Characters Quote by Jennifer A. Marsh
““Heavy is the head that holds the pen of creation. We construct these characters from nothing, molding them from our imaginations. We give them hopes and dreams and unique personalities until they feel so real you’re mind believes it must be so. We watch them grow by our hands, not always knowing the paths they will choose with the obstacles we throw at them. They take on a life of their own and often surprise even us by their actions we couldn’t have imagined before it poured out of us onto the paper. We could change it if we really wanted to, but it would be forced and not be true to the characters. And when something tragic happens and one is lost, we feel that loss even though we know they were not a friend, a family member or even ourselves. It can be a hard thing to voice sometimes, to give tribute to the one’s left behind with the real sadness over something not so real. But we find the words and press on to the next challenge, because that's what good writers do.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Writing Reflections, 2021
Creating characters gives them agency, leading to unexpected outcomes; writers must honor that autonomy while coping with emotional attachment.
In simple terms: Writers must respect their characters' independence.
Key Takeaway
Honor character autonomy.
Themes
creativity
writing
empathy
Mood
introspective
creative
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- role‑playing games
Key Concepts
narrative theory
authorial control
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle unexpected character choices?
- What emotions arise when a character dies?
A Different Perspective
Attempting to control characters can stifle authenticity.
