Are you talking to yourself...Again?

Elincoln · Apr 1, 2005

Does anyone who writes novels does this? My husband always picks on me because I can have a full conversation by myself, either as dialogue between two characters OR (and this is where he gets me mad with) I actually have a one-on-one with whatever main character I'm working on. The former is so that the conversation 'sounds' normal, but the later...

Let's just say that they are more interesting to talk to than my husband.

Anyway, I find that doing this fleshes out my character's personality for me. Let's me see other side of them and what they're really thinking and feeling. It helps me make them more believable.

Does anyone else get caught talking to their characters?

-Elaine

Liam Jackson · Apr 1, 2005

I don't think I've ever talked to one of my characters, but I've talked "for" them. Several months ago, I was having trouble with a dialogue-heavy chapter. Something seemed off and I couldn't put a finger on it. Several AW folk recommended talking out the dialogue. So I did. Worked like a charm, too . The problems were immediately apparent.

Julian Black · Apr 1, 2005

Elincoln said:
Does anyone else get caught talking to their characters?

I live alone, so I never get caught talking to my characters, except by the cats (who assume that I'm talking because it's time for food, petting, laptime, or going Out).

I do carry on internal dialogues with characters, however, and if I'm out in public I have to be aware of my facial expressions. I've had people give me really odd looks before realizing that my face reflected whatever was going on in the conversation. If you're talking to your character about why he might have legitimate cause to kill somebody, things can get a little bit weird.

Hummingbird · Apr 1, 2005

I'm guilty as well! I don't do it that often, but it does help me to get a feeling for the characters. I also say their conversation out loud. There have been a few times that my sister would ask, "Are you talking to yourself again?" Instead of trying to explain and getting a glazed over look from her, I just answer with a 'yes'. It's quite funny sometimes. Especially when she's on the phone, and her friend can hear me talking. Then of course, they ask what I'm doing. So, my sister has to ask, and so on.
I often wonder why she just doesn't use the phone in the other room though. Then again, she wonders why I talk out loud when writing.

black winged fighter · Apr 1, 2005

I just recently started having 'council sessions' with my characters. I ask them about their hopes and desires, their fears...Sometimes it scares me the way the words just pour out. Most of the time, however, these are written sessions. Other times, I just endure the stares. *grins* What a weird bunch we are...

Hermit · Apr 1, 2005

I haven't done this but it was suggested to me awhile back. Try signing up for a D-Board or a Chat Room as your character and carry on as if you were him/her. You'll see how people react to the character's attitude, ideals, etc. and what type of person your character attracts as 'friends'. It's a bit devious but all's fair in character developement right?

Hummingbird · Apr 1, 2005

Hermit said:
I haven't done this but it was suggested to me awhile back. Try signing up for a D-Board or a Chat Room as your character and carry on as if you were him/her. You'll see how people react to the character's attitude, ideals, etc. and what type of person your character attracts as 'friends'. It's a bit devious but all's fair in character developement right?

That would be fun! I have been a character in chat rooms, but I never thought about the different way I typed and such for the character. For a few chatrooms, all you have to do is type in a name to get in. That way you won't have to sign up. I might try that some time. It's still fun to talk to the character out loud, but that sounds like fun too!

lindylou45 · Apr 1, 2005

Elincoln said:
Does anyone who writes novels does this? My husband always picks on me because I can have a full conversation by myself, either as dialogue between two characters OR (and this is where he gets me mad with) I actually have a one-on-one with whatever main character I'm working on. The former is so that the conversation 'sounds' normal, but the later...

Let's just say that they are more interesting to talk to than my husband.

Anyway, I find that doing this fleshes out my character's personality for me. Let's me see other side of them and what they're really thinking and feeling. It helps me make them more believable.

Does anyone else get caught talking to their characters?

-Elaine

Yes I do! People look at you funny, don't they. I work my dialogue out by talking to myself. Sometimes when a scene simply isn't working, but I'm trying to MAKE it work, one of the characters will stop and I can hear them in my head say "I'm not doing that!"

My sister got me a shirt the other day that says: The voices in my head aren't real, but sometimes they have really good ideas! I loved it!

