Novelists are just actors writing out their own roles. Playing out the multi-characters in their mind's eye and writing them down in their conflicted scenes with or without happy endings.
I've always wanted to make my novels read like a movie. When readers have told me they can picture my characters and scenes, that it feels like watching a movie, it's the affirmation that touches my soul.
Readers often ask authors if they put themselves in any of their characters. Some will answer as I do: "Every single one of them." Pieces we don't want to admit we have in us and others that are peculiar or silly, expressions, habits, looks, all of these characteristics with which we're familiar will show up somewhere in our characters. We do stretch ourselves creating those with whom we have no experience, but usually something from within us, maybe deeply installed, will show up in them. All of these touches come from who we are, who we've known, who we've seen, who we've imagined others to be. Impressions, observances, experiences, imaginations, and emotional connections.
Now you know . . .
Father, apart from you, I can do nothing. You know that. I know that. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.