We put ourselves into our creations' shoes and tackle all the issues (and horror in my case) that we have planned. We hurt when they hurt, and laugh when they laugh. They aren't two dimensional things to us, they are a part of us and we try to tell their story as if it were our own.
There have been times I have had to step away from what I'm writing because I find myself wanting to ease their pain or sorrow. As the author I have to deliver a story that thrills and entertains my readers, so as much as I may want to interfere and stop them from hurting I can't. Every author I know has been there. It's a bit like motherhood really. As I did with my children, I give life to my stories and I care for the characters. I do the best I can to keep my dear readers guessing and on the edge of their seats.
It's not easy and it isn't as much fun as you'd think. Sometimes we break our own hearts when we break theirs and sometimes when their story is done we miss them and think of them fondly. Occasionally our fictional people teach us real lessons.
Perhaps it sounds crazy to you, but these worlds we create and the folks (and monsters) who inhabit them are part of us. When an author invests themselves fully in their work, in their world, they create something not just entertaining but something we all can relate to. The best authors can make us cry, laugh, or rage while we read, without reminding us it's a story. Look at 'Old Yeller' how many can say they didn't have a tear or two in their eye while they read that story?
My goal as an author is not just to entertain you but also to make you think, wonder, and perhaps even shake you with reality in a fictitious story. I tend to write horror; my favorite subgenre to write is psychological horror. I want to put you in my characters' heads and make you feel and experience what they are going through. I want you to put that story down and say 'Wow!’ Also, if you get mad at me for killing a character I know I've done things right, because you're invested enough in them to care that they're gone.
I'm still learning my craft, (I only have three books out for sale right now and a couple more being released this summer.) but with authors like Carole to look up to, I'm learning so much more every day. Thank you kindly folks for taking the time to read this. Thank you Carole for giving me a spot on your blog, encouragement, and knowledge. I appreciate it, and you, very much.
Bio
I am a mother of two, wife, zoologist, and author. I spent just over a decade as a zookeeper, and have worked with many different species of animal but spent the last few years of my career specializing in birds. I had actually settled on specializing further with penguins when illness caused me to lose my career. While I lamented my illness, I turned to my lifelong love of writing to help me cope. Losing one career opened the door to another.
Since then I have self published a novelette (Shifters), short story collection (Oh The Horror), and a short story (Doors). I plan on releasing a novel and another short story collection this summer.
Synopses
Doors- When Dr. Rachel Everby started experimenting with a new hypnotherapy technique she quickly learns that some doors should never be opened.
Shifters- Some FBI Agents find chasing serial killers to be draining work. Agent Samantha Reece isn't one of them, being a werepanther means enjoying the hunt.
Oh The Horror- A collection of psychological horror short stories. What evil lurks in the minds of the mad? Care to find out?
Links
Jaime, thank you so much! And you didn't break anything, not a thing!
Excellent post. You nailed what it feels like when creating a world within a story. It really does become a part of us, one that we don't often want to leave. And the people in them, they are are our best friends, ones that can be hard to let go of at times.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it feels like the world we create is so much more "comfortable" to us than the real world around us. I find myself more often in it than out of it. With the huge investment made, our fiction becomes the truth to us. Great post! I had started a piece about a hypnotherapist but never finished it. I find it especially fascinating as that's what my husband does. Plus I really loved that movie, "Open your Eyes".
ReplyDeleteThank you William and Nat. It's funny how many folks ask me about it. I knew my author friends would be able to relate and hope I've been able to explain it well enough so that the readers know what we mean when we talk about how hard killing off that character was and the like.
ReplyDeleteNat I'd love to chat with you about hypnotherapy as I find it so interesting. I like that they're using it more on the medical side of things these days.
yes, thank you both for your comments.
ReplyDeleteand a huge thank you to Jaime for her post, it is one of the best on this blog ever!
Aw shucks Carole, I doubt that but thank you for the high praise. :o)
ReplyDeleteCarole replies (sweetly sincere and not at all facetiously): BUT JAIME, IT IS THE TRUTH! :)
ReplyDeleteSo eloquently stated, Jaime! I can't tell you how many times I've had to walk away from the computer with a knot in my throat and tears in my eyes because a character just died or experienced something hauntingly tragic. Method acting ... that's such an interesting way to describe scene writing. I think I might refer to it more like having an ad-lib group running around in my head. ;-p
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa. Yeah that's about it isn't it? A hundred characters all swarmed around screaming "Pick me! Pick me!"
ReplyDelete