You are a Character in a Story

Top 5 characters I want to meet:

1) Hermoine. She’s smart and nerdy and finally somebody to do work with me two weeks in advance.
2) Annabeth Chase. She’s smart and wise (I’m sensing a theme here).
3) Twilight Sparkle from My Little Ponies (I know, I know. Leave me alone). She lives in a library and is super talented and smart. And she’s a unicorn.
4) July Numah (from my own book, 12). Just to convince myself her faults aren’t really my faults.
5) Elder. Integrity. Leader. Hot. Too bad both of us are taken.

We love characters. We’re drawn to them; we root for them; we cry for them; we imagine them our friends. And we wonder why can’t we be more like them, sometimes even narrating life events like a famous character. (Okay…maybe it’s just me…)

But we are like them.

We are characters in a story. Our own story.

We may not receive a Hogwarts letter, be the descendent of a Greek god, or have our names reaped for the Hunger Games, but our stories have just as much meaning. Their significance doesn’t come from big plot twists but our responses to even the smallest events.

Katniss’ response at the reaping is what launches The Hunger Games.  If Percy gave up in response to being falsely accused in The Lightning Thief, Zeus and Poseidon would’ve waged war and the biggest threat later in the series wouldn’t have been stopped.

Character creates story.

Our responses make our stories great.

Depression happens. Pain occurs. Ignoring the pain isn’t an answer. Neither is feigning happiness when you really have depression. But our responses to the pain, to the depression is what really matters. We can choose to become bitter and let life drain or choose to face the pain and the bad.

A Choose Your Own Adventure in real life. How cool is that?

My story may not be epic or take up seven volumes, but I want it to be beautiful. I want mine to be inspiring. I want the next reader to say: “If she hung in there and did it, maybe I can, too.”

My response to pain and disappointments is what makes my story vibrant, beautiful. My character, me, creates my story.

What does your character say about your story?