Just wondering...

[megwrites]

How many of you cast actors in the roles of characters you're writing in your works? How does that work in your writing process, how important is it? Are they just physical models, or do you borrow attributes from either the actor themselves or a role they've played elsewhere?

Comments

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

Mine change races, sexes, and ages on me all the time.)

I know. Nothing like having a character basically go, "Uh, yeah, so I'm actually a chick. If you could start adding an 's' to all those he's, that'd just be super, although I still want to have sex with that other chick, so I'm sort of a lesbian and she is too, now. Hope that doesn't put a kink in the plot! Ciao!"

Mentally casting an actor in the role kind of solidifies the character for me, especially if the voice is also right.

Question - does having a really solid mental image of your character help you get deeper insights into their motives/personality? I'm wondering, because I can see how having an actor cast in a role would help you visually present them, their motions, and even their voice.