KTC · Apr 1, 2005

I always say the dialogue out loud. I wouldn't know if it works or not if I didn't. I like to hear what I'm writing...it's the best way to be your own judge if there's nobody else around to be a judge for you. If it sounds like crap...it's crap. You know when you hear it out loud whether or not it's good. (So what if we're crazy...we're writers!)

Torin · Apr 1, 2005

I try to keep this sort of thing to myself, like when I'm out in the garden in the summer, pulling up weeds. I have murmuring conversations between characters, or between one of them and me. It's all good.

Torin

Elincoln · Apr 1, 2005

Hermit said:
I haven't done this but it was suggested to me awhile back. Try signing up for a D-Board or a Chat Room as your character and carry on as if you were him/her. You'll see how people react to the character's attitude, ideals, etc. and what type of person your character attracts as 'friends'. It's a bit devious but all's fair in character developement right?

I actually Moo as my characters. The one place lets you morph from one identity to another. Most of my friends on there are use to me but I get a kick out of confusing the new comers and guests. Still, it's not the same really. Its when the voice of your character inside your head is saying, "Will you stop clowning around and get the novel done? I want to be born this decade!" that makes you realize this is not normal.

-Elaine

Trapped in amber · Apr 1, 2005

Yes, I do that. I've always done it , I think, as I remember getting told off for it at school. I was making up stories in my head, miming rather than saying the words out loud, and the teacher wasn't amused. It must have looked really odd, but I was too little to stop and think about that. I remember feeling very embarrassed.

Julie Worth · Apr 1, 2005

Elincoln said:
Does anyone else get caught talking to their characters?

I don’t talk to my characters, but sometimes they escape and become real. Like me, for instance.

Mistook · Apr 1, 2005

Hermit said:
I haven't done this but it was suggested to me awhile back. Try signing up for a D-Board or a Chat Room as your character and carry on as if you were him/her. You'll see how people react to the character's attitude, ideals, etc. and what type of person your character attracts as 'friends'. It's a bit devious but all's fair in character developement right?

Hermit,

I did this once, but never again. The character I used was female, and in the space of a week she had two men madly in love with her. One guy was a slick name-dropper from Hollywood, and the other was a rather more sophisticated fellow from New York. Both of them did their level best to charm the pants off her.

I felt so guilty. She had to break their hearts.

sgtsdaughter · Apr 1, 2005

I won't even lie . . .yes, yes, yes I do talk to, with, and about my characters. Heck, I even do that for the writing of my "other life." People walk in on me, endlessly, and double over with laughter at my antics. And, it's always amusing in the new phase of a relationship when he hears me--the look is always just so . . . what's the word--bemused, frightened, reconsidering last night (ha ha ha) . . . naaaaw. just priceless. :banana:

so talk away. that's what makes writing so fun, and besides it keeps you from getting lonely.

MarkEsq · Apr 2, 2005

Not for dialogue

I don't talk to myself for dialogue but I do for plot points or to work out a new twist (mystery writer, me). I find that if I just sit back and try and think my way through a part of the story my mind wanders and I don't get far. But if I talk it out, I am forced to focus on the subject/issue at hand. I ask myself, "Why would he kill her?" and answer back. Seems silly, maybe, but it works...

Sarita · Apr 2, 2005

Elincoln said:
Let's just say that they are more interesting to talk to than my husband.

Ha! I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I talk to characters all the time, asking them questions, playing out dialogue. It works, they become so real. I think that conveys in the writing as well.

Are you talking to yourself...Again?

Elincoln

Official Daydreamer of AW

Liam Jackson

Heathen Horde Elder

Julian Black

Will Read Slush for Food.

Hummingbird

Pen, Paper, Prepared. ...Write!

black winged fighter

AW Addict

Hermit

Hummingbird

Pen, Paper, Prepared. ...Write!

lindylou45

The Stooge Slayer

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Torin

Wandering vaguely

Elincoln

Official Daydreamer of AW

Trapped in amber

Julie Worth

What? I have a title?

Mistook

Neverending WIP

sgtsdaughter

Nearing the end of an era

MarkEsq

Clever title pending.

Sarita

carpe noctem