Am I unable to be honest and impactful in fiction?
Perhaps it feels more honest in autobiography because it's you? In fiction, you may be being honest for your characters, but I don't think it's the same emotional investment.
Mal: Okay. She won't be winning any beauty contests anytime soon. But she is solid. Ship like this, be with ya 'til the day you die. Zoe: 'Cause it's a deathtrap.
'Out Of Gas'
The Great Write Way
A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.
Connie Neil - May 27, 2004 12:16:18 pm PDT #4844 of 10001
brillig
Liese S. - May 27, 2004 12:18:44 pm PDT #4845 of 10001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."
Hmm. This could be. You'd think that as empathetic as I am, I wouldn't have a problem stepping into the character's pain/love/desperation/fear/hope. I don't have any trouble writing third party song lyrics, for example, even writing in first person on their behalf. Maybe in drabble form, I don't feel that I develop my relationship with the characters enough to blaze forth with honesty.
Katerina Bee - May 27, 2004 12:52:57 pm PDT #4846 of 10001
Herding cats for fun
I want a wife...
I remember the first issue or so of Ms. Magazine, there was a 1 page cartoon style article about how I want a wife who will do this, do that, support me through school, enable my profession, do all the chores without ever bugging me about them, keep the children pleasant, well groomed and quiet, and have sex enthusiastically but only when I want to, etc.
The last line was, "My god. Who wouldn't want a wife?"
Connie Neil - May 27, 2004 1:02:57 pm PDT #4847 of 10001
brillig
Heck, skip the sex part. I just want somebody who'll clean.
Deena - May 27, 2004 1:15:19 pm PDT #4848 of 10001
How are you me? You need to stop that. Only I can be me. ~Kara
Am I unable to be honest and impactful in fiction?
I have this same problem, but for me, I think, it's a question of vulnerability. I am perfectly willing to be honest about myself. I've already demonstrated my ability to screw things up for everyone to see. To be honest about a character seems more difficult. I haven't figured out why yet.
Katerina Bee - May 27, 2004 1:18:20 pm PDT #4849 of 10001
Herding cats for fun
Heck, skip the sex part. I just want somebody who'll clean.
Preach on, sister. It's much more important to create art sit around in the sun than it is to get all the chores done.
erikaj - May 27, 2004 1:20:52 pm PDT #4850 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!
I find it easier to be honest about Not-Me, actually.
Deena - May 27, 2004 1:30:22 pm PDT #4851 of 10001
How are you me? You need to stop that. Only I can be me. ~Kara
Maybe it's because I used to be, and Liese still is, on display? I got used to using my life for examples of what not to do -- though, that could be a function of personality as much as anything.
Amy - May 27, 2004 1:32:43 pm PDT #4852 of 10001
Because books.
To be honest about a character seems more difficult. I haven't figured out why yet.
Maybe it's subconsciously the issue of choice. Saying "here's me, it's what am I" is a done deal (and not a bad one), but maybe choosing to write those parts into a character forces you to look at things you wish you could change in yourself but haven't?
Uh, amateur psychologist, out.
erikaj - May 27, 2004 1:34:02 pm PDT #4853 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!
Although you can't get much more on display than "Hi. What's wrong with you?"