November 14, 2008
A Person of Interest
I love the way the media/news/press no longer refers to people as “Suspects”.
If they suspect you of anything now, you’re called “A Person of Interest”. 
A few days ago, I found myself mentally employing this euphemism in regard to an author in a way that surprised me, since it was something I’d ranted against myself in the past (hanging head in shame…).
I read the first chapter of a certain book on the B&N website, basically because it was part of a line I was vaguely considering submitting to. I knew this was a big-name publisher, and I knew the book was classified as “erotic romance”. It turned out to be BDSM. Okay. No problem. I’d read some before. But I came away from this one wanting to brush my tongue.
Long story short…the hero rendered the heroine helpless, stuffed something…er, ‘unsavory’ into her mouth, whipped (not spanked—whipped) her until he left welts on her body, paused to smirk and verbally abuse her, whipped her again, then forced her to beg for sex.
Yes, to each his own. This didn’t work for me, though, so my first reaction was to wonder if this was considered a romance or ‘romantic’ by its audience (the readers’ reviews indicated that it was). Okay. Whatever floats your boat. 
Then a strange thought flashed through my mind before I could stop it, something I’d never wondered about before, something that made the writer a “Person of Interest”…
Did this AUTHOR consider this sexy and romantic? Was there some insight into her psyche here, I wondered?
Yes, I’m guilty as charged. Surprised myself. I don’t normally even CARE about other peoples’ business that way, certainly don’t make assumptions, could give a crap less what an author is personally like. And I know writing is a j-o-b, and fiction is just that. Fiction.
Still, it made me wonder about how much of ourselves we do—or should—put into our stories.
One begins to suspect…
I definitely think that, even subconsciously, we put a lot of ourselves into our books. MAybe not all of us, maybe some of us do it more than others. I mean Kate Douglas is a grandmother who writes about werewolves who do all kinds of kinky sexual things–her, I’d never wonder about. (and I mean that in the nicest way possible. I know I”m guilty of it myself).
All that said, I’ve read some stuff that hit my squick button too. I think that’s why variety within erotica is such a good thing. There’s enough different flavors to go around
I don’t think it reflects the author’s personal taste, Raine. I write about stone cold killers; but except for a few violent tendencies I keep in check, I’m not one. :) I would give her the benefit of the doubt, and figure she saw a possible money making niche, and filled it. I can sure understand why it would give you pause. The number of TV shows, like CSI, which have wound plots around the BDSM craze are to say the least, disturbing. Those storylines make my crazed killers tame in comparison.
I know an author who writes BDSM–which I consider the hardcore kink of erotica family–she wrote a story and couldn’t get why her characters liked such things. She’s one of the few authors I know who really just goes where her characters take her.
With that said, there are some stories where I wonder what the hell the author was thinking. A big time author wrote a consumated scene of incest.
But how much of my self is in my characters? I don’t know. When I start to write them they are pretty much like me and then they get a personality transplant. They do and say things I’d never say or do. But really I’ll leave this question to the shrinks, ’cause I’m scared to know the true answer.
After all the conferences I have attended and seeing the faces, dress and overall attitude of authors I have read, nothing phases me any more… the first or second time HOLY CRAP! (I sat at lunch with a woman who could have passed for a chruch lady–all prim proper and oh so soft spoken–and then I caught her name tag and knew of the M/M BDSM she wrote–it was all I could do not to giggle! NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT)
Now, if I see a seemingly normal person walk by me I wonder, “What freaky-deaky fetish do they have?!?!”
“Still, it made me wonder about how much of ourselves we do—or should—put into our stories.”
As Amie mentioned, we probably subconsciously project something of ourselves into every story, but I don’t consider my characters to be vanity mirrors. As much as I think I would enjoy being a seven-foot-tall wicked fast highly-pissed off half-alien former athlete turned student assassin, I couldn’t do what my character Jory does, nor would I make the same choices. I disagree with a lot of what she does in her story, but my personal feelings can’t determine what the character does. They have to be true to their characterization.
Sometimes I think the stories that compel us to write them have to be told no matter how we feel about them personally. Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita” features an adult protagonist, Humbert Humbert, who becomes obsessed with a twelve-year-old girl. Nabokov was not a pedophile, and he openly despised his character, but he still used him to tell the story he felt compelled to write. “Lolita” is considered one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, and is consistently regarded by lit writers as a masterpiece — not something I think would have happened if he’d used a safe, politically correct character.
