When I create a character, I get a general impression in my head of who they are and what they look like. Throughout the creation of the story, their appearance doesn’t change much, except to maybe come into sharper focus. I think I tend to "see" actor-types as the characters in my stories because when I'm writing, the plot plays out like a movie.
Because Finding Meara, my first completed novel, is written in first person, the female lead character (Hazel) didn't really have a face to me. She had a personality all her own, but the "I" point of view put me in her head, so it wasn't like I ever "saw" her. However, the other characters all have their own actor whom they resemble.
Rodd is the relationship character to Hazel. He teaches her about sacrifice. In my head Rodd looks similar to Matt Bomer, the actor who plays Neal Caffrey in the USA television show, White Collar. If you want to see a picture (I'm not about to post it on my blog because it's pretty much a given it's copyrighted) go here. Picture No. 5 is the one that matches closest with the Rodd in my mind.
Last spring I dropped by Little Cesar's to get a pizza on the way home from work. The man in the back making pizzas came to the lobby to offer me help getting my pizza out to the car. He opened the door for me, I looked up into his eyes and my eyebrows shot up almost off my forehead.
He looked exactly like Rodd. I kid you not.
Crystal blue eyes, square jaw, dark hair -- he had it all. I thought he was a little short, but over the last six months (we do Friday Night Pizza at our house) I have come to find out he is sufficiently tall to pass for Rodd. I can't tell for sure how old he is, but he looks to be around the same age as Rodd.
The embarrassing part of this story is my reaction. It's lucky we like pizza in my house, because I love to look at this poor guy. So amazed at the similarities, I think in the beginning I might have stared...a lot. It's not like he's been hiding in the back when I come in (at least I don't think so--I hope not) but I think he's probably noticed that I tend to look at him when I'm in there.
I don't want to make him uncomfortable, but dang! He looks like Rodd! And Rodd is such a neat character. He's wise, and handsome, and moral. It's not that I think this guy has those traits (although he has demonstrated being helpful and polite), but he's like a physical representation of that character I got to know and cried over when he died.
I've confessed my staring issue with some non-writer friends, who think I'm nuts. They can't understand why I'm worried about what the pizza guy thinks about me. The truth is, I don't want anyone to think I'm some sort of cheating cougar, you know? What else is this guy who is at least ten years younger than me, if not more, supposed to think of some married middle-aged woman staring at him.
As misunderstood as I may be, I keep going back to Little Cesar's. It's the best pizza in town. I just try not to stare as much... Or at least not get caught doing it.
Rodd is the relationship character to Hazel. He teaches her about sacrifice. In my head Rodd looks similar to Matt Bomer, the actor who plays Neal Caffrey in the USA television show, White Collar. If you want to see a picture (I'm not about to post it on my blog because it's pretty much a given it's copyrighted) go here. Picture No. 5 is the one that matches closest with the Rodd in my mind.
Last spring I dropped by Little Cesar's to get a pizza on the way home from work. The man in the back making pizzas came to the lobby to offer me help getting my pizza out to the car. He opened the door for me, I looked up into his eyes and my eyebrows shot up almost off my forehead.
He looked exactly like Rodd. I kid you not.
Crystal blue eyes, square jaw, dark hair -- he had it all. I thought he was a little short, but over the last six months (we do Friday Night Pizza at our house) I have come to find out he is sufficiently tall to pass for Rodd. I can't tell for sure how old he is, but he looks to be around the same age as Rodd.
The embarrassing part of this story is my reaction. It's lucky we like pizza in my house, because I love to look at this poor guy. So amazed at the similarities, I think in the beginning I might have stared...a lot. It's not like he's been hiding in the back when I come in (at least I don't think so--I hope not) but I think he's probably noticed that I tend to look at him when I'm in there.
I don't want to make him uncomfortable, but dang! He looks like Rodd! And Rodd is such a neat character. He's wise, and handsome, and moral. It's not that I think this guy has those traits (although he has demonstrated being helpful and polite), but he's like a physical representation of that character I got to know and cried over when he died.
I've confessed my staring issue with some non-writer friends, who think I'm nuts. They can't understand why I'm worried about what the pizza guy thinks about me. The truth is, I don't want anyone to think I'm some sort of cheating cougar, you know? What else is this guy who is at least ten years younger than me, if not more, supposed to think of some married middle-aged woman staring at him.
As misunderstood as I may be, I keep going back to Little Cesar's. It's the best pizza in town. I just try not to stare as much... Or at least not get caught doing it.
Have you ever met a person who looks like your character? How did you handle it?
