Comments on: All Characters are Entirely Fictitious

By: john baker

john baker — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:37:23 +0000

jb says: That’s the way, bluewren, keep at it; and enjoy it.

By: Wren

Wren — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:52:47 +0000

I love the quote at the end of your post. It’s so true. When writing fiction, I’ve had the pleasure of being a spy, an extraterrestrial, a paramedic and a native-American veterinarian. What fun! Since I’m not really any of those people, the research into their “lives” becomes an adventure, as well. Perhaps someday all this imagination and research will culminate in an actual book. I just keep at it.

By: Linked: All Characters Are Fictitious! – Novelr - Making People Read

Linked: All Characters Are Fictitious! – Novelr - Making People Read — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:08:24 +0000

[...] John Baker on ‘entirely fictional characters’. How true. Category: Linked List [...]

By: Boxofficegirl

Boxofficegirl — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:29:28 +0000

I’m working on a peice at the moment which is definitely based on somebody I know. They are also known within the wider community and I have had to be very careful about description and naming the character for obvious reasons. Much of my work is observational anyway but curiously I wrote a post for another forum concerned with looking at Self in relation to character as you mention in the final paragraph John. I don’t know how else to bring truth to fiction without putting myself into the character’s shoes.

The idea of paying to be in a novel is astonishing but then I suppose there are those who immortalise themselves in cameo roles for films because they admire the lead actor or director etc.

Who wants to live forever…? Quite a few apparently.

jb says: Hi Tracey. That ability to put yourself into the shoes of the other, or empathy, is a must for anyone who writes fiction.

Living for ever? Sounds quite a draining experience to me. But in reality I think people are motivated more by the fear of extinction than the wish to live for ever.

By: dirtywhitecandy

dirtywhitecandy — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:51:25 +0000

Friends will always assume you have put them or your mutual friends in a novel. I had one friend who told me he’d enjoyed one of my books enormously because I’d put ‘HER’ in it – referring to a rather precocious girl we both knew at college. I hadn’t. Not even subliminally. ‘Oh yes you did,’ said my friend. ‘The physical description is exactly her.’ Hmm. The physical description came about because I saw the cover. It had always bugged me when the character on the front looked nothing like the character inside – and so I made sure they were alike.

When I told my friend that he still didn’t believe me. AND there was a disclaimer about ‘fictional persons’!

jb says: This has happened with my own novels and friends or acquaintances as well. I expect it goes with the territory. Difficult to understand for a writer – why do I spend so much time and effort creating fictional characters if my friends and neighbours see themselves everywhere they look?

By: Jim Murdoch

Jim Murdoch — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:10:38 +0000

I wonder if anyone has ever modified that statement, if only to add “…apart from the author him/herself who is to be found everywhere herein…” or something like that?

jb says: I’ve seen some wit employed in that area, Jim. But not specifically what you suggest.