…maybe some of us do it more than others. I mean Kate Douglas is a grandmother who writes about werewolves who do all kinds of kinky sexual things–her, I’d never wonder about. (and I mean that in the nicest way possible. I know I”m guilty of it myself).
Always wondered about Kate…
(Kidding!).
It just surprised me, Ames. I’ve got sense enough to know people are not what they project in their writing…at least, I don’t think so…
I write about stone cold killers; but except for a few violent tendencies I keep in check, I’m not one. :)
And I KNOW this, Bernard. I’ve violently killed off a few people—er, characters too, and I’m the kind of person who hates to even kill a BUG.
And I’m not normally even judgemental that way. If someone is into rough sex (or has homicidal tendencies)–more power to them.
My reaction caught me by surprise.
When I start to write them they are pretty much like me and then they get a personality transplant. They do and say things I’d never say or do. But really I’ll leave this question to the shrinks, ’cause I’m scared to know the true answer.
Lol!
You’re right about the characters taking on their own lives–definitely, Mel.
But I’m really into the “know thyself” idea.
It bugs me.
Now, if I see a seemingly normal person walk by me I wonder, “What freaky-deaky fetish do they have?!?!”
Oh, now you just HAD to suggest that, Dennie!
There are those strange people I work with…
I couldn’t do what my character Jory does, nor would I make the same choices. I disagree with a lot of what she does in her story, but my personal feelings can’t determine what the character does. They have to be true to their characterization…Nabokov was not a pedophile, and he openly despised his character, but he still used him to tell the story he felt compelled to write.
Absolutely.
The stories that are not just character driven, but literally DRIVEN by the characters are the most captivating.
The degree to which they are part–or projections–of ourselves is intriguing, though. I’m sure “Lolita” made readers wonder about Nabokov, and wouldn’t be surprised if it made him wonder about himself
I’ve been meaning to post on a related subject, re erotic romance so… I will say that I have to feel some sort of empathy to my characters in order to write them ‘true’, but that doesn’t mean I’d would make same decisions they would, etc.
And even though I *know* better, there have been times where I’ve read stuff and wondered about the author. Are there autobiographical elements here? or secret fantasies?, etc. Yes, completely wrong to do(!!!), but every once and a while a character/story hits you in a certain way, that makes you think. I guess you’d have to say hats off the author for hitting that note of veracity/creativity just so.
…there have been times where I’ve read stuff and wondered about the author. Are there autobiographical elements here? or secret fantasies?, etc.
Oh, good. Then I’ll stop…er, flagellating myself for giving in to the thought.
And yes, cudos to the author who can make a reader wonder. If it’s not autobiographical, they’ve tapped into something special.
How much of ourselves do we put into our characters?
I ask this same question every time I go deep POV with my villains. I get the same answer every time, and it’s usually unsettling to say the least.
I ask this same question every time I go deep POV with my villains. I get the same answer every time, and it’s usually unsettling to say the least.
Not telling what that answer is, eh, Tanya?
Yup. A person of interest.
I don’t write my fantasies. My fantasy consists of a warm summer day, a hammock, a pitcher of sangria, a good book…and TOTAL SOLITUDE. Nobody would pay to read this. There’s no plot.
I write fiction. Further, I write fiction according to publishing guidelines and editorial requirements. Not according to my idea of a good time. Which, as we all know now, is dead boring.
Honestly, I can’t think of much fiction I enjoy reading that I’d want to experience in real life. Fiction tends to be a lot more dramatic than I want my reality to be.
I write fiction. Further, I write fiction according to publishing guidelines and editorial requirements. Not according to my idea of a good time.
A very professional attitude, Charli—and quite right.
And I KNOW this. Not quite sure what set me off in this instance. Maybe the extreme nature of the storyline…?
“Not quite sure what set me off in this instance. Maybe the extreme nature of the storyline…?”
There have been enough authors who have admitted to modeling characters or situations off themselves and/or their real lives to make anyone wonder. Most of the time that kind of ploy comes across to me as either exhibitionist TMI or a pathetic attempt to snag sales via enlisting reader sympathy, both of which I find kinda creepy. But I guess it’s the nature of the biz.
…either exhibitionist TMI or a pathetic attempt to snag sales via enlisting reader sympathy, both of which I find kinda creepy
YES!
