I’m reading a fascinating piece of historical/mystery/thriller fiction–Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott–and I came across a most perceptive and beautifully written description of the writing process and how our characters can come to haunt us as authors:
“Writing can be a haunting, I said, and you said that was a cliche…There is something haunting about it, I said, perhaps because of that heightened sensibility, because you spend so much time listening for the words. You make a character from nothing, a few words, fragments of people you know or have seen from afar, and once they are up and walking they don’t just come and go at your will; they begin to be demanding, appearing at awkward times, doing things you wouldn’t have dreamed they could; they come upon you suddenly when you are asleep or making love. And I’m not talking about the sudden apparition of ideas for plots or new episodes–that happens too–I am talking about people who exist only in your head but who appear in your living room when you have temporarily forgotten they existed, when you have closed your study door on them. It’s a kind of possession. You begin to feel you are being watched.”
Cover of "Ghostwalk" by Rebecca Stott
This happens to me frequently. It’s so difficult to leave the story behind in my office. I’ll be sitting at dinner or talking with a friend or even sitting in the temple (gasp!) and suddenly my characters are running through my head, and I can’t help but feel guilty. It’s not that I wasn’t concentrating. It’s only that the story has such a hold on my mind, consciously and subconsciously, that it must run its course until it is finished.
You’ll find, if you look on Goodreads, that the book gets a lot of 2-star and 3-star ratings, and being a third of the way into it, I can understand why. This is the type of book that requires patience, for the storyline is not clear and easy to follow. But the writing is superb and her grasp of the historical elements is enviable.
Something else happened this morning that points to another ghostly aspect of writing. As an author, I forget that my book is out there affecting others in some fashion (hopefully, for good). For me, it lived while I was working on it and I have since become “possessed” by another story, other characters. But it still lives for any of its new readers.
So what happened? My daughter (who is at BYU) called me to say that she and her new visiting teaching companion were getting acquainted with new sisters on their route. As she spoke of herself and her family with one of these students, she talked of my being a writer, and the girl appeared to recognize the title of my novel, The Reckoning. Sure enough, when they looked it up online, she said it was her brother-in-law’s favorite novel. Someone named Mike who lives in Texas. I don’t get a lot of feedback like that from complete strangers, so it certainly was gratifying. More than that, it affirmed that these books we write have lives of their own. We send them out like children and they form relationships all by themselves.
Hi Tanya, very interesting thoughts. I can certainly relate to feeling a bit haunted by some of my characters and stories! Glad to hear I’m not alone. Or at least others are as crazy. 🙂
I believe all writers, like artists, are a bit crazy…nothing dangerous, mind you, but the creative soul has to feel a certain fearlessness in probing into the unknown, beyond themselves. That kind of courage is often dubbed “crazy” by the world.
You are not alone Tanya. And I’m not talking about your characters following you around. I too am being stalked by my characters. Doesn’t help I’m sure, but nice to know I’m not alone. As well, I’m not sure it’s all bad. Except for having them appear in the middle of something spiritual. That one bugs me, too. 🙂
It’s strange that writing is seen as such a lonely profession when, in reality (or is it unreality), we’re constantly conversing with the characters we’re creating…and, often, out loud. At least, I make a point of reading my dialogue out loud.
Totally agree. The only problem is I get haunted by both my own stories and by the others I read. I actually think it’s part of the reason I write.
Exactly. No wonder Herod has been making occasional appearances in my dreams. One of the side benefits of a good critique group.
Have you ever finished reading a book but loved it so much that your mind can’t put it away, and the characters continue to live on? That’s what happens to me when I read a really well written book, and fall in love with the characters. My mind won’t let them go. In essence, I’m haunted by them. I’m an artist as well as a writer, and someday I hope to be categorized as author, too. If only these apparitions will let me have enough peace to finish my own stories.
I agree. But this is why the “classics” become what they are. They are inevitably filled with characters that live in your mind, inhabiting enough gray matter that they become very real acquaintances, if not friends.
How very nice to get that feedback, Tanya! It doesn’t happen often enough, I say.
Amen! (And it’s especially sweet when it comes out of nowhere.)
I still feel haunted by characters I haven’t visited in awhile. It’s like a piece of me separates from my body each time a new character comes to life in my stories, forever to walk in someone else’s shoes.
Well put. But what are you doing up at this hour of the night? Are they haunting you so much that you can’t sleep? 🙂
What an intriguing quote. Thanks for sharing. As a writer now I feel like I have a reason for living in the world in my head! Thank you
Thanks for you thoughts on this. It’s a sign of success, I assume, when characters come alive enough to haunt. It is amazing that writers can do that–a phenomenon of sorts–all types of people running around in our heads, that have the power to keep us up at night!