Tuesday, July 2, 2019

IWSG Blog Hop: My Character is ME!

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IWSG Blog Hop---the first Wednesday of every Month.
Hello and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop! 
Always on the first Wednesday of the month.
What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?
Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 
* to share and encourage. 
* Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. 
* Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. 
*It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 
You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. Click here to sign-up to join.
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July Question 

July 3 question: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?

Very personal indeed! My character, Lauren Staab, is me! Let me count the ways.
Deadly Undertaking
Romantic suspense
On Sale at Smashwords $1.50
  • Yes, she is the daughter of a funeral director just like me.
  • She works hard and is reliable like me. 
  • She eats the same food I do. 
  • Her condo is decorated like a home I would have if I were 35 years old again. 
  • The funeral home she works in is modeled after my Dad's funeral home.
  • She overthinks things like I do.
  • She's smart like me. (wink wink)
In fact, I had a very, very, very difficult time establishing this character because I was too up close and personal with her. When I finally separated me from Lauren and stepped back to get a different perspective of her, I was able to continue writing the book.

I have never had a problem developing a character using my imagination to conjure her up. But since she was me, I guess I couldn't get the brainstorming/creativity to flow. Have you ever had that problem when developing a character? Please leave a comment below and let us know your experience. Thank you!!
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Thanks for stopping in today. To continue the blog hop, click the link below and scroll down to the list of participating bloggers! Click this link-- Insecure Writer’s Support Group
To the US --Wishing you all a Happy and Safe Fourth of July!









24 comments:

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I've had two characters who were really close to the real me but I had no problem writing about them. The one that gave me the greatest challenge was the one furthest from the real me.

Jacqui Murray--Writer-Teacher said...

I bet she's a multi-faceted character, thanks to that. I can see it would be complicated to seperate yourself for purposes of the plot!

Marsha said...

Hey, JQ. Don't you think we always have some of ourselves in our characters? I have characters eating popcorn in several of my books because I love to eat popcorn. The mothers in several of my books are a lot like me. I can't imagine celebrating characteristics that I don't admire--at least not in the H & H. Now my bad guys, that's a different story. :) Love this post and your book. I've shared. :0

Juneta key said...

Yes. If I get one that much like me I can't write them because for some reason I connect on an emotional level and stops me cold. So distance and objective with just mild things like moral and reasons for doing things. Happy IWSG!

The Cynical Sailor said...

It's been really interesting to read people's answers to this month's question and what similarities they have with their characters. Lauren sounds like a great character :)

Jennifer Lane said...

Interesting idea that when we write characters so similar to ourselves, we may struggle more. But growing up as a funeral director's daughter is certainly an interesting childhood that would draw in the reader.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
I can identify with your identifying so heavily to your character because that happened to me. I really had to pull back, which was a hard thing for me to do, and put some distance between me and my MC so that I could write the story. This happened more than once through the writing of the manuscript.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

emaginette said...

Yep. Both of you are pretty interesting. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

J.Q. Rose said...

I was surprised at how the real me was stopping me from writing the character me. I guess I put her in a situation the real me couldn't deal with? Thanks for your feedback, Diane.

J.Q. Rose said...

Multi-faceted character. Great word description. Perhaps she was so complicated, I couldn't get a handle on her.??

J.Q. Rose said...

I agree. Some of me is also in every one of my characters for sure. Maybe I enjoy writing the bad guys the most cause I'm not in their character and can get real creative and crazy. LOL

J.Q. Rose said...

Juneta, I think you nailed it for me. Too caught up in the emotional aspect and can't see clearly how to get out of the situation. Thanks.

J.Q. Rose said...

Thanks, Ellen. I love this blog hop because so many voices to hear on the question make for an interesting experience.

J.Q. Rose said...

Thanks, Jennifer. Yes, at the time I wrote the book, not many "funeral parlor" stories were written. I thought it was a unique setting, so it would garner readers'curiosity. I'm finding more and more stories now taking place in the setting.

J.Q. Rose said...

Thank you, Pat. I'm glad to hear you had a problem too with identifying too closely with a character. I thought I was just weird. Now I know there is at least one more person like me and I'm not alone !! LOL

J.Q. Rose said...

LOL--that's a great comment. Made me LOL! Thanks!

cleemckenzie said...

You really did create a character like yourself. I'm thinking that it must have had challenges. Did you think, OHG, my friends/relatives are going to know she is me?

J.Q. Rose said...

Ha! I never worried about anyone knowing the character was really me, or maybe subconciously I did and that was what made it so difficult to write her! Hmmmm.

Adrienne Reiter said...

No matter how I tailored it, everyone simply assumes my protagonist is me. Ha. Happy IWSG!

Helena Fairfax said...

I loved the character of Lauren, JQ. That's interesting that you say you struggled with her. She came across really well and engaging. I've never based a character on myself, but your post resonates because I'm just in the middle of editing a book for someone who has done exactly that. She, too, has said how much she has struggled with it, so it was interesting to read your comments.

J.Q. Rose said...

Your friends must know you very well!!

J.Q. Rose said...

Thank you, Helena for your kind words about Lauren. I wonder if the writer needs to step back and not identify so closely with her "character ". That is interesting.

Diane Burton said...

When I read Deadly Undertaking, I recognized you immediately. lol Such a great book. I had a hard time with my heroine in Switched, Too. She's so serious, so intense. That was me when I was younger--basically until I met my husband who made me loosen up. But that character was so personal she was difficult to write.

rado said...

This article is very interesting to read and i love those characters.
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