Why are there some books that just grab us? We can sit down, throw open the first page, and instantly be drawn in to new worlds that feel so familiar.
Personally, I believe it has to do with vulnerability, being able to share pieces of ourselves scattered throughout our stories. Pieces that readers can connect to.
In the third manuscript I wrote, I wanted to do some digging, to make a character that felt real. And to do so, I looked at myself. I've struggled with anxiety and panic attacks since I was in middle school, and I knew there were others out there who would be able to relate to my experience. So, I sat down and wrote a character who had panic attacks. She is strong and independent and still has a breakdown every once in a while.
It wasn't an easy process, to look inward and place that vulnerability on a page, but she's now one of my favourite characters I've ever written. She feels more real than many of the others I've met. And I hope one day that someone will be able to read about her and say, "Hey, that's just like me. I'm not alone."
I'm not saying that we always have to share the deepest, darkest parts of us in order for readers to connect, but I am saying that those parts of you might also help someone else.
This form of vulnerability could also come in the form of sharing things like nostalgia, or an average Saturday at the market. It just means writing from a place that you can taste and see and smell what's going on around you, because you've lived it before.
Please don't push yourself. If you don't feel ready to explore a part of your life and share it with the world, that's totally valid. And there are definitely other parts of you to share. Be conscious of yourself, know your limits.
Connected to this idea is knowing your characters and why they react to certain things in the ways that they do. Although we might share pieces of ourselves in our characters, they are (typically) unique from us. As such, they have different triggers, different reactions, and different ways of coping with situations than we do.
But beyond knowing how they react, is knowing why. Why did Mary yell at Fred when he asked if he could have her extra lollipop? Was she saving it for someone else? Did it remind her of an old friend that broke her heart? Did she just want it for herself?
The answer to any of these questions impacts the character in fairly drastic ways. Understanding motives leads to more in depth description and emotional ties. We can now write Mary's reaction in such a way that people might side with her, though she's the one who seems to be out of line.
Maybe she's had a really tough year, and she just wanted one thing that was hers. Fred asking for her extra lollipop was the last straw. Mary needed it. So maybe she yelled, maybe she started crying because she's just so tired, maybe her stomach grumbles because she knows the cupboards are empty at home and this is all she has. Maybe she can't even recognize in herself why she is yelling.
The reason for doing something might be wrong, but the reaction might be relatable. (Morally grey characters, am I right?)
And really, how often to we respond rationally to stressful situations?
I've been really enjoying exploring this idea recently in my writing. When I first started, I was just writing for the fun of it. But the more time I spend in this profession, the better I want to become. And for me, this is the next step.
Happy writing,
Erin