This world is so rich with different characters that its sometimes difficult to tell which are real and which are fictional. No brainer if the author is talking about someone like Walter Cronkite or a famous actor or comedian. You can instantly picture that individual and probably even fill in a lot of characteristics without help from the author.
Then there is the author who will create a character fashioned after someone he or she knows personally. That can be a little sticky. What if that individual recognizes him or herself? I doubt they can claim slander unless its really blatant or damaging, but a lot of hard feelings can be created. That’s provided you care about what this person thinks and if said person even recognizes themselves within the story. 
Not naming names, but I’ve heard of authors who have used real people in their books, claiming it makes the story more realistic … and perhaps it does. Particularly for them. What’s easier than using Great Aunt Chrissy when describing a woman of wealth and who may have grown up on the wrong side the of the tracks to marry her way into money? Or Uncle Dennis who used to watch you in a peculiar way that creeped you out? Real people can help you create rich, three dimensional characters. Someone you work with annoys the hell outta you? There’s the busybody neighbor you needed in your story. The nasty assault you read about in the newspaper. A villain in the making.
I’ve never used a real person as one of my characters, but that’s not to say that I wouldn’t. The more I think about it, the more people I know would fit right in to some of my books.
How ‘bout you? Have you consciously (subconsciously) written people you know into your books?
Umm…. maybe….
Way too funny, Kate. I know another writer who is gleefully planning on offing her step mother in her WIP. I sincerely hope said stepmom does not see herself in that book when its published.
I’ve used a friend in a book, and she knew it. But it was someone I admired, so the character wasn’t portrayed in a negative way. I’d love to base a character on the personality of our speaker from Saturday’s meeting. She would make a great heroine!
I remember that, Edie. It was a good portrayal.
And yeah … our guest would make a great character. I have a feeling I couldn’t do justice to her. Annie was just too funny.
Great blog, Liz! Kate’s reply made me laugh.
I haven’t used a real person for characters, but like all writers the emotions we use in our work had to have come from somewhere! And that’s what I use, life 101. And those could come from the busybody neighbor you mentioned, or the wierd uncle that gives kids the creeps. I’ve seen and met some real LuLu’s. And I thank God for each and every one too. They’re the chocolate covered nuts in a writer’s life.
Oh, darn, I so wanted to be at that meeting and reading your comments just now really makes me furious at the huge old oak tree that crashed down onto our driveway during the storm on Friday night. We didn’t get “sawed out” until late Saturday afternoon. I spent the morning cleaning up branches and leaves and chasing down stray balcony and patio furniture. Would so have preferred being at the meeting.
I haven’t created characters based on people I know. When the character appears in my head I start asking questions about him/her in order to develop them, and then perhaps sprinkle in some mannerisms I’ve seen throughout my years to make them real. There have been times when I’ve received comments such as, “A guy would never think that way,” or act that way, whatever. But I know some would because it’s there in my mental journal.
Sometimes I just wish I had videos to back up my claims, lol.
For secondary characters, I will sometimes borrow an actor for awhile to help flesh him out and give him some depth. Usually, the actor will fall away, eventually, and I’ll be left with the character.
Real life experiences are just as good as using real life people, LaD. I think that consciously or subconsciously, we tend to write about people we know … or characteristics we’re familiar with.
Dang! Sorry to hear about all the damage you had, Mary Jo. We were lucky on our side of town. The storm seemed to have split and went North and South of us. We just got a smidge of it.
You would have enjoyed Annie. She was a character in and of herself.
People being as varied and unique as they are, I’m sure there’s an example of characteristics for every situation, Kath. Whether they’re someone you know or someone you created in your own mind. Doesn’t seem to make them any less real, in my opinion.
Liz, I put people I know in my stories all of the time. It gives my characters dimension. Trying to think up little idiosyncrasies and habits is hard, so I write what I know!
Hi Liz,
I haven’t used anyone as a negative character yet, but I have big plans for my next story. (rubs evil hands together)
I have used traits of people I know and I think they would approve. Knowing how they react in certain situations lends authenticity to my characters.
I love this post, Liz. Twice I tried to write my dissertation advisor as a villain. I couldn’t do it! I want to adore all my characters, even my villains, right down to their diabolical (or merely deeply misguided) souls. I just couldn’t bring myself to relive my advisor over and over again, lol!
Oh, also, I wrote a book where the hero and heroine looked like a couple I often saw from afar. I never met them, never even heard them speak. But their physical dynamic together–body language, facial expressions, etc.–really moved me. Wonderful inspiration.
Good method, Natasha. Having someone to give you a visual or an inkling of who you want this character to be is a great idea. The trouble with using an actor, though, is determining which persona to use.
Yeah, but you gotta know some interesting people with interesting habits to begin with, Karin.
I have to really think on the people I know if I’m going to find someone with the habits and characteristics I’d like to see come to life in my books.
Go for it, Elle. Sounds like you’re gonna enjoy this one.
I love it when you have a character and you realize that so and so would make a perfect model in any given situation. Serendipity.
Oh fantastic, Katharine, that you’d found a couple who inspired you even without knowing who they were. Would have been funny if they were nothing like you’d portrayed them.
That reminds me of how I found my villian once. I was enjoying a margarherita at a Mexican restaurant and there was an advertisement on the table for a brand of tequila. The model they used was THE perfect model for my villian. His entire character came alive with that one glance. Needless to say I swiped the advertisement.
Well, my characters were real people. Most of them. LOL. But fortunately no one will come back and sue me, as they’ve been dead for over 500 years.
I think for mannerisms and reactions, I take out years of people watching and put them on the page.
That’s funny, Michelle. Hard to confirm a characters habits if they’ve been dead a couple of centuries. You can take a real person and make them any way you wish. However, you KNOW there will always be someone who claims that so and so would NEVER act in such a manner.
Yeah … right.