Writers do it. We have our favorite characters that soften our hearts to their stories. We don’t start out with preferences, but it happens. The journey to discover a character’s story leads to places unknown, and, most likely, a piece of our own experiences, even if remotely. We feel empathy and investments for what our creations endure, survive or achieve.
Admittedly, we throw our people in harm’s way. Isn’t that what character arc and rising action demands? There’s no story without conflict. It’s not always Perils of Pauline syndrome, but there’s an inner conflict that gives the character dimension and somehow relates to what’s happening in the events of his or her life.
When I first created Lori Hopkins and Peggy Mitchell, the dueling protagonists in my first novel, UNEARTHING CHRISTMAS. I didn’t favor one over the other. They lived in equal balance as I drafted and rewrote their stories. They lived in different worlds and times, and I understood them enough to realize how much they misunderstood each other. No judgments. And then another character came along that tugged at my heart, and I don’t know why! Honestly, I don’t! It’s hard to admit, but she’s like a favored child! There’s nothing super spectacular about her, but there’s a quiet strength, and I admire her patience and resilience.
No, I have not entered some fantasy world without escape. Recently, I visited a nurse practitioner named Lori. I told her that I have a main character with her name in my first book of a series entitled THE MIRIAM CHRONICLES. The exciting part is that Book 2 is devoted to Lori because she had much more story to tell. I mentioned to the nurse practitioner that the characters tell me their stories. She thought that was a bit, well, ODD, to say the least! But most writers, especially of fiction, will tell you that the characters practically dictate their stories. It’s part of imagining a world. You enter into a fictional place, and like a child, ask the question: And then what happens? The discovery continues until the story ends. Sometimes, it starts all over again with rewrites.
Okay, back to my favorite character. There’s a part of me that wants to keep her identity secret. One of my favorite aspects of a book club meeting is divulging the favorite and least favorite characters in the latest novel being discussed. And now I feel like I’ve betrayed my favored child because she has competition in Book 2, currently titled, “The Years In Between.” I now have a character, not a main one that has captured my attention because she’s beyond cool, and I don’t know how she came about. She’s not really central to the story, but she’s undeniably intertwined with events. And then I have a character that just doesn’t really sit well with me. I really WANT to like this individual, but I feel a little guilty making the character less admirable, although the closest to being altruistic! But, hey, we’re only human, right? And above all else, I want my characters to be vulnerable with good and bad qualities like all of us. We fight to become our better selves, and I hope my stories make for a better world, as I’ve said in my website tagline. Of course, I have a villain or two, but I’ll leave that up to my readers to discover!
I look forward to the publication of Book 2, now titled, THE YEARS IN BETWEEN, and if you haven’t read UNEARTHING CHRISTMAS check it out! You can order directly from my websites, www.antheatpiscarik.com or www.saintmartinproductions.com happy reading while you remain safe and healthy!