Letting the characters speak.
I suppose it’s like acting in a way, as a writer I have to get inside my character’s heads, to fully understand them, to find their voice. Some characters are easier than others, and some become easier over time. Others, less so.
Kate is easy. Slipping into her life is like putting on comfy clothes and relaxing with a friend. Lily is harder to connect with, but she’s quite fun to be with while writing. She thinks a lot, she has an inner strength and focus that helps.
Sage is fun, when my car is working. Sage is strong willed and easily annoyed, but she gets things done. She’s a bit of a force of nature.
Then there’s Sam.
Sam is actually quite dangerous. To get inside her head, to find her voice I have to find the dark places. Sam is self destructive, and also damaging to those around her, especially those who care about her. Her story is the darkest, with the unhappy ending we already know (if you’ve read Child of the Portal – in case you haven’t, I’ll leave it there.)
I’m finding my way back into Sam’s view of the world, and entering the editing phase of her story.
Watch this space…
In the meantime, her beginning is told in The Heir.
