Over and over I feel as if my characters know who they are, and what happens to them, and where they have been and where they will go, and what they are capable of doing, but they need me to write it down for them because their handwriting is so bad.
In Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird," the author shares a profound connection between writers and their characters. She suggests that characters possess a deep understanding of their own stories, histories, and futures. However, they rely on the writer to articulate their narratives, as if their ability to express themselves is hindered by poor handwriting. This metaphor highlights the vital role of the writer in translating the characters' inner lives into coherent prose.
This perspective underscores the collaborative process of storytelling, where the writer acts as a conduit for the characters’ voices. Lamott's reflection invites writers to trust their instincts and embrace their characters’ instincts, suggesting that the true essence of a story often lies within the characters themselves, waiting to be discovered and expressed on the page by the writer.
