The Composite Method: Basing Characters on Yourself

[BookClubEditor]

Are you more interested in writing characters that are similar to or unlike yourself? Why?

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Reply to this message to discuss this topic.

[noyouyesme]

Myself
Maybe it would allow me to empathize with myself and choices I have made, maybe I could understand some decisions I´ve had to live with if I can explore them as something a fictional character did or does. Maybe it would make me remember things I used to enjoy and might get back into.

[Cahill42]

I'd have to say a mix of myself and the voices that I hear in my head! Strike that, maybe more the voices in my head...their lives are much more interesting. There's a little bit of me in each character that I've written, but there's a large part that comes from the world/people around me.

[Amy]

I prefer writing characters that are more like myself, at least initially. I know my values, habits, and choices I’ve made, basing a character loosely on myself gives me a starting point. From that starting point I like exploring that character’s response to situations – how would I/she handle it. I find it fascinating to delve into the possibilities – does the character actually do what I would do, or do I give the character more strength to do what I would be scared to do. Also, if I create a character based on myself I get to live some amazing adventures through the character.

[lynn]

Sometimes when I write, the voice I hear initially is my own because it's usually a situation I've read about or an issue I'm interested in that poses a question I want to explore. It seems that by the time I've finished the first draft, the voice is rarely my own and the character responds in ways that are surprising to me. The character becomes his/her own person. Other times I imagine a character that seems like such a complete person in my head that I try to create a story for him/her.

[Duch92]

I seem to tend toward writing characters that are like myself. I think it is easier to make judgements that the charater would make if s/he is like me.
I wonder though if I short sheet the character by doing this by leaving out details, writing a mundane story, etc.

[basmith]

I'm definitely more interested in writing about characters that step outside of my box. Perhaps to live vicariously through the characters. Saying and doing what you want or feel, instead of what you know you should, can be lots of fun. But, also to explore the consequences of acting unlike myself - the "what-ifs".

[Bonnie824]

I like reading fiction best that has at least one character I can really relate to. So my writing will probably always have that person, maybe not always as the main character though. I love making up stories in my head- good and bad things that could happen, or finishing up confusing dreams- with "me's" who are more or less of a lot of my characteristics.

[Questauthor]

I tend to base my characters on people I know, so of course I can see myself in a few of them. Two in particular seem to be me; one as I am now, and one who I see as myself right after college. It's great being able to take a part of yourself and translate that into a character. I enjoy it.

[Rob88]

I would have to say myself as I tend to put myself in a lot of my characters shoes when I write. Even if I start out trying to write characters totally unlike myself, before I know it, I find myself basing at least a little of the character on myself.

[beachcounselor]

I think it is always easier to write about oneself, because who do we know better then ourselves? However, I find when I write about myself I sometimes have a problem embleshing or writing a storyline that is best for the story. I tend to be too cautious of my characters when I base it on myself.

[opalgirl137]

I think most of my main characters are some aspect of myself. Usually, they morph into either who I am afraid of being or who I hope to be. In a way, some of my characters are my role models.

[Gabriella]

Hmmm...I guess I am the character in the center of my writing. It seems I am involved with characters very unlike me, and the involvement combines my own sense of self in contrast to other characters. Sometimes it is hard to untangle the two, or maybe it is difficult for me to go between them and write them.??

I will have to think about this for a while

[kurt1986]

I always think of myself as the main character, at least initially. I haven't really tried anything else yet, but I would enjoy exploring a main character totally different from me in every way. But as for the supporting characters, I model them like the supporters in my life; friends and family. I would love to try writing in both styles. In one story, a main character that is me and in another, a main character that does things that I would never conceive.

[prince_alfie]

I don't care about whether or not the characters are based on myself or not. I really prefer to write books with odd viewpoints... there are many many times when I want to write from the perspective on an inanimate object or an animal such as V. Woolf's Flush.

[danelb]

Sometimes I have written about characters who are very much like be, and other times I have written about different characters who nevertheless end up with impulses and ideas which are like my own. I think that I write better when I have something in common with my characters - it is just easier, and yet the challenge of writing about a different character is still enticing. I guess I would like to do both - some characters that I identify with and some that are more foreign to me. It is a good thing to be able to leave my own prejudices and values behind and understand what a different kind of a person is all about. I am not sure that I really want to put myself into the mind of a murderer.

[Marymc]

My characters are not like me, at least not intentionally. Perhaps I'm reluctant to reveal that much of myself. Perhaps I intentionally make them very different from myself. I do set my writing in places that were of particular interest to me. I'm currently working on a piece set in Wyoming. The theme is the difficult relationship between a stifled and introverted mother and her independent, outspoken daughter. Two years ago, my daughter and I took a road trip from the southeastern corner of Wyoming clear up to Yellowstone. We're Southern Californians. Very different environment. I don't think I based my mother character on myself. I think she is actually someone I have always tried not to be. The daughter has all the characteristics of my daughter.

[adrift]

I suppose my characters are not as much based on the total me as they are sprinkled a bit with my experiences. Actually I try to get as far away as possible from blending my personality into my characters(at least I hope so).

[shortstop6]

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BookClubEditor wrote:

Are you more interested in writing characters that are similar to or unlike yourself? Why?

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Reply to this message to discuss this topic.

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I tend to fall back on writing about a character similar to myself if I don't make the effort of creating a character. When I create a character who is unlike me I find it gives my writing a certain energy, a certain freedom.

[Katelyn]

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prince_alfie wrote:
I don't care about whether or not the characters are based on myself or not. I really prefer to write books with odd viewpoints... there are many many times when I want to write from the perspective on an inanimate object or an animal such as V. Woolf's Flush.

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Prince Alfie,
I find this very interesting. I was thinking of writing something from the point of view of an animal recently. I'de love to see an example (even if only a paragraph) written from the point of view of an inanimate object. If you have something you'de like to share, it would be very interesting. I'm very curious about the approach you'de take...

Kate