Are characters based on your personality?
- Kendle, Wiltshire – England
I’ve read many times that the characters in a story are created from something familiar to an author–a feeling, experience, personality traits. When it comes to me that is all too true. Everything I have every thought up or written has my heart and personality in it. My stories are…personal. A good example is Demoni Vankil and the letters from the main character to his wife.
However, if you’re talking about the main story of Wendell, then yes–there are characters based on my actual personality. Three of them in fact: Wendell, Dax and Chuck. Surprise, surprise.
Wendell is my innocence and desire to do the right thing for the right reason. He has always been a special character to me, because his life closely reflects my own when I was young. The struggles in school–being the geek, always wanting to fit in but never being able to. The awkwardness with girls (though my wife might deny that) and how easily I felt overwhelmed. Yet somewhere inside me there was a burning desire to become something more…to prove people wrong, that I could in fact be something/someone incredible.
Dax, without a doubt, is the anger and righteous indignation of my life. The passion and hostility I keep bottled up when I do everything I can to be a good person, do the right thing, say the right thing and yet–people don’t care. I get ignored, accused, pushed around and there are times when I get fed up. Just because of my associations and connections I have been beaten, abused, scowled at and scorned…and why? Haven’t the foggiest.
Ok, maybe I’m edgy and scary at times but if you get to know me, hey….need I say more?
Chuck is the fun one though. When life is too tough to handle I look forward to hearing the words from his mouth. He is based on my every increasing patience, insight and instability. I have 11 children. All of them are brilliant, strong willed and outspoken. How long would you last? Yeah. It’s tough holding your own around here and if it wasn’t for my jump start in life and experience, these kids would eat me alive. Chuck is a form of glue in my story and my favorite character. He’s…well, what I aspire to become like.
…without having to wear a robe, of course.
Every character in my books has a special place in my heart. There are more than a hundred specific personalities running around in my mind. The only author I’m aware of with that many personalities running free in their mind is J.K. Rowling. Hmmm. Now that’s a talented writer I admire. =)
Thank you for the question, Kendle!
-Jaime Buckley
