Creating

"You shouldn't base a character on somebody you know." he said. She said it too. They all say it. But it's so tempting. Because I've got everybody figured out, haven't I? I know the choices you make, I have a pretty clear idea of how you get ready in the morning, how you greet people, your relationships, what you've experienced and where you want your life to go.

"It's limiting." he said. She said it too. Limiting. Limited to my idea of who you are. I shape you the way I think you are and then present you to strangers. Like playing God I have created you in my image. That's why it's limiting, because I think I know you. You wouldn't dream of setting your house on fire in Act II, would you? Are you capable of change? Just like all the millions of characters I don't know? Or are you that person I've got completely figured out?

"Change something fundamental about them, if you insist on creating a character based on them" he said. She said it too. It would open things up. Would you, as the opposite sex, lit the match that sets your house on fire? You might. Because I don't know you like that. Maybe being another gender would've brought you different experiences throughout your life. Which would make you different. That way you would still be you, except you wouldn't.

"Maybe take two out of five traits of the person you know and use those." he said. She had already said it. Is it even possible to create a character who's not somehow based on people you know? I used to think coming up with a character would be easy. Flat characters, sure. Like women in old-fashioned movies. Like the silly helper-character in a comedy. Try creating a person in your mind. It's difficult. You are so many things all at once. You are so many different things to so many people. How do you get to know the inner universe of someone you don't know? Someone you have to create?

I think I need peace, the ocean and my notebook before I know who you are.