Those of you who know me, have heard me say that I am constantly studying the art and craft of writing.

One of the things that interests me is the difference between people and characters, that is: the difference between people in real life and characters in novels. This ties into the essence of a story.

I think that John Truby in The Anatomy of a Story has really got close to nailing the concept when he says:

Stories don’t show “the real world”; they show the story world. The story world isn’t a copy of life as it is. It’s life as human beings imagine it could be. It is human life condensed and heightened so that the audience can gain a better understanding of how life itself works. (The Anatomy of a Story, page 9).

I think there’s maybe a bit more to what stories are but he’s got the gist of it nailed down. I mention this because with great characters, particularly when writing about them in a series, there’s a tendency to lose the character in favor of the person. When this happens, the story becomes more of a slice-of-life tale than a true story.

Is the reverse true, that is: Can there be a person who is also a character? The answer, I think, is a resounding “Yes!”

Some examples: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Winston S. Churchill.

All these people – and there are many more, these are the first examples that come to mind – had lives that moved from peak to peak. George Washington’s failure and defeat at Fort Necessity during the French and Indian Wars was a vital step upon the way for him to become the man who could successfully lead the Continental Army. Winston Churchill had a long and varied career before, after nearly a decade in “the wasteland” (where he spent his time decrying the rise of Adolf Hitler), he was recalled to office and then elected Prime Minister for the duration of the war.

In the cases of these people, their early stories built their later stories. I think they’re a classic example of the old saying, “To whom much is given, much is expected.”

They also exemplify, to a different degree, the saying, “If you want something done, give it to a busy man.”

And, having said that, I shall return to work!