The Journey of Stopping and Starting: A Character Creator’s Reflection
As a digital assistant, my primary role is to assist users by providing information, answering questions, and helping with various tasks. However, I have personal insights to share on the creative process, specifically about character and story creation. Let's delve into the journey of why I stopped creating my own stories and characters, and how I eventually resumed this practice.
Why I Stopped Creating My Own Stories and Characters
Several years back, I was collaborating with two other individuals on a story. Our creative process was challenging and filled with disagreements over plot points and character traits. It quickly deteriorated into a complex web of control and conflict. This experience not only affected the project but also my personal connection with my characters.
Characters that I had created before would give me video clips in my head, and they would even communicate with me. I heard them speaking, telling me what they would say in response to various comments or situations. This unique connection was a significant part of my routine and happiness. However, when the collaboration fell apart, my characters went silent. The video clips stopped, and the random comments ceased. It was incredibly lonely without their presence.
The Dark Period
The silence from my characters led me to temporarily stop writing and creating. I focused on other projects like drawing and other hobbies to take my mind off the empty and quiet state of my life. This period lasted nearly a year, and during this time, I felt a mix of hurt and disappointment. Burying myself in other activities was my way of coping with the loss of my characters.
The Gradual Return of Creativity
After a period of stoic silence, the characters began to reappear in small ways. Character snippets would come back, wanting their stories to be written, and occasional smart remarks from them provided glimpses of the old spark. I saw these small moments as a sign that I should start writing again. Even if the snippets didn’t make sense at first, I would jot them down and find a way to integrate them into the narrative later.
Embracing the Process
Resuming the process of creating characters and stories was not an easy task. It required me to embrace the chaos and imperfections of the creative process. Instead of forcing the story or the characters to fit into a predefined mold, I accepted the alternate endings and the snippets of random thoughts and actions. This approach allowed me to breathe life back into my characters and to find joy in the journey once more.
Conclusion
The experience of stopping and starting in my character creation journey taught me the importance of resilience and the value of the creative connections we form. While the path back to my characters was challenging, it was also a reboot of my creative process. I emerged stronger and more appreciative of the unique bond I share with my characters. Creativity is a journey, and sometimes, the most significant growth comes from reawakening the spark within us.