Insanity...

I have begun to wonder if writing requires a certain level of insanity. I'm not sure if it's normal for a person to create fictional characters in the mind... give them childhoods and back stories so that they have 'issues' to overcome, introduce them to other characters you have created... make them fall in love and have wild monkey sex... create hardships and turmoil for them overcome together... and all while developing a real fondness for them.

Then again... wasn't that the whole purpose behind playing with barbie dolls and army men as kids?

Maybe writers are just people who never grow out of that phase...

Whatever the case, I am finding myself feeling a level of sympathy for authors who kill off long-term characters. It never occurred to me before I started writing The Deep End collection... but I can't imagine killing off those people.

I may decide to do that before the entire collection is complete... but I can tell you it will not be an easy story to write.