It happens every time. As I am writing the final scenes of my book, I feel the melancholy rolling in. I know that I must say good-bye to my characters and it’s always a bittersweet parting. Anyone who writes knows that you don’t just think of your characters when you’re actually writing. You think of them while you drift off to sleep, while you’re supposed to be working at your day job, and while your husband is telling you that the grout on the bathroom floor is cracking. Your characters are talking to you all of the time; you created them, now you can’t shut them up. They are your friends, your enemies, your lovers. Then comes the moment when you must end the story and say good-bye. I’ve said before that I often pull one of my books off of a shelf just for a visit. There are characters I like more than others, but they are all my babies. As I put the finishing touches on my newest novel, I must take a deep breath and prepare myself for the inevitable good-byes.
Tag Archives: falling in love with your characters
Falling in love…
Starting a new book is like falling in love all over again. I mentioned before that I re-visit my characters from previous books occasionally, just to say “hi.” After all, I was in love with them once. It’s like running into your high-school boyfriend (unless he was a complete dog) and feeling that rush of affection for what once was. They will always hold a special place in your heart. You move on, though, and meet new characters (literary and real) and you fall in love again. Recently, I had some time off and started a new book. I had a beginning, a middle, and an end all queued in my mind. I was developing the characters. I had a purpose. What I didn’t have was love. Writing every day became a chore. I dated a guy once who became a chore. I had run out of things to say to him and even going to see a movie was painful. I had thought that I would like being with him, but I was wrong. There was just no connection. So I moved on–from the guy and from my book. As much as it pained me to give up on a book that I had dedicated so much time to, I set it aside. Within 24 hours, new characters came knocking in my brain, and I can’t stop writing. I wake up early, anxious to get back to the story. When I’m not writing, I think about my characters and how long it will be before I can get back to them. I’m falling in love all over again.
Sandy Huth 