Should your writing reflect you?
I've longed for a day when my writing would mirror myself, yet I continually find a difference between who I am and what I write. As someone who resists the status quo and detests mundanity, my dream has always been to create dynamic characters—a dream I believe every writer should share. There's a pervasive desire to be different, yet we often fail to achieve this. As writers, we must embrace uncertainty. How? By trying and experiencing new things. The failure to truly 'live'—to embrace life—can lead to writing that only reflects our narrow experiences, limiting our characters and stories.
Don't misunderstand; your writing should reflect you. In my case, it should reflect me. But, if we aim to produce original work consistently, we must be willing to lose ourselves in the process and let go. This means worrying less about jobs, retirement, bad influences, and more. Letting go allows us to live a life of giving and experiencing, rather than one consumed by worry. We start to live fully. We attract positivity, meet new people, and become fearless in rejection and trying new things daily or weekly. However, if we're confined to a sunless office, constantly typing emails, inspiration will elude us.
My characters and stories are birthed outside the office and home. They represent an alternative objective truth, born from walks, vacations, and memory-making. Without acquiring these memories, inspiration remains out of reach. If we fail to dream and embrace romance, we resign ourselves to a life of passively consuming news, believing it's all we can do.
Returning to the point, I'm unsure if I'm like my writing. In a way, I wish to see myself in my stories, offering something new each time—a 'what if' question that propels the narrative into realms of heaven or hell. My characters must always evolve; what's the point if they don't, mirroring my own stagnation? I hope to change for the better, but life doesn't always follow our desires. Health might decline, or financial or emotional difficulties may arise.
So, my advice is this: Live life fully. Don't fret if your characters or stories resemble you. Maybe they do, maybe they don't. Ultimately, it doesn't matter. Write the stories you feel compelled to write. Just be you