I dare you to refute this.
However, I'm interested in the flip side of this phenomenon.
I believe that when we write, we usually write better versions of ourselves or others. We write how we wish we had handled something, what we wish we had said to a romantic interest, etc.
Have you ever been influenced by your fiction? Have you ever found yourself responding to an event and thinking, "My main character would have said/done that." Were you able to pat yourself on the back because the fictional version of you rocked a situation for the better?
Or did researching a certain job or hobby for one of your characters end up convincing you to take up that hobby? What about a charity your character championed? Did you start supporting the same charity as a result?
I'm debating on formulating a new writer's quiz, and based on the comments I receive, I'll know better how to word the questions, so don't be shy!
Let's Analyze
How has your fiction writing influenced your real life?
2 comments:
This is going to sound strange, but I used to believe in a phenomenon I called synchronization back in my high school years as an online RPer. I felt that when my characters were depressed, I would get depressed.
While I don't doubt that there is some connection and correlation between my chars' moods, I don't think that how I viewed this phenomenon was entirely sound.
First of all, it was hard to differentiate who got depressed first. Sometimes it would clearly be my character, but the character is basically a limb of myself at the point this started happening. and sometimes, it would be the reverse, I would spill my feelings into the character.
my character was not 100% a self-insert, but there is truth that we put a bit of ourselves into everything we write.
I do know two things that happened as a result of creating my flagship character, a female martial artist of sorts.
1. I started appreciating the strength of women, despite being a male. I wasn't sexist before this change, but I was somewhat oblivious to the trials of the other sex. This opened my eyes.
2. I started to use her strength, her tenacity, to fuel myself. How could I claim I created her if I didn't show this strength in myself? I may not be the epitome of fitness in any sense of the word, but there was an inner strength and fire she had. I think I'm better because of it.
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Both comments and questions are welcome. I hope you enjoyed your time on the couch today.