Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Laugh at Them, With Them, and Everything in Between

Do your characters make you laugh? Mine do. It’s funny (don’t mind the pun). I’ll write the scene and get carried away by the story, wherever the characters take me. Then, out of nowhere, they say or do something that makes me laugh out loud. My children and husband rush over asking why I’m giggling.

I smile. “Oh, Davyn just said something that cracked me up.”

All six eyes stare at me.

“Mommy, there’s nobody here, but you.” The youngest twin looks at her sister, shakes her head, and leaves the room, her sibling in tow.

“Don’t you mean you crack yourself up?” My husband kisses my forehead and closes the door behind him.

I suppose he’s right, but I don’t think of it that way. My characters are real people, sort of. I feel what they feel. I love them, hate them, and want them to fail or succeed just like real people. Is that so wrong? My husband might think it’s a little nuts, but I believe there are other writers who go through the same sort of thing. Right?

Have you had this kind of experience?

27 comments:

  1. Oh, my characters are most definitely real to me. I missed the heroine of my last novel once I'd finished.

    I love it when they take me in new directions and do things I didn't know they were going to do. Only other writers understand this!

    Thansk for stopping by my blog :-)

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  2. My characters definitely become real for me. Unfortunately, most of my characters aren't funny. They have gotten funnier as I've become a better writer, though, and I do appreciate it that. By the way, I LOVE the name Davyn. :P

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  3. Obviously they don't understand the split personality that is in action when you are writing. The watcher you and the character-spewing you.

    Writers are a weird lot, aren't we?

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  4. I have had very few moments so far when I really enjoy a character, feel them, etc. But hopefully it'll happen more often as I get better. I also like the name too.

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  5. Yes! Fortunately my husband is well aware of the fact that I am weird and has accepted it. He no longer gives me odd looks anymore. :D

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  6. Hi, Lynnette
    Returning the visit!

    My characters are real people to me. I laugh or cry and get angry for and with them.
    Sometimes I yell at them, too.
    Hubby in the house 'write up the hill' has got used to it by now. I think!

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  7. Hi Lynette! Thanks for visiting my blog. I laughed at loud at your post because this happened to me just the other night. We have a "great room", and sometimes I'll work on a piece after supper while my family is around. I'm working on a story with two very strong characters, (if I'm not careful, my side-kick will take over) and I found myself laughing at something she said. I can totally relate with the funky stares! It's an occupational hazzard.

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  8. Oh sure, the voices in my head crack me up too. But, I am not as brave as you and rarely admit it:)

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  9. For sure. I love when my characters have a personality and are fun.

    Even when I am not writing a scene but still thinking about them in my head, sometimes I'll laugh out loud or give an abrupt "oh!" (like right at the dinner table) and everyone just looks at me oddly then continues on with their meal.

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  10. My characters crack me up! I'm always laughing at them, crying with them, you name it! Glad I'm not alone.

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  11. I love it! Absolutely ... characters do become very real.

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  12. Happens to me all the time. The worst part is when I fight with them. Then people really think I'm crazy.

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  13. I've done this! There's a part with my MC's brother that makes me bust a gut every time. And when I try to explain it - even though I fail to convey it with ease - I feel like Jackson is real, and he truly did this thing. :D

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  14. Cute husbandry! My characters are all in a coma!

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  15. They make me cry more. Lately, they make me cry a lot! LOL Sheesh...maybe I should lighten the tone.

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  16. I mostly wish I could be as awesome as my characters. They motivate me to try something new.

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  17. I do that ALL the time! My hubby comes to bed and he gets a discertation of everything that's happening to my characters. The greatest is when HE or someone else in my family reads something I wrote and laughs. It's like YEAH someone else thinks it's funny too!

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  18. I find I think about my characters a lot, especially when I'm deep in writing. And they totally make me laugh!

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  19. Just thought I'd stop by and leave you a quick html button.

    ”Lynnette Labelle’s Blog”

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  20. Don't listen to the unwriterly in your world. They'll never know the pleasure of the funny voices in our heads. :)

    (Come enter my writing contest if you get a chance.)

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  21. I like your thoughts, it's real and inspiring.

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  22. Fun post and, oh, yes, my characters come alive for me. Sometimes too much so! They've been known to take over the book and change the plot! Plus, I've had characters "arrive" in my head and demand page space!

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  23. My characters are much more stubborn than yours, I guess. They take much coaxing to get them to do what I want and lots of thoughts on what are their motivations. I wish it could flow out as smoothly...maybe one day.

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  24. Tam: I sometimes miss the hero and heroine in books I read, too, so I know what you mean.

    Davin: I don't blame you for loving the name. I love it, too. Although you spell it wrong. ;)

    Writtenwyrdd: Yeah, I'd say we're a weird lot... or is that weird a lot? hehehe

    Lynnette Labelle

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  25. Eric: Thanks. I believe it'll happen for you, too.

    Danyelle: So they eventually do get used to it? That's good news. I think...

    Pat: I've never yelled at my characters, but that sounds like fun. Sometimes they deserve it!

    Amy: It's nice to know I'm not the only one.

    Lynnette Labelle

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  26. Debbie: Well, at least I got you to admit it now. That's the first stage, right? ;)

    Cindy: Sounds like they're used to it at your house.

    Jill and Kelly: Read the comments here and you'll see we aren't the only ones.

    LexiconLuvr: When you fight with them, do they yell back? hehehe

    Janna: As long as you remember he's not real, you'll be okay. ;)

    Missy: Wake them up!

    Lynnette Labelle

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  27. Litgirl01: That probably means your readers will cry, too. We all like a good cry every once in a while.

    Joyce: That's great. I think we all like to live through our characters at least a little bit.

    Krista: I know the feeling. I love it when I get something back from my crit partners and see "LOL" beside something I found funny.

    PJ: That's great. You're not alone.

    Kim: Thanks for the button!

    Angie: I thought about it, but you've already read my beginning, so I doubt you'd find it hooky the second time around. Sounds like a fun contest though.

    Hannah: Thanks. That's sweet.

    Conda: That's funny. They must be pretty strong characters.

    Lauren: It'll come. Maybe you need to let them do what they want and see where they take you???

    Lynnette Labelle

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