“YOU KNOW MY NAME”

 

  

 

Writer-Character Relationship

 

 

            Tasha Cobb is hands down one of my favorite gospel artists. She has a long list of hit songs. One, in particular, is “You Know My Name.”

 

I thought about what this song meant. Biblically, as created beings and children of God, He knows us individually, including our names. Such a powerful statement, and it’s true.

 

Unlike God, writers have the creative ability to construct worlds and all the individuals who exist in them. As their creators, they have a personal relationship with each of them.

 

But isn’t it wonderful to have a relationship so strong that you never need to question how well someone knows you?

 

The writer and characters have personal relationships and share familiarities. They know their creations so well, anticipate their every move like a parent who equally knows their offspring, and can predict certain behaviors based on the kinship and unbreakable bond.

 

Some may arguably question the sanity of writers, especially when the characters are so detail and realistic.

 

It’s why writers can tell their stories so intimately. So detailed as if they live vicariously through their creations.

 

The reason for that is that writers pull from their own life experiences—the tangential link of all story arcs.  

 

Writer-character relationships aren’t linear and why each creation’s behavior is based upon unique traits.

 

Yes, they are fictitious but can still display realistic human personalities.  Not only are these shared dynamics helpful but expected in diverse character development.

 

Writers and their characters often share distinctive qualities as if DNA was involved. Despite not having a genetic link, the similarities are still remarkable.  

 

That goes without saying they know them in some cases better than they know themselves. Because deep within the writer's mind is where the characters exist. Separate but still part of them.

 

 

Readers often wonder if characters are based on personal experience or if it’s all make-believe. The answers are yes, and yes. Writers often delve deep and share bits and pieces of themselves through author-character traits but isn't that what makes most fictional stories relatable?

 

Writer-character relationships are the driving force behind great stories. They are filled with emotional involvement and passionate details. The glue that binds and sustains the relationship.

 

The characters can only exist in the world writers have created for them. Without writers, there would be no characters and vice-versa. Through this supportive system, the writer-character relationships become entwined.

 

Therefore, combined through physical description, behavioral and introspective dialogue, made possible through writer-character interaction.

 

The best of both worlds.