I think it would be very hard to write and never put yourself in the story. I mean, who knows us better than us? And even if we don’t want to, little bits of ourselves find their way into what we write, almost whether we want them to or not.
As part of my life, I’ve written bosses and friends into my books because I’m around their real-life characters so much. I write my husband into most every book, either as villain or hero (mostly hero!). Who is a better foil for those people then me, since I interact with them so often? I’ve added dreams of mine (things I want to do or see) as opposed to actual events
because that’s more fun, and strangely, enough, looking back, I write heroines most often who look like what I’ve always thought I’d like to look: taller, slimmer, red hair and green or bright blue eyes. Sometimes real life is not so magical but we all have dreams and I like to add mine to my books.
I don’t think it’s cheating to write about the things you know best, and as I said at the beginning, that’s probably you. Embrace it!
Read the next blog in the blog hop by going here.
Dee
Only a Good Man Will Do: Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover Academy, and be purer than Caesar’s wife. Good luck with that!
Naval Maneuvers: When a woman requires an earth-shattering crush of pleasure to carry her away, she can’t do better than to call on the US Navy. Sorry, Marines!
I’m sure we put a little bit of ourselves into our characters. As you say Dee, who knows us better than us and we can enjoy adventures and dreams through our characters.
People I’ve met during my life have found their way into my books, some nice and some not so nice.
So, I agree, we are there in our books.
Storytellers write what they know. They just don’t write everything they know into a single story.
I think it’s great that you have put your dreams into stories! Creativity finding a way to produce something unforgettable!
Great post!
It’s not always easy to keep yourself out of the story. I try to in most cases because I don’t feel my personal life is very interesting and to me books are about escape. Sometimes I write about characters who reflect parts of me. I also like trying different things and talking to different people for research so that I can (hopefully) write more accurately about things I’m not familiar with. I admit that many of my books take place in New England because I love it. Lately I’ve tried shifting locations and the research has been interesting.
Kate, I doubt very much that you are not an interesting person! If you write, you’re interesting for that alone.