People ask me often, “Do your characters hold the same convictions and preferences that you do?”
The answer: No. Not even close. My characters do things I heartily disagree with, don’t have the guts to do, are exactly what I’d like to do if my thoughts and preferences were all that mattered and a bunch of stuff all around those.
I’ve had people become livid that I had Aggie choose not to kiss until her wedding. How could I put that kind of pressure and expectation on the poor girl? Well, because I know people who choose to do that, and I think that it’s a valid choice for them. Would I ever do or recommend it? Not hardly. I’m with Willow. I would not want to share my first kiss with a roomful of gawkers–no matter how much I loved them.
Links in this post may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission t no extra expense to you.
But Aggie isn’t the only one.
Some found Grace and Nolan from Noble Pursuits to be too “cold” or “emotionless.” I’ve had people tell me that people aren’t that “passionless” about their relationships. The funny thing is, for every one of those emails or comments, I’ve had someone else say, “It was so nice to see a story that felt familiar. It was like reading our story with someone else’s details.” Do I think all relationships need to be matter-of-fact? Not hardly.
Another fun one from Noble Pursuits was Craig. People have a love/hate relationship with him. I don’t blame them. If he was my brother, I’d probably whack him. He annoys people. I love that he does. He’s supposed to. I mean, I love Craig because I see the heart behind who he is and what he does, but man he drives me nuts.
Get over yourself, Craig! You act like a controlling boyfriend! She’s your sister and she’s an adult. She doesn’t need you to pound the boy who pulled her pigtail. She’s perfectly capable of kicking his shins herself. She proved it with Chuck!
That said, he is who he is. He is part of why Grace is who she is. And vice versa. He behaves as he does because he was taught to and because she not only allows it– she almost welcomes it. It’s familiar to her. Just because that’s true of them, doesn’t mean that I am advocating this for families across America. [clickToTweet tweet=” I’m showing a fictional family–not giving a word picture of a perfect life. #characters #amwriting” quote=” I’m showing a fictional family–not giving a word picture of a perfect life.”]
But, back to Aggie for a minute.
Aggie seems to bring out quite a few objections. Why did I make her switch to skirts or dresses only when it isn’t her conviction? Why didn’t I show that it’s ok (in my opinion) to wear something other than that? Because this is her story–not mine. I think she could have continued to wear whatever she wanted and could have chosen to dress the kids as they always had been or changed to suit her preferences. I don’t think it matters.
What does matter is Aggie being Aggie. And Aggie is the kind of gal who kind of goes all out with this stuff. Luke supported her in it. Do I think he cares either way? Not really.
Then again, I bet if she handed him a skirt and a pair of jeans and asked which he preferred, he’d choose the skirt every time. Why? Because his mother always wore them. It’s familiar and comfortable to him. Does that mean I think her wearing jeans would be wrong? Nope. It just wouldn’t be her.
It would only be wrong if it violated her conscience.
What about Willow?
Willow’s fierce independence amuses and annoys me. I love her for it and want to slap her at the same time. She has a “know-it-all-ness” to her that is downright obnoxious at times. She makes choices that I think are utterly wrong (for example: in my world, you don’t make medical decisions about your reproduction without the input of your husband. She did. Oh, well.).
Then there’s that author in Fairbury.
Alexa holds herself apart from connecting with most of Fairbury until residents begin turning up dead. Would she have reached out to Joe and maintained a friendship with him otherwise? I don’t think so. She liked her life exactly as it was. Sure, she likes it better with Joe as a friend and the slow tug into other local friendships, but she wouldn’t have made the effort to know that about herself.
She is unwilling to invest in close local relationships out of preference (she’s a loner by nature) and self-preservation. Close relationships have burned her in the past. She uses that as an excuse to keep herself aloof–even from the body of Christ. I personally don’t see that is being Biblical.
Characters are their own “people” so to speak.
They hold their own convictions, make their own mistakes, have their own faults and virtues, and sometimes are similar to me in one way or another and often times are very different.
I don’t always “condemn” in them what I don’t agree with. That would get ridiculously preachy and annoying. I let them be their fallen selves with their warped view of things and their ”
I don’t always “condemn” in them what I don’t agree with. That would get ridiculously preachy and annoying. I let them be their fallen selves with their warped view of things and their “thunderpuppy” ideas.
As weird as it may seem, I let them make their mistakes, and I don’t always call them mistakes. If it’s a part of who they are, but not a part of the story, I’m not going to make their personality quirks or personal convictions an issue. They’re just there because the character is. Sure, it’s okay to emulate their virtues. I try to when I think of it–just as I do with anything “true, praiseworthy, etc.” But their convictions are their own–flawed or not–and I prefer to find mine in the Bible.
