Characters
The tale behind the story #4
I cannot say how I came up with my characters, but once I got one, I took some time to explore his/her nature. I used some phycological tests, answering the questions to help me define the kind of person the character was. I also wrote a backstory for some of the minor characters, but my editor recommended to cut those stories out to allow reader to focus on the main story.
I had in mind to write a spin-off focusing on one of the two female characters, but the idea is in the back of the drawer at the moment.
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What was surprising to me is that in a podcast I was questioned about why, being a woman, I chose as protagonist a man. Funnily enough, before that question, I never thought about it. I realized afterwards that when I write (micro) stories, I very often choose a male as protagonist. I guess it is an unconscious bias I have, or used to be unconscious, and hopefully I do not have anymore. I am not very keen on certain topics usually associated with women, like romance, children or how to be thin and beautiful, thus having a male character seemed to open more opportunities for stories. It is of course completely false and nowadays I do pay attention to the gender I choose. On the other hand, I do not want to automatically choose a female character, only because I am a woman.
All writers project their own personality and subjectivity when creating characters, regardless of the gender, race or other singularities and the choices of characters reflect the writer´s experience and interests.
What I did not know before writing my novel, is that the characters become alive in the author´s mind, in a way which I never felt as a reader, and even less when watching a movie.
I think it's natural to be attracted to what is different. When I was in theatre, I was attracted to the male roles, so in that regard I can relate to you, Lauca!