This sounds interesting!

[dame_grise]

I'm Sam. I fall in love with stories all the time. Sometimes they're even my own. I usually get there from the characters. My most damning critique of a book or other entertainment can be "I didn't like any of the characters." Sometimes it's, "It's an interesting world, but..." And usually that means I walk away from it. Though if I love a character, I stick with it, very much.

My attachments have been strong since childhood. I can't run though them all, but I do tend to have a feeling the characters are with me. I'm pragmatic enough to think this feeling may not be real, but it is there. My connection to one of my long time characters almost wrecked my marriage many years ago. I don't like seeing the characters I like hurt or killed. When an author killed off my favorite character for no good reason I could see, I stopped reading the book.

It's hard to talk about this without sounding a bit strange. It may be easier in comments if people want to back and forth ideas. I do know that in many ways this has enriched my life beyond where I would be on my own. It's not foolproof, but it really helps me get closer to understanding someone else's viewpoint. And I use it shamelessly in my own writing. I find out who the characters are and then just let them tell the story they want.

Comments

[revolutions]

I do know that in many ways this has enriched my life beyond where I would be on my own.

Oh, god, couldn't agree more. There are so many experiences I've had and things I've done because of fictional people that I wouldn't have done otherwise - whether it's because they inspired me, or helped me through something, or made me curious about a place or time or aspect of life or whatever...

Anyway, good to meet you! :)

[hitsuzen]

I can't run though them all, but I do tend to have a feeling the characters are with me. I'm pragmatic enough to think this feeling may not be real, but it is there.

This is very true of me, too. I like to think it's true, but I'm content with whatever explanation may arise. It's certainly a feeling, so I'm not to fussed about why I feel it.

I also know what you mean about falling in love with stories through characters. If I can't fall in love (whether it be romantic, platonic, maternal, &c. in nature) with a character, I can't care about anything else that's going on, either.

[not_a_sniglet]

None of that sounds strange at all. Actually it makes sense.

River