Page 28 Discussing Adeline
skyangel on July 20, 2024
Although these chapter introductions are fairly surreal I wonder how relatable they are to other writers who have carried long term creations in their heads for a long time. I don't literally have conversations with my ‘Sarah’ as shown here as that would be pretty creepy but she's always in my mind somewhere waiting for an opportunity to go down on paper, and when she does it gives me a great sense of peace and happiness as she's been my alter ego for so long.
As writers it's almost impossible not to live through our characters because if we didn't feel their emotions or understand their behaviour it would make writing them that much harder, but it also means we have to connect in some way no matter how good or bad they are. I
I see a lot of this on some of the Duck's main page articles, where writers are sharing how their stories can grow so big in the mind with more characters to think about and more complex story situations that in the end you have to start letting some go.
For myself I was originally happy with just Sarah and Janey but as each new chapter called for a progression in the overall story it was inevitable that new faces would appear and Stacey especially became one of my most unexpected favourites in the end.
So yea, I just wonder how closely some of you carry your most cherished characters too!
UnderTheBlackHat at 1:43PM, July 21, 2024
As far as writing goes, you are so right! Scribner girl over here has (apparently) spent countless hours with a conglomeration of people that all sprang from her head, some as just an idea others as nearly fully formed people with actual traits and all that. Then, there is the constant playing of scenarios and how each character involved would react and how they look at an event. It's also interesting to think back to the origins of some of them, as stated before by others, some are based on people she knows, some are people she's invented and who knows where that crosses over. So don't worry about the intros to the chapters, since they are always personal and lovely and even illustrative of you and 'other you' and what not. Sarah, became a fully realized 'person' because of your life and how you grew and created her, she's as real as anyone is (at least to we readers) and it's all part of you. So, now we wonder about your comments regarding 'Adeline' and can't wait to see it!
skyangel at 1:50AM, July 22, 2024
UBH: Your comments are always so inspiring, I almost thrive upon them! But yes, even just reading the comments here by other creators and knowing their characters too shows how healthy it must be to live with these entities floating inside our minds. Children do it effortlessly when they are playing alone and as writers we have been honing that skill most of our lives, just walking home from school or writing stories, and I totally relate to Scribner girl because those interactions can come from nowhere and really affect us emotionally too. I had that happen a lot during the interactions in Simply Sarah.
DarkVisor at 12:56AM, July 21, 2024
Oh no, Sarah is a _very_ good thing to exist :)
skyangel at 1:38AM, July 22, 2024
DV: Thanks for confirming that! :)
Ironscarf at 5:10PM, July 20, 2024
I can absolutely relate to it as it's a nicely realised representation of a writers inner dialogue (not monologue as some would have it!). Over time I've come to realise that every significant character of mine represents either someone I've known, or some unrealised life I might have lived, or sometimes both. Occasionally a chance moment can give life to such a character and they stay with us forever, sometimes whispering truths we're not yet aready to hear. Terrific art and layout again - she prob'ly thinks this page is about her!
skyangel at 1:37AM, July 22, 2024
Your character was uppermost in my mind when I wrote this editorial as your connection to her must feel very similar. It's one thing to impose ourselves onto a character of the same gender but when we swap genders it creates an interesting mix of ourselves together with observations or ideas about the opposite gender. And no doubt we all tend to create gender opposites that are attractive to ourselves as well which makes that bond even stronger.
Othosmops at 1:16PM, July 20, 2024
I feel so close to my main character that I feel the need to let her die in the story or let her story end should something happen to me in real life - in other words, to prepare an emergency exit for my protagonist.
skyangel at 12:41AM, July 22, 2024
That's a very good point and I'll admit I've never thought about that. I wonder if other creators feel the same way. I imagine it's something that has crossed the minds of the authors of many famous characters over the years too.
fredhedges at 12:50PM, July 20, 2024
If she had lines you would have had to pay her more.
skyangel at 12:53PM, July 20, 2024
Hi Fred! And yes, I have to save where I can! XD