Me in My Writing or My Writing in Me?
Yesterday, my wife and I were at a supermarket and witnessed a disagreement between the cashier and a customer. The cashier refused to accept the price marked on the item’s side. Suddenly, the female customer became deadly calm and picked up her phone. The cashier asked who she was calling. “The president of the company.” Frightened, the cashier signaled to the local manager, and they entered the correct price.
In the parking lot, I told my wife, “Wow, that reminds me of how Lydia handled problems.” “Who’s Lydia?” It turns out she is a minor character in my second book. Lydia has a dominant problem-solving personality that never backs down. I loosely created her from memories of my high school friend Tara.
I explained this to my wife, and we both laughed. However, this brings up a question. How much of me is in my books, and how much of my books are in me?
To answer this, I must first address the elephant in my room. In my second book, I modeled one main character after myself. Thus, the answer for that book is that many of me are contained within those pages. I now understand this was a big mistake because a good author needs detachment so their character can grow beyond their petty existence.
For example, writing a story about the mayor of a large city. I have never been elected to office, and imagining myself becoming a mayor would vastly limit the character’s range. Thus, it is best to start with a blank slate. “This is Sally, the mayor of Boston.” I can work with that.
I learned a lesson, but what about my other books and articles? My morals, traits, locations, ethics, and education limit me. In addition, my life has only had modest accomplishments and timid experiences compared to famous people. Plus, I do not have a rich fantasy mind. Harry Potter and magic? Not for me. Star Trek Vulcans and blue guys in Avatar? That is a bridge too far. Alternate realities? Not in my books.
Still, I use my available resources and knowledge to develop stories, scenes, and characters. My process begins with an idea, which I turn into an outline, and I create a first draft. I have learned to make sure during planning, writing, and editing for too much of my own life. This makes for a better story and prevents people from comparing me to my work.
Taking a highly impartial view of my creations, I believe that the written result contains many of my experiences, observations, personality, and values. If you were to twist my arm for an answer, I would say 40% of myself is within my books. However, I do not think readers would have this conclusion because I am now much better at distancing myself.
What would my friends or family say? I estimate their answers range from 20% to 60%. They know me and my traits, and it is natural for peers to make connections. Does this mean I am one of those delusional authors who cannot separate their reality from the story? No, I know that my creations are simply extensions of my imagination.
What about the flip side? How much do my creations influence my thoughts? I catch myself mistaking my stories for real life a few times per week. This typically occurs when I think about something unrelated and make a connection. When this happens, I laugh it off. I recall calling my daughter Kim the main character in my second book.
Such mistakes are a side effect of being an author. The same could be said of a butcher not enjoying a steak dinner without carefully examining the cut of beef or an auto mechanic inspecting a rental car before driving.
Taking a high-level view. How much influence does my writing affect my daily thoughts? Again, twisting my arm, my answer is less than 5%. This is by design because of the separation I place between my life and my characters, and I am fully aware that my characters are fictional creations. Still, I find it amusing when my character pokes into my life.
The level of influence is quite different from my articles. These short creations are a mix of opinion, research, and facts. My topics are usually writing-related, often about self-improvement. Thus, my articles contain a huge part of my opinions, personality, and personal facts.
The research, conclusions, and recommendations have influenced many parts of my life, especially my writing, which is intentional. I encourage myself to apply what I have written in my articles, look at old articles, and think about how to use my discoveries.
Outside of writing, what influences are there? My articles served as a foundation of knowledge that applies to broad parts of my life that are not always obvious. I have often stated that my articles are “low-budget therapy.”
A good example was my article about the different types of creativity. Until I wrote it, I was completely unaware of how my mind worked in this area. Now, I am much more aware of the mechanics of being creative. Again, if you were to twist my arm, I would say that 60% of my articles directly influence my daily thoughts.
