by Bo'sun | August 24th, 2010
There’s an author I love who shall remain nameless, but I recently realized her heroines all seem to be the same woman. Well, I haven’t read all her books, but I’ve read five of them and four of the heroines could be interchangeable. They each come across as how I imagine the author to be. Smart, self-deprecating, funny, and occasionally cranky.
Not long ago, we took tests to see what kind of “girl” we all were, and if I remember correctly, the results for our heroines usually matched the results for ourselves. At least I know that was the result in my case. I don’t consider this a problem, but it does make me wonder. Am I writing me over and over again?
My heroines show up in my mind. They appear out of nowhere, usually bringing their hero along for the official introductions, then set up camp in my brain as if waiting for the blow out sale at Kleinfeld’s. Because of this, I rarely think of them as my creations, but rather characters already fully formed who just happen to live in my brain. Who I’ve only just met.
If this were the case, you’d think they would all be different, and in some ways they are. But in many ways they are not. Other than all being brunette and slender, my heroines are not the trusting sort, they often don’t think very highly of themselves, and to say they are skeptical of men is an understatement.
But, while Emma is a control freak, Melissa is a push over looking for her spine. Bridgit is a hard ass hiding her mushy, vulnerable center behind a wall of attitude and rebellion, and Anna is enjoying finding her hidden sex kitten. They are different yet similar. And still, at the risk of revealing too much, they are all versions of me.
Just as we all have a core story, do you have a core heroine? How do your heroines come to be? Do they just show up or do you build them like haute couture on a dress form? Is there an author you’ve read where it seemed her heroines could blend together? (No names necessary…karma and all that.) And do you ever worry that your characters are not different enough to stand apart?
OK, I have a TinkerBell I tore off a toy I bought in Orlando. I’m so going to get her and perch her near my laptop!
Okay, I didn’t get the clapping hands thing, but I do get the “really believing” thing. I just keep thinking “I thought a bell had to ring” but that’s a totally different movie.
I just read her blog and loved the part about the problem with great ideas is they’re IDEAS, not plots. D’oh! That has happened a time or two. LOL
Oh, and I bought kiddo a Tinkerbell shirt at Disney. I could squeeze into it and wear it to write. I mean, no one sees me in my house alone. I don’t think Bumbles would be too scarred.
Terri, it was when Tinkerbell had a near-death experience and we all had to clap to bring her back to life, because we believed in magic or something. LOL
It’s been a while. That’s the only portion that is still stuck in my brain at the moment!
Donna – I totally believe you. LOL! See memory issues mentioned above.
And I’m having a little freak out right this second. Don’t mind me.
Why are you freaking out now? House back on? *LOL*
I no longer want the condo, for various good reasons, but just found out backing out now will get me sued. And no, I have no idea why this wasn’t mentioned to nor occured to me before.
The contract as it stands expires in 48 hours. If the appraisal is approved tomorrow, which I fear it will be, I’ll be obligated to buy a condo I absolutely do not want. If it is denied, I’m off the hook. So my life is once again in limbo and at the whims of third parties I don’t even know.
If there was ever a case of “careful what you wish for” this would be it.
Terri, have you had a home inspection? Because if there are “issues” in there, that is usually good cause for not going through with a sale.
Sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like such an ordeal.
Donna – We’ve had everything, this has been going on since the end of June. It’s cleared on every front, except one. And that one could go in my favor or it could not.
This is the epitomy of irony when I actually want something NOT to get approved instead of the opposite way around. LOL!
There is a funny quotation–and I can’t think of the author or I could find the direct quote–that goes along the lines:
Whatever you want most in life you cannot have, so if you want something really bad, try to want it a little less.
I never know what to say when I get here late. I always have many thoughts moving in different directions. Ter’s post today was so thought-provoking that my thoughts are moving in more directions than usual.
My heroines have bits of me in them, but I don’t think they are reflections of me. I think they are very different from one another. Certainly in looks, life experiences, and profession, they are different. Each of them makes choices that I can’t imagine myself making, but I think at the most essential level they share fundamental values with me and with one another. I’m not sure I could create a pov character that didn’t. Maybe that’s why my books don’t have clear-cut villains. I’m still thinking about the comfort zone issue.
I love the Tink allusion, Donna. I still have a very clear memory of being seven and clapping with all my might when my teacher read that scene to the class.
Tink has a lot in common with my muse, come to think of it. This description applies to both: “Tink was not all bad: or, rather, she was all bad just now, but, on the other hand, sometimes she was all good. Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for only one feeling at a time. They are, however, allowed to change, only it must be a complete change.”
Ah, Janga! That was sweet. I don’t remember that bit about fairies! I love it!
Happy to report, I have consulted an attorney and feeling much better about the situation now!
Janga – I’m still not clear cut on the comfort zone thing either. I’ve been thinking, what do I do if this Erotic Romance sells? Do I write another and try to get more….erotic? That would be way out of my comfort zone.
It’s those fundamental values I don’t think we can shake. The big stuff, like having integrity, respecting others (who earn/deserve it), and the value of life I wouldn’t be able to compromise on.
That is a sweet bit about fairies.
Good to know. We’d wondered where you’d disappeared–but figured we’d know for sure when the mysterious arson story came across the news.
Terri, that’s great news — I’m glad you’re feeling better about everything.
Janga, I love that your muse and Tink share that “all or nothing” aspect.
Oh, well, technically I was driving home from work. But I talked to him while I was driving (don’t tell Oprah) and he had some very important information I needed to know. Information that makes a huge difference to the situation.
No worries about impending arson. Now, I can’t rule out the ice picks…
Ladies, ladies. No details! You have to preserve your innocence! LOL
Here we go with ice picks again! You know, I don’t keep any of those in the bar…just plain old too tempting!
I’m chipping ice, that’s all.
*tries to look innocent*
I’m not sure innocent and ice pick go in the same sentence…