Creating Fictional Characters from Real Life, and Searching for Insight Through Gaps - by SC Skillman

The British Royal Family, and all its many members, led to my reflections today on this blog: for many keen royal-watchers react to these individuals as if they were fictional characters. I've just finished reading The Palace Papers by Tina Brown and one of the things that struck me as I wrote my review was how, for so many, the different characters in the royal family over the past several decades are endlessly fascinating. Part of the reason for this, no doubt, is that royalty is so deeply rooted in British culture and history. Although I do feel sympathy towards the family members for the relentless way in which they are scrutinised by the media, few of us who follow them can avoid forming personal opinions about their words and deeds, much as we might about fictional characters. 

It's a real, never-ending deeply satisfying family saga, full of colour, plot, drama, sorrow, failures, joy, triumph, scandal and everything else a novelist could possibly dream up and weave in. But there is a gap between what we believe we know, and the truth behind the real, living, unique individuals. They can never be defined by our impressions gained through the filter of numerous media outlets, armchair psychologists and gossip columnists out there.

Every one of us, whether obscure or feted by the media, is odd and flawed and our lives are full of character weaknesses, mistakes and wrong turnings. None of us can ever stand in judgement over anyone else. To me, the best medium for exploring character is through the novel, simply because there we can enter into the hearts and minds of whoever we choose; and we never can, in real life.

Creative writers feed their imaginations by observing and interacting with the world through numerous relationships and through life experience. I found a powerful metaphor for human character in an art exhibition inspired by lace. The artists' work showed me how holes, spaces and gaps concentrate meaning, through the creation of networks, connections and boundaries.

I saw an inverted crystal cathedral hanging from the ceiling and a room filled with a disturbing and sinister network of black embroidery wool, enclosing four long white dresses. The glittering rose pattern punched on another wall of the gallery seemed to have been created with sequins, glass beads, or crystals. But they were only holes. Behind them a large window let in natural light; and the holes defined the pattern.

I entered a room which plunged the viewer into darkness and only threads of light could be seen, curving around, above and through spaces, given meaning by the hole at the centre. In my imagination that hole could become the portal to another world. 

Later, I thought of another analogy. When we write a novel we often don't know what our 'theme' is or our 'controlling idea.' But when we have finished the story we know - or think we know. After the book is published and in the hands of readers, a gap opens up: the gap between what we thought we meant and what the reader will make of it. I know some of us are delighted by the discovery that one of our readers totally "gets" what we intended to convey. But often I find that my reviewers will give me new insight into what I wrote, and it fascinates me when I learn something completely new about my own story seen through the mind and life experience of another.

Robert McKee in his excellent book Story makes this point about story structure: gaps are essential to great story; the gap that opens up between the expectation of the reader, and what actually happens. 'And from that gap,' he says, 'pours a flood of insight.'

SC Skillman writes mystery fiction and historical non-fiction. Her two novels Mystical Circles and A Passionate Spirit are published by Luminarie, along with her short inspirational book for writers, Perilous Path: a writer's journey. She writes highly illustrated books about quirky history and folklore for Amberley. Paranormal Warwickshire and Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire are widely available: A to Z of Warwick will be published in 2023; and she has just proposed a fourth book for Amberley. Meanwhile she has a new novel out with publishers, is halfway through the sequel, and is also considering a travel book. She blogs weekly on her website at www.scskillman.com and also gives talks to groups on Warwickshire, the writing life, classic story structure, local history, legends and curious tales.