Someone asked me today if I ever ask people if I can write about them. I told the person, it never occurred to me to ask.
I rarely write about a person as a whole person. I take a little bit of this and a little bit of that and I create a whole new character.
But even if I used the majority of the personality traits and quirks and characteristics, there’s little danger of them recognizing themselves.
The truth is people rarely see themselves as others see them.
So – when I have written about that rare person – name changed – they never even suspected.
And, if I’m not slandering, endangering their job, family, or life, or using their real name, and they can barely recognize themselves as I or others see them, there is little to no chance of getting sued.
The sad fact is that I’ve created characters who some people identified with and had the mistaken impression that it was a reflection of them. It wasn’t.
Creating characters and writing about people is art.
Understanding who you are and how others see you as opposed how you see yourself takes a lifetime of understanding misunderstandings.
Noreen Lace 
Once again we’re on the same wavelength, Noreen. A character could be a composite of many people. It’s arguably a sign of egotism if someone assumes a character is them (remember Carly Simon’s wonderful song “I Bet You Think This Song Is About You?”) How others see us as opposed to how we see ourselves has always fascinated me. It’s tragic how many women I’ve known who perceive themselves as “Ugly Ducklings”who are in fact seen by many men (and perhaps women) as ravishingly beautiful.
LikeLike
Thanks, Ron. Another fact – pretty much everyone we know sees us in some different way. Interesting, right? I’m often reminded of that Carly Simon song!!
LikeLike
Yes- very interesting. I’ve noticed that if someone initially seems like a decent person then shows their true color exposing them as cruel or dishonest, my perception of them physically, radically changes. Too young to remember Zsa Zsa Gabor? Near the end of her career (what ever it was) she was performing at a dinner theatre and demanded that six wheel chair bound people be removed from front row because she didn’t want to perform while “Looking at the “quiples” (no typo- she talked like that). For me she changed from beautiful mature woman to disgusting old bitch hag.
LikeLike