Nataanii

I was writing my story yesterday and I found myself having to stop in between because I was in tears over the sorrow of my main character William, and then I frequently find myself going to bed dreaming of the sorrow of my main character in my story, I even the other night, prayed for my main character to recover from his sorrow like he may have been---real! lol, So my question is this, can a writer sometimes become too involved in or---too attached to the sorrows and problems of their character?

lion's pride

Yes I think that it is possible for writer's to get entirely too attached to their characters. Just like it is possible for, say, a diesel mechanic to become much too obsessed with his job. But the fact is that as long as your anguish over your characters passes and is not causing you permanent emotional damage, then these attachments can do nothing but help you with your writing. The more passion that you put into your writing the better it will be. If it really starts to bother you then just remember that you are the one that controls these characters. If you really need to make them better than you can. Just don't let that change the direction in which you want your story to go.

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Pride

"I am on a quest. Maybe if i sit alone in the beautiful night long enough, or i run far enough I'll find what the quest is for. I think if my words and songs bring enough tears to enough eyes, then I'll know just where me stand."
-Bob Marley

Sam Winchester

You can become too attached to your main characters, simply because it you who's created them, so they're almost like a child, and for bad things to happen to them makes you feel bad. I don't agree with lion's pride completely, though. You should try to distance yourself from your character - put them through all kinds of hell, as this builds character better than having everything go right for them. This way you can still keep the passion - which is a great thing to put into your writing.

Sam.

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Tiamat10

It happens. When I was working on one of my novels, I cried the day I wrote the death of one of the MCs. I knew I was going to write it, I'd planned it, but I still felt like crap when I did it. Even after I'd finished writing, I was miserable and depressed most of the day. (Not smart that I wrote it in the morning, either.) But really, you gotta do what you gotta do. No one's going to want to read a book where everything is smooth sailing for your characters, so keep tormenting them, but do so with the knowledge that they'll become a better person for it. And--hopefully--your ending leaves them all satisfied one way or another.

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"I'm a woman, we never say what we want. But we reserve the right to be pissed off if we don't get it." - Sliding Doors

JosephB

If I don't feel some level of emotional involvement with my MC, then I know I haven't fleshed out the character. I write stories with likable MCs, and I want the reader to care about them also. If I don't, then I don't expect anyone else will either,

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"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
-- Albert Einstein

"I am really only interested in a fiction of miracles."
-- Flannery O'Connor

lin

I have sex with several of main characters, but I'm not naming any names (much less methods) for obvious reasons.

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JosephB

Not a bad idea. I think I'll create a character today, just for that purpose. My wife's out of town.

Gives all new meaning to "fleshing out a character."

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"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
-- Albert Einstein

"I am really only interested in a fiction of miracles."
-- Flannery O'Connor

littlegreenbob

Sometimes. I try to really feel what my characters are feeling and put in a lot of emotion. I have occasionally teared up while writing.

I have also had two distinct dreams of scenes in my book. One I was able to stand up and walk around in their loungeroom.

What is even better (unless they are obsessive) is when a reader feels emotion for your character. Then you know you have created something believable.

Fossy

Lin, you can always be counted on to make us laugh.

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Originally posted by Sam Winchester.
Fossy's good too. She gives good advice.

bryndavis

I think if you can connect that well with your characters, then they are obviously worth writing about. What you have to make sure of is that you are objective enough to put down on the paper why you can connect so deeply, and not let it just be an internal emotion that influences your writing.

A character should be taken where it needs to go, and as long as you are doing that then cry for them as much as you like.

lion's pride

Very true. I don't think anyone could have said it better than that.

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Pride

"I am on a quest. Maybe if i sit alone in the beautiful night long enough, or i run far enough I'll find what the quest is for. I think if my words and songs bring enough tears to enough eyes, then I'll know just where me stand."
-Bob Marley