There’s something I don’t talk about much in my writing, but I really should mention more often. My stories are not a solo effort. I mean, obviously since I have these awesome critique partners, and this amazing reader who help me muddle through all the flaws in my drafts, but I mean even before that point.
My spouse, my muse, my sounding board, is an equal partner in this whole writing thing. My story ideas all get bounced off her, and a large number of my stories were her idea to begin with. My favorite character in all of existence (not Scott or Loki, believe it or not), Conner, came about because she and I were talking about Lestat (yes, ‘Interview with a Vampire’ Lestat). The conversation was how every writer probably had a similar character, and I said I wanted one, and kind of had one, but not quite.
I remember the evening well, because like I said – favorite character. I live and breath and die for Conner. Well, sort of. So the night he came into his own is like remembering a first date. We were at McDonalds, we were on the tall stools by the bar-like counter, and I had french fries and a hot fudge sundae.
She has one of these as well. The single character that is everything, that defines so much, that is an outlet for hopes and dreams and destroying them and creating them. Hers is named Rahne Ishoto.
Picture a petite woman with straight black hair, and a young build. Rahne’s favorite outfit is a sundress, and no shoes. She’s sweet, hospitable, and a little sarcastic. Oh, and she can tear the limbs from hoards of invading demons and be back by your side before you can blink.
We’ve had discussions over the years about whether or not Rahne is a Mary Sue. I mean, that kind of power, and adorable on top of it? How much more epic could it be? Unless all you want is a quiet life and your destiny prevents you from living it.
Some day I may write Rahne’s story. When I’ve polished my style and writing enough to do her justice. Until then, she’ll continue to save the universe from those demon hoards in our after-dinner discussions and on weekends.
Do you have any characters, either in your own work or someone else’s, who just sticks with you in your thoughts? Who you feel an overwhelming bond with despite their being fictional? And how does that impact your imagination?
This is a tough question I’ve been meaning to answer all day. I would say out of all my characters (and there are way too many), two sets of series really stand out in my mind. The mutant ones, both of them, have had more of my attention than any other and the adult MC, Noah, is one I’ve had in chats and posting blogs for a year now. His was also one of the easiest books to write, so I feel bad that it is pushed to the side because the YA should come out first.
The characters that are closest to me though are the ones from the epic fantasy series. They started as historical fiction and have morphed from that first novel idea to the book I started for nanowrimo last year. One of the main characters is my only attempt at a mary sue, back when I didn’t know what a mary sue was or how bad it was considered. I modeled the one elf mage after me and the other characters after my friends. But they somehow got personalities of their own over the years and are not like the people who first inspired them. I don’t talk about him as much, but he’s still one of my favorites. And the epic fantasy series is one I am writing just for me.