Writing Who You Know…
Song stuck in my head at the moment… “Here It Goes Again” by OK Go
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I’m sitting here editing while snarfing down a tuna melt, and I came across a funny note in the manuscript that I left for myself. I’m describing Alex’s mother, an earthy, salt-and-pepper woman in her 50’s, introduced with Cora’s first visit with the family.
The note says: “Hey Ed… Who’s this in real life? Tee hee!”
First off, no, I am not ashamed to “tee hee”. It’s the most natural thing in the world. Despite the rumors of my curmudgeonlyness, I tee-hee often. Get off my case.
The thought I had was this: It is often the case with fiction writing that the real world slips in and makes a home in the lines of your work. While some writers will try to wheedle out of this practice, I’ve found it’s easier to embrace it. People from my life always show up in my work. The woman described above? Eddie’s co-worker, who’s just the happiest, huggiest, most joyful person you could want to meet. When I think of Alex’s mum, how she would be, that’s who she is.
Even better, my favorite cameo in the book: The happy old woman on the boat in the flashback in Chapter 4? That’s Eddie’s Nonna, possibly the sweetest little lady who ever lived. She used to take my face in her hands and say “Thank you for making my grandson so happy” in this tiny little voice that sounded like it was full of a life well lived. When I thought of what a wonderful little old lady would sound like, it’s Nonna all the way.
The good news is this: It can be your little literary secret. Everyone has someone that fills that archetype in their head. I always use Hemingway as an example. One of his good friends was a bullfighter. Knowing that, read “The Sun Also Rises”. See what I mean?
If you write them well, you can enjoy seeing your own cast while you’re writing, and your fans will enjoy their own cast when they’re reading, and your work will be the better for it on all fronts. It’s a glorious little win-win.
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On another note.. I would be remiss if I didn’t say a word on the passing of John Updike. Very rarely does an author come along who writes so much, earns so many accolades, wins not one but TWO Pulitzers, and passes off a Nobel Prize to a fictional character. The man has moved on, but the books remain…
