At first, I thought creating an MC who was a version of myself was bad news: too easy, self-involved, embarrassing. Then gradually over time I accepted that both my female MCs are like me in some ways...well, a lot of ways.
And that's okay.
I say:
Write about yourself. Don't write about yourself. Either is fine. You'll probably end up doing both. This is the disclaimer: don't make the decision before you start writing.
You never know what sort of situations your characters will get themselves into. If you're a pre-plotter you might know, but you probably won't fully understand what moments in your life those events are based in. You won't understand what personal truths draw you to the fictional story. For most writers, the story comes and then they understand the core later.
Don't block your own experiences. If you can't stand the thought of people likening you to your MC, you will deny the things that make you similar. As a writer, you have to assimilate with the MC. You have to be sensitive to what they're going through. You have to empathize. If you make the decision that your MC will not be like you then you may subconsciously block the material you have to tell the story.
You need all of your life experiences available--as clay to the potter--to tell your story.
I say:
Don't decide. There are those writers who badmouth writers who make stuff up. They think fake fiction is not rich, unimportant...commercial. There are those who think writing about yourself is not challenging enough. Let all those other writers fight about it.
Be open. Let your characters carry you where they please, whether that be to a story you know nothing about or to the very heart of a memory that is deep inside of you.
When I write about myself I'm always much thinner and prettier than the real me, with better hair.
ReplyDeletehahaaa that's sooo true!! we write about little fantasy versions of ourselves, don't we? its like our own mental video game...
ReplyDeleteI make up characters, but they all seem to take on some part of myself. I don't want to just write me into the story, but sometimes I do give my own experiences to the character -- either it works for the story or I just know that they've gone through something similar.
ReplyDeleteEven the villains or paranormal characters embody some aspect of myself.
As a nonfiction writer first, and a fiction writer second, I always feel more like the step-child to the party - maybe cause I hang out with fiction writers. Funny, perspective - isn't it! When I do write friction, I am into authentic characters - everytime. But I also think every character resides in all of us to some degree.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I have elements of at least most of my characters in me. But I don't write a lot specifically about myself because I know myself too well, I think. Where's the fun in writing what you know.
ReplyDeletehmmm...so sounds like its all about mixing. me+not me=character!
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