Hello Everyone,
It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time.
IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving encouragement and help to others.
So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:
Submissions:
Submissions:.
Entered the WEP – Results not yet posted.
What Personal Traits Have I Written into My Characters? By Pat Garcia
My characters determination and willingness to go the extra mile or miles reflects who I am. Their sense of purpose and focusing determinately on that purpose deal with how I have analyzed my own goals. They are kick-ass characters and aren’t afraid to take risks because that is in my DNA. However, my characters also struggle with depression and insecurity, and I have to admit that they come from me too.
I will even go so far as to say; all of my flaws are planted in my characters. Their mistakes are mistakes that I’ve made, and their successes are triumphs that I’ve celebrated.
Do I see them as an extension of myself? Yes. They are a part of the vision incorporated in me.
An author who goes deep into the waterfalls of life discovers who he or she is, the good and the bad. Like William Blake, one of my favorite English Poets wrote so ardently in his book of poetry entitled Songs of Innocence and Experience, one must face the cesspool within oneself as well as face one's goodness.
My vision of the world define my characters. My perception is their perception.
Wishing all of you in the United States a Happy Fourth of July, and for the rest of us, have lovely month of July.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
I love your quoting William Blake. My father once told me that lilies grow in mud (well, he said something else but won't write that here!). Meaning of course the same thing WB said. If we don't see our darker places, faults, or insecurities we aren't learning and won't be able to become the best we can be. Happy 4th to you too!
ReplyDeleteCourage certainly runs deep and along side your other traits. I was especially impress with this statement, "One must face the cesspool within oneself as well as face one's goodness." Ain't that the truth? So much growth evolves through honest self reflection.
ReplyDeleteLynn La Vita @ Writers Supporting Writers
My characters reflect a lot of who I am and what I've been through. I think that can add an extra layer of realism.
ReplyDelete"one must face the cesspool within oneself as well as face one's goodness."
ReplyDeleteThat's deep! Love the quote. Happy writing!
Yes, I definitely see you in Reesey! You definitely are a stand-up character, who I applaud!
ReplyDeleteI'm always really determined in life, so my characters are, too. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your WEP entry!
Our characters, whether we know it or not, all reflect who we are in some form or fashion. My Samuel McCord is reflective and prone to introspection when it would serve his purposes better to just act. :-) My Victor Standish can't resist his snark though it gets him into trouble ... just as it does with me! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy characters' perception is mine as well, even if they don't share my traits.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can say probably my characters faults for the most part come for me, lol. Now that you made me really think about it, their loyalty, sometimes the I'm game if you're game attitude, their deep attachments and love. Which is why I have such a hard time making my bad guy stay bad cause I forgive him, lol, and help him to be better<--that has me ROTFL @ self, but that is too true. Now sure why I did not think of that when answering the question. Shalom Aleichem & Hugs Juneta
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point. I think my world perception really influences my writing and my characters.
ReplyDeleteI WISH I had that risk-taker gene!!! My characters are much more kick-ass and confident than I am.
ReplyDeleteI love that your characters are kick-ass who aren't afraid to take risks. Wish I had a little more of that quality in myself :)
ReplyDeletePutting your flaws into your characters makes them feel more real. <3
ReplyDeleteI haven't read William Blake since I was in school. Thank you for the reminder to maybe dip my toe back into poetry. :)
ReplyDeleteI do my share of wishing too. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I think that as our characters come from within us they must surely contain an extension of ourselves, even if that isn't always obvious on the surface. Thank you for stopping by my blog today too. Happy writing to you.
ReplyDeleteWishing you success in WEP. Our characters are mirrors sometimes. But not completely. Writing a character who is really different takes a lot of work.
ReplyDeleteI must admit: my characters are often better than I am: stronger, braver, more compassionate, more perceptive. They are what I want to be instead of what I am.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree characters are an extension of ourselves. Sometimes the writing helps us to deal with flaws and get a new perspective on life.
ReplyDeleteJQ Rose
You've used your best resource, yourself, to flesh out those characters, Pat. And the fact that you've shown the vulnerabilities as well as the strengths makes them quite human.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you can find some many great personal traits to put into your characters. Mine always seem to end up with my worst personality quirks.
ReplyDeletePat, we just can't help inserting ourselves into our characters can we? I think that's a good thing. I find it very hard to write about cruel people but I guess not everyone in the world is purely good. That would make boring reading.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your support at WEP. There were so many excellent entries this challenge it was a very hard choice. You're always under consideration.
Soon we'll be into the August challenge.I hope your offer to count comments is still current. Thank you!
I often wonder if I "bare" enough in my writing. I keep a lot of my truths out of stories, which may be a flaw in my writing. You're right, honesty in the stories is the really good stuff.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said I wish I had that risk-taker gene myself! I love to write characters with it but they sure don't get it from me LOL. I loved the Blake quote you shared. So true.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a great July, Pat.