An attempt to write nothing but characterization will soon bog down; I for one don't want to have somebody tell me about someone else.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
To write about someone like myself would be very limiting.
When I am spotted somewhere, it means that my characterizations haven't covered up Eleanor Parker the person. I prefer it the other way around.
I'll write about myself, or people I know, or archetypal characters, but the goal is to get at some truth, not to necessarily convey my own experience as an individual to the world.
My theory of characterization is basically this: Put some dirt on a hero, and put some sunshine on the villain, one brush stroke of beauty on the villain.
It would be bad form for me to describe people I don't know and don't understand.
Writing about identity can be like maneuvering through a minefield, even when considering contemporary figures who have discussed the subject themselves.
You can't write about a friend, you can only write about a former friend.
I think every writer will tell you that their characters are always partially themselves: who I am and what I've experienced. It's always there in part of my characters.
I have tried very hard as a novelist to say, 'Novels are about individuals and especially larger than life individuals.'
Exposing characters and their shortcomings gives me great comfort. It's always great to write about someone more mixed up than yourself.
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