Into every story goes a part of the author’s life experiences, beliefs, and personality. There’s no denying it. We don’t only exist in the words we use in dialogue and descriptions but also in so much more. While the stories we write are not us or are exaggerations of who we are or different elements of our lives, there’s no denying that underlying all the characters, all the events, all the good and the bad, we are there in some form.
I’m not saying a thriller writer is a bad person or that a horror writer is a sociopath. Writing is as much of an escape from the real world as reading. We restrain ourselves in the real world. Every single one of us wears masks and plays different roles. We may have our selfish tendencies or desire revenge on someone who wronged us, but we know that to live in a civilized society, we must follow a code of conduct. Writing is an escape into other possibilities, where we can explore the consequences of our basic emotions.
I’m a soft-heart but a very reactive person by nature. I nearly pass out at the sight of blood yet I can write about monsters ripping each other apart (Tiger Born and Legend of the White Dragon). I’ve watched a lot of shows with fantasy violence, but I would never dream of hurting anyone in the real world. There’s something safe about knowing that when you hurt a character you aren’t actually hurting anyone. However, there is an emotional attachment, because of that element of ourselves that we bring to the story.
When we write, we are each and every one of those characters that the readers experience. As long as we’ve experienced kindness, we know love. As long as we’ve experienced loss, we’ve experienced sorrow. As long as we’ve experienced hope, anxiety, anger…we are all human. We can relate that through our characters.
But there’s more, far more. We use what we don’t know through research, but much of what we draw upon comes from our own experiences, directly or indirectly. I use what I observe, what I learn from others, and what I directly experience. I watch, listen, and learn the details of everything around me, probably far more closely than anyone realizes. I have an analytical mind that can drive me crazy at times trying to find the cause and effect relationships in everything.
Most importantly, though, our hopes, dreams, and wish-fulfillments are carried out in our stories. Unfortunately, even our fears, but perhaps that’s not a bad thing. We write to express ourselves in many ways–to overcome hardships, to explore impossible possibilities beyond our lives, and to understand the world in which we live. Stories are enriched by the lives of the writers, and the experiences we gain in exploring the fantasies presented in our stories also enrich our lives as writers.
I thank every one of you for allowing me into your lives through my stories, and I hope that I have brought something positive to you through the themes that run through them. I’d like to continue being a part of your lives through my stories. They may be science fiction and fantasy, but they still contain messages of hope for a brighter tomorrow, dealing with loss, and looking for the best in people.
To thank you for staying with me, I’d like to reward one commenter of this post with a signed paperback from the books I have available. I’ll draw a name Sunday night (Jan. 26th).
I teare up reading this. It is true for any artist that a piece of yourself goes into everything you create. Every sentence, every poem, every picture, every sugar piece, every cake… It’s all a part of someone’s dream & I thank you for allowing your readers to be a part of your dream.
I have loved everyone of your books that i have read! I can realate so well with the characters in the starfire series the most. I can feel their joy, their pain, their love and their sorrow. I , as well as most of your reader i’m sure, have learned so much from your books and i am so to have met you and learned more about you through FB. You are not only an amazing author but you are an amazing person through and through! Thank you so much for letting us all into your life and into to your world. May you continue to be blessed and prosper always
I definately agree, there is a part of the writer in every character, setting, and even the artifacts. When I look at my own stuff, I call still point out which aspect of my personality that I decided to put into there, or what trait I blew out of proportion. Interestingly, I think it also shows blind spots. I have a serious problem with writing bigoted people. And intolerant ones in general. And that is something that I see in the normal days.
The fun part is wondering how much of an author’s character is part of their day-to-day life, wish fulfillment, or just a hidden aspect.
You know, when you read it for the 30th times.
Lovely post.
Melanie, I have to say that when I first discovered Starfire Angels Chronicles, I was completely blown away. I love the connections made to real-life and creative otherworldly events, and the incredibly interesting twists on mythology that you include throughout your books. I feel so many comparisons to everyday life in each character when I read through your stories and watch as the characters grow and develop just as we would in our own lives. Whether human, Inari, Rissal, or Raea’s visions from the past of Atia and Lantis’s lives, the world you have created has given me a renewed sense of feelings and attitudes toward my own life and the world around me. I just wanted to say thank you!
Mel, every time I read your books I feel like I know you better and better.
Melanie I love your books I find myself getting angry or crying right along with your characters I love the emotional build up between Rae and Ellis and learning their stories and the stories of all your characters. you are one very talented lady and I enjoy reading every word your creative mind comes up with looking forward to more stories.
Thank you, everyone! You’re all too kind.
Congratulations to bn100. I sent an email your way. Your name was pulled to receive a signed paperback.