Character

A couple weeks ago, I met a woman. There wasn't a romantic spark or anything like that, at least not for me. However, what struck me was in the course of a five or ten minute conversation, how familiar she seemed -- like I was talking to a friend I'd known for years.

Sometimes that happens. You meet someone, or engage in a conversation with a complete stranger, and it is so much like talking to a long time friend. Why is that? How can a complete stranger come off that way?

Of course, this got me to wondering about writing, and how I can transfer that feeling to the readers of a story.

The closest I can come in writing is the wonderful novel Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. This book became very emotional for me, almost as if a real life friend was going through the trials and tribulations that little boy Ender went through.

Writers often do things to make their characters seem more real.

Adding flaws is a biggie. Even Gandalf of Lord of the Rings was flawed, especially as Gandalf the Grey. Heck, the one ring was right under his nose for 60 years and he didn't even recognize it.

Of course I can't relate to that.

Chief Jessie Stone of Robert B. Parker's books has flaws. He's an alcoholic -- I can't relate to that. He can't maintain a decent relationship with a woman -- I do feel his pain there. Heck, the one decent relationship he's gotten in in five novels, the woman wound up murdered. Yikes!

Other authors will give their characters little hobbies or quirks. Myron Bolitar of Harlan Coben's series has a sense of humor. His associate, Win, doesn't date -- he just hires escorts to satisfy his, ummm, needs. Elvis Cole of Robert Crais' books is a big fan of Disney things -- an attempt to satisfy his inner child. In Nevada Barr's books, her character Anna Pigeon has a lot of dating trouble too, and also has trouble maintaining friendships with women.

So what is it? What is that thing that makes another person - a stranger - or a character in a book seem so very real.

It is something I'm thinking about anyway.