Do You Know Who You Are?

Do You know who you are?

Character is something all writers think about carefully while researching and writing. I'm working on characterization within my MFA thesis, and it got me wondering about characters in real life.

What makes you - you?

Do you ever think about how other people see you? How would they describe you?

What kind of personality do you show to the world? How do you show it?

Are you a different person at work and at home? Why?

I'm writing my seventh novel called "Restoring Hope." It's the fifth book in the Cedar's Port series and it's about love, loss and second chances after trauma. The novel has three distinct characters that are intertwined throughout the narrative. This means my readers are immersed in the story from three points of view.

Good characters are a great tool to drive a story narrative forwards, and I'm having fun exploring depth and nuances to get the right point of views for the book.

Here is a sneak peak of Restoring Hope.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Restoring-Hope-Cedars-Port-Book-ebook/dp/B0FKHCPZG7?

Identity in real life

In real life, identity is complex and multi-dimensional. I see identity like an onion with multiple layers. The outer layers are what we show to the world but we only show our true inner feelings to the ones closest to us.

We spend time worrying about the next trend, the latest vibe and how to fit in. We have a need to feel seen in a crowd of people, or by those we share our lives with. We crave attention and respect from others but at the same time, we carry flaws and imperfections. We sometimes seek solitude and the lime-light. Most often we don't have it all figured out.

Identity is so much more than getting noticed by others. It's how we act and where we choose to spend our time, as well as our interests and values. I think about all of these nuances of real people traits so that I can convey and describe fictional characters authentically.

When I have my writer hat on, I think about stakes and why my readers should care about the characters I create. What makes a reader want to read on?

It's all about value for my readers. I want my readers to care about the characters in my book. I need them to empathize and feel the emotions dripping off the pages to make them want to read on and find out what happens next. Writing a book is about giving my readers value and to deserve their attention.

Value and self-worth is vital in real life. We all have something or someone who we care about the most. Losing that someone or something creates tension and that is where a fiction character goes on a rollercoaster journey. The story builds and hits the climax, then dips into the resolution and ending.

In real life; What do your values say about you? Who is your special someone or something? What is your journey looking like? Is it a good ride or does it need changing?

Think about your life for a second.

What do you do every day? Does this job / activity expand or shrink you?

Do you have someone in your life that helps you rise without trying to control you?

What activities give you energy? What extinguishes it?

There are many questions that I could ask about character, and still only scratch the surface. In the mean time, I'm having fun creating stories that will resonate with real people.

My name is Lizzy. I'm a mom, teacher and trauma survivor.

If you like reading my posts, then please follow me.

For more about me: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com

Support your fellow writer:

https://ko-fi.com/elizabe69245484