It is natural for a writer to create something close to their heart and for this passion to influence other parts of their lives. Yet, in my wildest dreams, when I began writing, I never imagined I would accidentally call my daughter Kim.
You’re the best -Bill
February 19, 2025
Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:
Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.
Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.
Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.
Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.
These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.
In the parking lot, I told my wife, “Wow, that reminds me of how Lydia handled problems.” “Who’s Lydia?” It turns out she is a minor character in my second book. Lydia has a dominant problem-solving personality that never backs down. I loosely created her from memories of my high school friend Tara.
I explained this to my wife, and we both laughed. However, this brings up a question. How much of me is in my books, and how much of my books are in me?
To answer this, I must first address the elephant in my room. In my second book, I modeled one main character after myself. Thus, the answer for that book is that many of me are contained within those pages. I now understand this was a big mistake because a good author needs detachment so their character can grow beyond their petty existence.
For example, writing a story about the mayor of a large city. I have never been elected to office, and imagining myself becoming a mayor would vastly limit the character’s range. Thus, it is best to start with a blank slate. “This is Sally, the mayor of Boston.” I can work with that.
I learned a lesson, but what about my other books and articles? My morals, traits, locations, ethics, and education limit me. In addition, my life has only had modest accomplishments and timid experiences compared to famous people. Plus, I do not have a rich fantasy mind. Harry Potter and magic? Not for me. Star Trek Vulcans and blue guys in Avatar? That is a bridge too far. Alternate realities? Not in my books.
Still, I use my available resources and knowledge to develop stories, scenes, and characters. My process begins with an idea, which I turn into an outline, and I create a first draft. I have learned to make sure during planning, writing, and editing for too much of my own life. This makes for a better story and prevents people from comparing me to my work.
Taking a highly impartial view of my creations, I believe that the written result contains many of my experiences, observations, personality, and values. If you were to twist my arm for an answer, I would say 40% of myself is within my books. However, I do not think readers would have this conclusion because I am now much better at distancing myself.
What would my friends or family say? I estimate their answers range from 20% to 60%. They know me and my traits, and it is natural for peers to make connections. Does this mean I am one of those delusional authors who cannot separate their reality from the story? No, I know that my creations are simply extensions of my imagination.
What about the flip side? How much do my creations influence my thoughts? I catch myself mistaking my stories for real life a few times per week. This typically occurs when I think about something unrelated and make a connection. When this happens, I laugh it off. I recall calling my daughter Kim the main character in my second book.
Such mistakes are a side effect of being an author. The same could be said of a butcher not enjoying a steak dinner without carefully examining the cut of beef or an auto mechanic inspecting a rental car before driving.
Taking a high-level view. How much influence does my writing affect my daily thoughts? Again, twisting my arm, my answer is less than 5%. This is by design because of the separation I place between my life and my characters, and I am fully aware that my characters are fictional creations. Still, I find it amusing when my character pokes into my life.
The level of influence is quite different from my articles. These short creations are a mix of opinion, research, and facts. My topics are usually writing-related, often about self-improvement. Thus, my articles contain a huge part of my opinions, personality, and personal facts.
The research, conclusions, and recommendations have influenced many parts of my life, especially my writing, which is intentional. I encourage myself to apply what I have written in my articles, look at old articles, and think about how to use my discoveries.
Outside of writing, what influences are there? My articles served as a foundation of knowledge that applies to broad parts of my life that are not always obvious. I have often stated that my articles are “low-budget therapy.”
A good example was my article about the different types of creativity. Until I wrote it, I was completely unaware of how my mind worked in this area. Now, I am much more aware of the mechanics of being creative. Again, if you were to twist my arm, I would say that 60% of my articles directly influence my daily thoughts.
It is natural for a writer to create something close to their heart and for this passion to influence other parts of their lives. Yet, in my wildest dreams, when I began writing, I never imagined I would accidentally call my daughter Kim.
You’re the best -Bill
February 19, 2025
Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:
Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.
Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.
Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.
Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.
These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.
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