JeffsFort Posted August 27 Posted August 27 I know, most of the time when you are reading a story, the fact that the character may have been based on a real person is not the first thought you have and probably doesn't even matter. Often times we'll find this out while reading and the the character that we already have created a mental image of when reading, may change a bit to us. Learning they could have been based on the person who wrote the story or someone they are close to could make them more real or even taint the image we created for them. But does it really matter? Does it change anything when you learn of this whole other origin. Do you even want to know? So our question this month is: Does it matter if an author tells you that a character is based on a real person? Does it change anything for you when reading? Does it make the character more or less endearing in your eyes? Do you even want to know? 2
chris191070 Posted August 27 Posted August 27 If an author has based a character on a real person, I don't want to know until I've completed the story. So I can make my own image of the person, whilst reading. 2
SilentandBroken Posted August 27 Posted August 27 Idk.. sometimes I guess. Seems to depend on the story and how well written it is. 2
JeffsFort Posted August 30 Author Posted August 30 For me, it's been common to learn that a story is based on real experiences after finishing the read. Typically in some form of an afterword or even as a way for the author to sum up the experience writing the story. I've done that myself and mainly because I wanted people to know that there was more of "me" in the main character than originally planned. Honestly I think more often than not there is some non-fiction wrapped up in plenty fictional works out there. For me it lets me know that I actually got to know the author a little better than I had planned on going in on page one. I can think of a few stories over the years where I really felt for the main character. (MOE is a great example of that) Where I learned that there was more truth than I had bargained for from the real world, and that does kind of justify my real emotions toward this fictitious character. It has the added bonus of allowing me to get to know the author. The story half becomes the author's way to confide in me a piece of their own personal history. Doesn't even matter that it's out there for the general public, it feels personal to me. Having been on both sides of the keyboard, I have received feedback about one of my own stories that at the end I explained the origin of the bad situation I wrote about and it appeared to touch that person enough to want to connect further. It's a very real connection and maybe we are a little more prepared to make that connection when the words "The End" severs our tie to the situation we had become attached to. I like to think it's a way to take others on the same journey we are on and give the reader something to take away from the experience. As for making the character more endearing: If the story is heart felt, it comes across to most as just that. Even without that explanation. So the characters are already endearing to me at least. Comsie is a great example of that because after reading a couple other stories and then learning some specifics of where a personality trait originated, or a friend was based on a real person from his past, or even if the entire character was 100% fictitious, I was already attached to the character. Learning that some part of what I already loved came from him, means I got to know the author a little better and where it generally comes after the final chapter, it actually makes me feel closer to that author's "real" world, not just that one character. Which is a whole other level of cool for me 1
SilentandBroken Posted August 30 Posted August 30 Comicality was a brilliant writer to me simply on HOW he convey the character’s emotions. Sure he was able to pull from his own experiences in real life and how he felt. A lot of authors do. But he had that “it” factor that instantly made what all his characters relatable. They became real. Being able to relate especially in MOE as my experiences were very similar in many ways ..at least in how I reacted to what I experienced was almost the same. Not just the reaction to the abuses but the emotional struggle to keep from losing his shit..not many authors can articulate it quite like he could. That’s what made him special. 3
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