Observing and listening to people wherever I go gives me wonderful descriptions for characters in my writing. The characters I will describe in the next few posts come from real people. They could be just one person, but more likely they are a combination of traits from a few. Writing about people based on reality, makes the reader/listener feel more connected to your stories. Are the traits that I write about in the next few posts familiar to people that you have come in contact with?
Take the following:
Leonard was a unique person. Whether you would call him pre-programmed or obsessive-compulsive is up to you. Make sure when you get into a conversation with him that you have time to listen to what he is saying. He spends a lot of time working out the exact details of what he is going to say. At least it seems that way. Once started, his conversation is set for the duration. To interrupt him in the process of speaking restarts the sequence all over again. It’s like listening to a broken record. Here’s a sample of a started conversation with him.
Leonard: I have to tell you about this great experience I had at work today. I got in late and the boss wasn’t there.
You: How late did you get in?
Leonard: this was a great experience. I got in late and the boss wasn’t there. So I decided to write him a note.
You: Was anyone else there?
Leonard: I got in late and the boss wasn’t there. So I decided to write him a note. I knew I could get in trouble, but I did it anyway.
You: Knowing you would get in trouble, you did it anyway?
Leonard: I got in late and the boss wasn’t there.
You get the picture. He is destined to tell you this story but it has to come out the way his mind has arranged it. He does not know how to pick up where he left off. This happens in almost any conversation with him. Best suggestion, if you run into Leonard don’t interrupt, just listen.
Of course that also leads to problems, when he quizzes you during the conversation. “Don’t you remember the time he did that to me?” There is no correct answer to his quizzes. To say no, gets him upset because you didn’t remember and to say yes without the proper conviction (such as with back up evidence) is not believed. This process is also considered an interruption and rewinds his conversation to start, since he doesn’t believe you whether you remember or not.
