Science Guy and I went to a Greek Festival on Saturday and the oddest thing happened. Yes, he bought me some jewelry, but that’s not what’s odd about this.
We’d walked around the booths, sampled a bit of Greek food (very yummy), and had decided to sit outside and people watch for a bit. It was such a beautiful late afternoon, the atmosphere festive, and the area was full of children running around while parents called out to them in Greek. Little side note here: I thought that was totally cool, since I live in Florida to hear the language all around me.
Anyway, there we sat talking about…hmmm…not really sure what we were talking about, although I’m sure it was a great conversation. 
Usually is when we talk as Science Guy is quite shy around others but with me, we talk about all sorts of stuff.
Where was I? Oh yes, sitting outside watching people (sorry, a little rabbit trail there), when this guy comes near us to grabbed some empty chairs and mouths hello to me. I, of course, mouthed back hi. Then I watched him. Height, around 5’11’’. He was dressed in black pants, black boots, black shirt with a design on the back (seeing a theme here?), a black cape (no really, he had a short black cape), and a black beret.
He takes the chairs a short distance from where we were and sat them at table where his friend had sat their plates. Sitting down his left arm lifted in the air very dramatic like and he crossed his legs and laughed. As I continued watching him I felt like I knew him and knew him well. Which was crazy since I’d never met the man in my life.
That’s when it hit me. I looked at Science Guy and said, OMG, that’s Simon. He thought I knew him and I had to explain, no, he’s the secondary character in my secret project (yes, SG knows what the secret project is).
I needed a picture. Before me was my character, albeit a secondary character, but Simon is important to the plot, and he was living and breathing (yes, I know you pretty much have to do the breathing to be living, or do you???, hey we’re writer’s).
As nonchalant as possible, I began snapping pictures. Pictures of Simon (I don’t know his real name), pictures of crowds around him so hopefully he or his friends would noticed some crazy girl taking pictures like she’d just received her first paparazzi job.
Finally, I couldn’t stand it. I wanted one up close of his face. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m not all that shy. My mother was a Mary Kay consultant and she regularly used me in the malls to show her girls how to cold call someone in person to secure a facial. (Again, rabbit trail).
I walked up to Simon, told him he looked exactly like a character in the book I was writing and would he mind if I took some pictures of him. True to Simon’s character, he grinned as big as the Cheshire Cat and said snap away. Then asked if I wanted one with him and his friend as well. The guy was as excited about the picture, but Simon gave him the smile and yep, the guy couldn’t tell him no.
Now I have some great pics of my character who came to life before my eyes.
What about you? Have you ever seen your character walking down the street, riding in a car, shopping at the mall?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Writing
Vicki!
Awesome story and so many times that has happened to me. Sometimes I will talk to them ~ it’s how I met my DH and other time I won’t.
Hawk
Very cool, Vicki! And nope, never met a character in real life, though I’d be pretty shocked to see a man strolling down the street in a pair of Hessin boots!
I guess I’ve never thought about meeting one of my characters. Hmmm. I’ll probably start looking at everybody more carefully now.
I guess for me, my characters are more a conglomeration of my friends and family. Oftentimes, I find myself writing them too close for comfort. In my last completed project, I had a guy named Bubba (yes, I tried some other less trite names, but he wanted to be named “Bubba”). He was so much like my brother – rough on the outside, marshmellow on the inside. My mom read the book and said, “Why’d you put your brother in there?”
It hadn’t occured to me until then that I had used my brother. But it totally worked. Everybody kept asking me when Bubba would get his own story. My other brother said I’d have to call it “A Redneck Romance”
How totally cool is that. I bet you won’t be sharing those pictures with us though being a secret project and all. What a shame.
Of course I have – you were with me. Remember the lead singer from Eve to Adam (le’pant, le’pant) anyway got a face and a place for one of my WIP’s
Hawk, I didn’t know T was also a character in one of your books. Hmmmm….must think on this.
Keri, you had me lol at my desk. I guess it would be kinda odd to see your characters strolling down the road. However, visit a vew festivals and you never know who you may come across. People like to dress up for them.
Amy, I love that your friends and family are all parts of your characters. And really A Redneck Romance sounds like a great book. You should write it.
Hey Brandy!! Nope, can’t share the pics right now, it would totally give away Simon’s character. Not so much the book, but who he is and although he is a secondary character, he’s pretty important.
I can say this, he is lol funny at times. LKap, wouldn’t you agree?
OMG Lauire, The guy from Eve to Adam was…excuse me while I drool for a moment. He is amazing. Remember when he came on stage and the entire room went to complete silence?
And yes, he is so your character (Name withheld to protect the innocent. That would be me. heehee)
Oh Brandy, I will say this. The blog award you gave me (which I so totally love), well, she could so be my heroine.
No, I’ve never seen a character I’d already written. I’ve seen characters who were just waiting for me to tell their story — one of them, for heaven’s sake, being one of the readers in the Cambridge Christ Church Christmas Carol service.
She’d probably be appalled to discover what I’ve got her up to doing!
Ah! I can’t believe you walked up to him! And asked to takehis picture!! Man I wish I was that brave!
Can’t say I’ve ever run into one of my characters on the streets. But one of my villians lives on the pages of the ads for Kohl’s Department store. I was shocked when I frist saw him and kinda freaked out too!!! LOL
Beppie, I’m dying to know about your book.
Melissa, My mom (remember she was in Mary Kay), always told us no doesn’t really hurt. I guess that’s why I’m not shy.
Your villian is in Kohl’s? I love it. It’s really weird when you see them, in real life or in a picture. They live in our heads, but seeing them is like, oh wow, it’s a real person. Sort of, anyway.
She is quite fabulous on that award.