial to a novel. Most works of literature would not be memorable despite the well written prose, if not for memorable characters. You know--people like Scarlett O'Hara from "Gone With The Wind," Jean Valjean from "Les Miserables," or Tom Joad from "The Grapes of Wrath."
When creating a character, I start out with a biography of sorts. I write their full name,date of birth, city of birth, physical attributes, their role in the family, etc. I then write the character's likes and dislikes. I like to add flaws and distasteful habits to my characters. I like to make sure they are neither all good or all bad, all straight or all gay--for the human race is far from predictable. I try to be objective to ensure I am not merely writing myself into a story, but that the character is a person I myself am eager to learn and to know.
While I would never consider myself a performer or actress, a certain amount of acting is required when creating characters. Once you have the history and descriptive detail to give you an idea of who it is you are writing about--you must BECOME this person in order to write a story which is no longer yours--but his or hers.This is when something MAGICAL takes over! You find your characters responding in ways you would never think of. You find them laughing at jokes you wouldn't particularly care for,you find them starting to breathe and live onto each page. It is when you FEEL them inside of you, yet so separate from you as a person, that you've created something grand. When finishing a book feels as though you've had to say goodbye to a dear friend, and there is a loneliness at the pit of your stomach, you can rest assured that your readers will feel the same way. It is the magic of art!
