Yesterday, I saw him again. Standing at the window of a camera shop, idly scanning the Leicas – the main character of book No. 2. Well, it wasn’t him, really. But it was a jacket that he would wear and the posture he would take. So again, I found myself staring at a random guy on the street who was innocently going about his life, taking down notes in my head about him, then in my little notebook.
And yes, doctor, it has happened before. In fact, I keep meeting fragments of my stories’ characters in the most unlikely of places. In a photo article in a magazine, for example, or in the lyrics of a song. On a ferry rocking from Ros a’ Mhíl to the Aaran Islands.In the story a friend of mine heard from a friend’s friend. In the U-Bahn, taking a ride from Karl Marx Allee to Friedrichstraße. If I am really lucky, I even have not only a camera with me, but as well a good alibi to use it. Pretending to snap a beautiful landscape or hubby (who is quite a character, too 
) while in reality …. I am researching. Creating. Giving people either the creeps (usually women) or ideas (usually men).
Sounds weird? Wait, there’s more! Because I still cannot put my finger on what triggers these moments. I don’t take the conscious decision to use a certain character trait or mannerism of an unknown person. I rather recognize my yet unborn character in them, like being reminded of an old friend whom I haven’t met yet. These moments come out of the blue and always leave me slightly puzzled, as if you are experiencing a Déjà Vu.
Interestingly (and fortunately) enough I have never found “the one” person that embodies a certain character fully. Only ever tidbits and pieces. That gives me hope those characters are as unique as they are in my head, and the confidence to quote the famous Hollywood line: All similarities to real people or events are purely coincidental and unintended. Promise!
So, does anyone of you writing guys experience the same thing? Where do you find your characters and how do they develop? How do you bring them to life?
5 Comments
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Eva, I love the pictures you use in your posts- they always fit so well and complete your articles!
I actually imagine my main characters with me, facing daily challenges and I like to think about how they would reach on certain situations I face…
As for being a total weirdo, I’m right there with you on that
I do believe each character we create in our head is unique, has a finger print all of her/his own…
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Yes, yes, yes! I do that too sometimes!!
Thanks for complimenting the pic choice, that’s so nice of you. It’s just that whenever I think of a topic I have these pictures in my head. And they’re usually … well … weird! Great to see you’ve got some antennas for that kind of humour, too. Keep on rocking, Lua. How’s 24 year old life, btw? 
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Danke für die Blumen
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Love it, love it, love it. Especially that you document these people on film for future reference
This post actually makes me feel really eager to finish my current project so I can get started on another and create characters anew. For this 1st novel-length attempt, I think I withdrew into the security blanket of a lot of first-time writers and largely drew character traits from myself and people I know, and yet they’re modified enough to not really be them (or me, for that matter)–so, yes, I agree with you and Lua that this amalgam of true traits creates a new and original being. “It’s ALIVE!!!” Mwahahahaaa!!!
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Thanks so much for the positive reaction! And the evil laugh! It makes me giggle EVERY time I hear it, as people close to me will be able to confirm. Ah, how appealing these dark characters are
Regarding your “security blanket” – there are these theories that EVERY characters is just a display of one of the many sides a writer had. Interesting thought indeed. But as I mentioned in Lua’s blog, the comfort is that most people out there won’t notice…
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[...] about it, is how we get our ideas (consider this post of inadvertent character-finding in ”Of Characters and Other Weirdos” from the Write in Berlin blog). “Either write something worth reading or do something [...]