Character Models

            When one has a story to tell, it almost always involves people, or characters who make up the tale. A notable exception is Jack London’s The Call of the Wild where the main character is an animal. I have found that for my stories, the plot occurs first, then the people involved slowly reveal themselves. In some other cases, however, I have had an encounter with the character first, then they reveal the story to me. Either way, the people involved are always paramount. The question arises, however, whether the character should be completely fictitious or based loosely on an actual person?

            I see no cut and dry answer for this, as I have done both. Some actors in the works are completely original and exist in the story alone. I have had some, however, who have been shaped and modeled on people I have known. One of my favorite people of all time, my character Robert Latour, is based on a dear old man in John Knox Village. Another of mine, Richard Cacciare, is constructed from the actor William B. Davis, the infamous Cigarette Smoking Man from the series The X Files. I have used models for some of the women in my works as well. The girl at the end of Bleodsian is taken from two actual students I know at the university. Using character-models can be advantageous, so long as you do not lift that person from reality and drop them in your story. You cannot simple write about someone else’s life; merely let the person be a loose guide for you. You can certainly mimic their attire and persona, even copy some of their wardrobe habits, but do not take John Smith as he is and put him in your story. Think lawsuit on this one, especially if John Smith happens to act as my characters usually do!

            Others of my characters are derived from the inner layers of my mind. I admit I have a pretty basic stockpile of characters I use when writing. Most of my women tend towards this stockpiled model, relishing in their raven hair and ethereal appearance. My women usually are black haired, although Caroline Asher started out as a blond. For these women, think Sarah Brightman or especially, Tarja Tururen, from the band Nightwish. I default to these types, what more can I say. The men are typically older, perhaps middle-aged. I understand the need to diversify this collection, and I am working towards that goal with the introduction of new and younger individuals. I just completed An Unbinding Tie where the main individual is a young man, so I am making progress in that direction.  

            When choosing a person for a story, let your mind roam and allow the spirit of the story to work. You need not stalk people. Actually, please don’t. I will not bail you out of jail. Just let each encounter you have speak for itself. The character will say, when the time is right, “that is me.” Then you have a face to put with the idea. Again, no stalking or hunting. Do not take pictures or harass the person. If you know the person, ask them if it is alright if they “model” for you and allow you to probe their personality. Winston Groom, the author of Forest Gump had a close friend who embodied Gump for him, and it was from that friend that Groom got his idea for the ping-pong playing, shrimp boat steering character.

            Lastly, and most importantly, be certain that you limit your connection to the actual person. By this I mean, if you are writing a story which involves a person you know, make the character distanced from the actual person. The living model would not like being accused of something derogatory. Take the image and make it your own. Lawsuits can come out of an issue such as this, and you can be accused of libel. Watch yourself.

            As always, good luck writing!