I agree with all the above! My chores, grading papers, housework, etc has gotten way to far behind.. I have issues putting your books down! Thank you for them.. I truly feel as if the Lord reveals things to me and uses your stories in a creative way to minister, rebuke, and love on me:) you’re officially my new favorite author!!!
Chautona, I love reading your books. I just finished Manuscript for Murder. Love the books but I’m not getting much of my housework done as the books are so much better than having to do work.
Housework never gets done. Reading does. Until you read again. Works for me! 😉
So glad you’re enjoying them!
Connie, you are my favorite du jour–you offered Coke!
I’m off to start Not a Word in a few hours… in this book the Christian behaves badly and the unsaved does “the right thing” in a sense even under the must unlikely of odds.
Thank you for writing, sharing the intertwining of lives of the characters you have developed in your mind. Fiction I read to enjoy, I am thankful to find a writer who can share normal weakness, and how sometimes turning to God instantly does not always happen even in the real world….we have temper tantrums, want everyone to think as we do, act as we do, speak as we do…Thank God he made us all individuals. I would not like anyone to ever stop reading your stories, if they find in their hearts and minds your stories are not for them, choose another writer. Please for me and others continue, and I will look forward to read more of Kara, Willow, Aggie, Luke, Tina, etc….. God Bless and keep you safe and your mind spinning out new tales for us to enjoy. ps..Hope you have plenty of coke.
Keep writing about Willow. Just Love her and all of the other ones.
I am afraid of the tar, feathers, and railways that would appear on my doorstep if I stopped.
I found this blog post so funny because it has never occurred to me to be upset with YOU because of how characters behave. To me they are their own people, but I can see why readers would be upset since they are people you have created. I just don’t see them that way when I am reading. As their own people I expect them to have flaws. It wouldn’t be much of a story if all of them were perfect. 😉
I believe it has been said that trying to please everyone is the surest way to fail. Some of your books I just LOVE and some not as much, but so what? Isn’t it interesting that the lady who posted the comment above mine says she is not terribly fond of Alexa but yet I understand Alexa 100% because I am so much like her and sometimes it feels like you are writing about me! 🙂 However, I also adore Willow (though she also exasperates me thoroughly at times!) even though we are nothing alike.
So, it’s mostly just a personality thing it seems. It does however annoy me that people “complain” about your choice of characters/stories resulting in you writing a lengthy blog explaining everything. Why should everyone be a clone of the next person anyway? I feel that it’s your prerogative – your characters, your stories and your hard work. If they think they can do better, then where are their books out there? It’s the uniqueness and diversity of us all which makes life far more interesting I think.
But PLEASE, if I can submit just one request – don’t stop writing Willow’s story! I’m so addicted! Or you’d have to put together an online support group for those of us who are addicts so we can help each other get through the withdrawal symptoms when it all ends!
I also just want to say that you did a marvelous job explaining your characters/stories in your above blog although I feel you shouldn’t have to.
But it is impressive that you responded so professionally and patiently without being defensive despite so much criticism and dissatisfaction from some people (I’ll get defensive on your behalf! Lol). Thank you for all your amazing books and for being such a generous author with all your free giveaways and competitions etc. You set a high standard which not many other well known authors live up to!
Aw, thanks! I certainly don’t want to become defensive. They’re fiction, after all! However, when the questions start coming in close succession, I figure, hey… I can do some ‘splainin’ (But Teresa, that does not mean I confess to being Lucy! We both know who is Lucy and who is Ethel!!!!)
As for Willow, I’m kind of planning a “start over with Kari’s story” at the end of Willow’s. Just because I’m still not ready to let it go. Is that pathetic, or what?
I love your characters because they all have, uh, character! It’s delightful to be innocently reading along, and someone I “met” in another book appears or is mentioned. Your post is a reminder that we are all works in progress. Until Jesus returns, our stories are, and our own character is, still developing. May we read eachother gently? God is not finished with us yet, and He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. Thank you, Chautona, for painting such interesting word-pictures. I am captivated by your writing! ((((((Hugs)))))) and brownies: [X] [O] [X] [O] [X] [O] to you!
I love you, E!
Thank you for stating a wonderful truth – an author creates characters – and fiction writers are NOT writing scripture or concordance entries – thank you so much for writing fiction. I am not terribly fond of Alexa – but you tell us the why and let us see the how it works out. I love Willow – not how she acts all the time but how she rises above potentially devastating loss and builds on strengths.
Thank you for the whole cast of characters – quirks, warts and all!
That is a perfect way of stating it! I am not writing concordance entries! I love that.
I think I should have written it, “I’m not writing non-fiction on living the Christian life. My books are not 12 step programs to godly behavior. They’re just tales of someone else’s Christian life–whether I agree with how they live it or not.