An interesting thing happens when I'm working on a new writing project. I say interesting because I'm afraid that if I complain, it will stop happening. I'm that terrified of my muse, you see.Anyway, at a certain point my characters turn into real people. I know them, and although they have a knack for surprising me from time-to-time, they're fairly predictable. This is especially true for the characters in my screenplay - they surprise me all the time.
These people -- especially the leads -- are so present in my daily life and thoughts that sometimes I wish they'd just go out and get a cup of coffee or something so that I can get a few hours away from them. Like friends who don't know when to go home, they consume every moment of my life. But, in the very next breath I hasten to add that I don't want them to leave me alone for very long. (Hear that, Muse?) Just go catch a movie or something.
What has made them even more real to me is that I'm writing their parts for particular actors; I know not only what they look like, I also know their body language, their mannerisms, their speech patterns and the subtle nuances of their facial movements. The eyes, especially. As far as I'm concerned, this is the only way to write. I used this device when I wrote my novel and it made the characters very real to other people, as well as myself.
My characters actually have two roles because the story takes place in two different centuries, simultaneously. But that's all I care to tell you here. Sorry I can't link my screenplay-in-progress; it's kept on a private blog. Well, if you're really that interested and would like to follow along, you can email me and I'll send you an invite. But if you'd only look the first page over out of curiosity and never return, sorry.
Woops, they're calling. Gotta run.
18 comments:
This is exciting, Steph! I am fascinated by anyone who can write a screenplay. I'll be looking forward to updates on your progress!
Hi, I got sent here by the Black Boxes widget.
Writing a screenplay sounds like a huge undertaking. No wonder the characters become real to you.
Hi, blackboxed my way here :-)
I know what you mean about characters getting in the way, my trouble is I find I morph into mine and they morph into me - which usually means I end up walking around talking to myself more than usual!
Good luck with the screenplay - sounds very exciting!
I had to Google the two actors - having never heard of them - but I totally understand the sweetness of having real people in mind when writing.
I recently watched Chinatown w/ all the commentary again and one of the comments from writer Robert Towne was that he had Nicholson in mind for the lead and he specifically wrote in the style and tempo of Jack N.
I'd say it worked just fine.
I'm here via the black box, and as a sorta-wannabe-too-afraid-of-failure-to-take-myself-seriously writer I love hearing about your creative process. :-)
Hey Black Boxers, thanks for stopping by! I'll be checking out your blogs today.
Hi Steph....the black box brought me over...:):)
Earlier in the day, it took me to my own site. It's taken me to yours a couple of times. :^))))
Black Boxed to here and very glad I did. Will be stopping in regularly.
I am excited about your muses. They serve you and your readers well.
Just a head's up, I have started the game.
TAKE A LOOK!!
:)
Mrs. Hall
Hi Steph - I'm another one who black-boxed her way here. Have read back quite a bit and you are spookily like me in some ways. I love that you can't dry yourself off without closing the shower curtain and that you transpose words. Someone suggested I am dyslexic although I have no reading/writing issues either - but can never remember words and often transpose - plus, I am still living with characters I wrote four years ago. Cue spooky theme tune. Great blog!
...and just checked the comments on my blog and there you are! I think. Or another Steph...
That was me. Nice to meet you!
It's a creepy and delicious place to be. I love it. And it scares me. Go, go, go!
...and just checked the comments on my blog and there you are! I think. Or another Steph...
Black Boxed to here and very glad I did. Will be stopping in regularly.
I had to Google the two actors - having never heard of them - but I totally understand the sweetness of having real people in mind when writing.
I recently watched Chinatown w/ all the commentary again and one of the comments from writer Robert Towne was that he had Nicholson in mind for the lead and he specifically wrote in the style and tempo of Jack N.
I'd say it worked just fine.
I'm here via the black box, and as a sorta-wannabe-too-afraid-of-failure-to-take-myself-seriously writer I love hearing about your creative process. :-)
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