I know many times fantasy characters can be considered real people, in a way. They seem to live in our minds and even we as authors have to discover things about them for ourselves.
But I know some people actually believe that the characters that they make up actually come to life and tell them what to write.

I think characters can seem real because we develop them to try to make our stories a bit more realistic, and we know them well. But I think there is also a fine line between having realistic characters and thinking they are truly real.

So what do you guys think about this subject? Anything else you would like to add or ask?
Discuss.

I experience this quite often. I catch myself arguing with my characters, or wondering what they're doing right now. And, for me, it's not just my characters. I admit that I sometimes forget which world I'm in; this one, or the one in my story. Anyone else?

I like to pretend my characters are real at times (like during NaNo when I said they took over my blog posts because by making them "talk" to others, I developed their character a bit more), but I can't say I actually believe them to be real. I know they are made up, and I don't have trouble remembering that.

I think we know our characters so well that we can at least guess what they would say. So I don't think they really tell us what they want to say. Or our plots would never work cause they would mess it all up!
Elisabeth

Your last sentence is one of the reasons why I haven't finished a draft of my main story.

I don't have that problem. Nor do I do well in conversations with my characters, none of us talk very much.

Varon's reply is my favorite! XD

I think my characters seem the most real to me in the Character's Introduction thread. I don't ever talk to them besides that. I do have an attachment to them in my stories though. ^^

I think my characters seem real to me because they are an expression of myself.

Same here. All my characters have a connection to me in one way or another, whether is it Shawn Henderson in a short story of mine, my next 'version' of Shawn, or Dani. I pour my heart into them, and they end up reflecting different versions of me. They tend to learn things as I learn things, and feel and react in similar ways. Sure, they are in completely different situations than I am, but I try to make them react like I would, so to speak.
I'm not sure if that made sense...

As a writer, characters feel real to me when I know them so well, I know that they would say or do in a situation based on their unique personality, history, and makeup (which is completely different from what I might say or do). It doesn't mean I think they're literally real, it's just that they are distinct, well-rounded individuals. I haven't heard of people thinking their characters actually exist, so I can't really address that.

I like to pretend my characters are distinct from me, but I know they aren't real.

I think that, in a way, my characters are me. Or rather, who I wish to be.
I shall never forget how I felt, watching Davien march up to Terminus, sword drawn. I had made Davien challenge Terminus (over on Character Intros) and dare him to come back and fight, because I knew that was something Davien would do. When Terminus actually did come back, I felt more like running and hiding. But to make Davien run would be inconsistent. I had made his character, and I had to follow through. The result was me cowering, while the courage I wish I had stepped forth to defend the cause he believed in.

I can get very "into" my characters when I'm writing. When a draft is going well, and I'm deep into the story, and everything's "clicked"... the emotions flow so transparently that it's almost as if there's a direct link between me and the paper with no "character" in between doing the translating.

I've never been able to do much by way of RPGing, as in the Character Intros. thread. I think it's partly a personality issue. I'd rather keep these people they call characters inside my head and deal with them on the story plane only. When I'm discussing my story on the forum, it's from a more distant, professional standpoint.

My characters feel distinct from me in their mindsets. I cannot write something that they would seriously never do. It just hurts to think about. Yes, they're in my head but they also don't act outside their natures. Their pasts mold them, the only way I change them is by tweaking their pasts.

I know my characters aren't real, but than again...they are. All of my characters (whether or not by intention) will have bits and pieces of people I've met. I know for a fact that this gives me the ability to sort of view my characters as if they are 'real'. Because I have, in a way, met them (or rather met the person I wrote them after).
For example, I wrote Emuna after how I sometimes wish I could react (or sometimes hope I would react) in certain scenarios; brave, slightly fiery, and yet still very feminine. But she isn't me either because she has certain parts of her that developed from hours of character introductions: she is easily angry, very serious, and broken under stress to the point of tears. So this makes her 'real' in some aspects, but only in my mind in others.

Of course this doesn't mean that I'm not guilty of arguing with my characters about book titles or sitting there typing down a conversation with them as I try to figure out how they would react in a certain scene, but that's part of being a writer! In a very unique and indescribable way your characters come alive in your mind (and you must make them alive in your reader's mind as well) and eventually, they will be so alive you'll know how they react in the book. That, my friend, is when you have created a real character.

So, that's all I have to add...wow...a post without randomness or wacky phrases. Who knew I was capable of such a thing?!

Bethany Faith

Same here

My characters always seemed very different than me. Doubtless, each of their goals represent different parts of me but as far as their personality and ideals go, we're as different as night and day.

But I can definitely relate to a lot of the goals that my characters go through. Ultimately the entire theme of the book is something that I wrestle with in my life.

eruheran

I still think that every character is a part of me. Even the bad guys. Every person I have met has changed me, shaped me, in subtle, indescribable ways. I watch people, read their body language, hear their words...and it all goes into the part of me that is ultimately my own---my mind---and so, in a sense, it becomes a part of me.
Did that make sense?

*Nods* It does, Aemi. I know exactly what you mean.

It does make sense. I've seen it in my own books.

*looks at initial post*
Wow. It's been almost two years? O.o And my writing looked horrible.

*makes mental note to possibly write something on this in the future... (or have I already?)*

I think the human sub-conscious has a lot to do with 'real' characters.

I was just looking for a thread about a similar subject, and I came across this one.




This is so much like me in many ways, Aubrey. I don't know if it's because of my personality, I am more of a quiet personality, somewhat shy in many ways unless I know a person very well. My characters are a creation that I can be very connected to even when I'm not writing, but bring me to RPGing, our Character Role Play threads and I clam up. I haven't ever been able to work out why, whether it's an insecurity with me, where I am unwilling to just play with my character in public outside the confines of my pages or what. It's just not something that comes naturally, and yet I feel so connected to them; but it seems to be a very personal thing that I'm unwilling to open up to everyone, unless it's within the confines of my book.