For those of you who are interested in stories or essays about stories, this is something I wrote for myself years ago. I came across it and it reminded me of all the stories and characters from the past that still occasionally speak to me (inside my head).
It is an odd piece, so if you want to skip it, that's perfectly fine with me. I just thought I'd share it as some of you will recognize Annie from "Time After Time" (and in the soon to come sequel "Carrick Cove"). She spoke up in this piece along with several others.
Main
Characters converse with writer…
OK, it’s a fact. I love to write. Why? I don’t know.
Perhaps because it uses my imagination and possibly extends the joy of youth…
when imagination rules a good portion of our lives. I can well remember the feeling
of being immersed in a world of my own when I was a child. Then again, writing
is psychologically therapeutic. Putting down one’s thoughts on paper is
liberating… clears the mind and organizes thoughts.
So... the question I’m tossing around in my head this
morning is just who are the characters that pop up in our heads when
writing a story? Are they another form
of ourselves? Are they a conglomeration of people we’ve known, met, loved,
hated… people we’d like to be, people we’d like to know, etc.
Today I’m going to invite these characters to give me
their thoughts. I want them to express what it’s like to be a character in a
story. Do they enjoy it… like actors in a play? Or do they not like being
manipulated by the writer? And more importantly, do they sometimes take over
and do their own thing? I feel that my
characters definitely do this on occasion… and to be honest, I enjoy it when
they do… because they may do or say something unexpected… something I wasn’t
aware was even in my mind (or in theirs)… thus, giving the story an
unforeseen turn.
Anyone out there or ‘in there’ (pertaining to
inside my head) that would like to speak up?
“I
would! And I’m not happy!”
OK, why not?
“Because
you created my character years ago in a story for Nanowrimo. We were together
for months developing the storyline… then you just abandoned me… in the middle
of the jungle searching for answers to my brother’s murder. “
Oh, I do remember that story. “My Brother’s Keeper”, I
believe.
“Yep,
and I’m still out here waiting…”
Oh dear, well I did/do intend to get back to it at
some point. Please be patient.
Silence.
Anyone else?
“Yes…
I’d like to say something.”
Please do.
“I
was the young girl who was kidnapped by the man trying to influence my father’s
vote on the environmental issue. I escaped and had quite an adventure finding
my way home.”
My, that was a long time ago. I actually don’t remember the name of the
story… “A long way home” maybe? But I do remember you, Claire. You were very
brave.
“Yes,
and I wanted to say that I loved being in that story.”
If I remember correctly, you grew up a lot on that
journey and learned a lot about yourself in the process.
Anyone else?
“OK,
Annie here from ‘A Time for Kindness’. Just wanted to put my 2 cents in. I did
find myself to be an extension of you, the writer… perhaps the person you think
you might become under the same circumstances?”
That’s a distinct possibility, Anne. I do love Maine
and that’s where I put you in the story.
“And
you’re doing it again in what you are writing now.”
Is this still Annie?
“No,
this is Gladys from “The Gift of Time and Money”.
Oh, but your story is still being developed.
“Yes,
and it’s been on hold since November. I was left in Ireland where I’d just
inherited a small cottage in the little town of Cong which apparently was where
John Wayne’s movie ‘The Quiet Man’ was filmed. I do feel like my character who finds
herself the recipient of a vast inheritance in her later years a bit of wishful
thinking on the writer’s part. But I’m enjoying being part of the story,
especially after spending time in that lovely London flat and that darling
cottage in the Cotswold’s. But I do
wonder if you will be coming back to us any time soon. “
Yes, well, sorry for that abrupt departure. The
holidays and family did take me away for a bit. I do hope to be back soon and
we’ll explore more of the area around Cong, Ireland before moving on to the
manor house in Scotland.
Guess I’d better cut this short or I may be inundated
with other previous characters wanting their say. For the most part, I’ve learned
that the characters do seem to enjoy being part of the story but don’t relish
being left too long on hold. Perhaps I’ll continue this line of thought at
another time… and give more characters a chance to weigh in.
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Having written this a few years back, I’m
going to say that of all these characters having their say, Annie is the one
that can no longer complain - as I went back and completed her story in “Time After Time” and in
the sequel “Carrick Cove” (which although completed had not been sent to Amazon
for publication yet).
The others are stories still on the back
burner, some completed, some not. But
whether or not they will ever be published isn’t important. What is important
is the pleasure these characters gave me in cooperating with me to bring about
their existence and their stories (if only in my imagination).
*********************************
If you’ve read this far, thank you. I didn’t expect you to. But I like
communicating with the characters I’ve created over the years. Feels a little
like Schitzophrenia as in some ways they may be a part of my own psychological
make-up. Anyway, I wanted to share their thoughts here. They all made valuable
points and deserved to be heard. (And
over the years, there’s a possibility that I might have shared this before… if
so, forgive me as my memory does have its days.)
Hugs,
Rian
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