Is it Real?

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

We write the story and our characters experience the highs and lows of life. But are they real? We hope they are real to the reader, but the emotions we elicit, where do they come from?

In this year where my word is 'experience' I look at events and my part in them as having experiences. This also brought to mind where do we find the depth we have our characters dive into as they maneuver their way through a story. Is it what we have experienced? Perhaps it's what we believe they would feel and experience. Pulling from real life does add a level of reality. Yet, sometimes we have no experience that fits that situation.

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

As I research and write, for two complementary blogs, the story of Civil War Soldiers and Civil War Wives who are buried in the local cemetery, I know I've no experience of what they must have gone through. The best I can do is take the facts as I find them and work to access some emotion that might be comparable. A poor second I admit, but it may be better than no emotion at all. If you wish to read about these people, there will be links at the end of this post.

As I write the next book, a story that partially takes place on a train, I can use my own experiences of traveling the rails. Yes, I've ridden on an old steam engine train with the requisite old cars. Yes, experience does help. Stay tuned for more about these two people and their train journey.

Virginia Strickler - Prairie Rose Publications Blog

Henry C. Davis - Western Fictioneers Blog

Chester H. Dillon - Western Fictioneers Blog

For anyone interested, I have a monthly substack newsletter: Thoughts and Tips on History

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris