photo by *solar ikon*
We are all storytellers.
You may not be a writer, a blogger, or that guy who sits in the public library and tells fantastic stories to small children. But every time you answer the question “What’s new?” or write someone an e-mail about the latest saga in your love life, you are crafting a story. You are choosing which details to describe, which events to omit, and which actions to recount. Even when you believe you are relaying purely “the facts,” your own perspective inevitably taints your account. Your memory, your biases, your passions, your insecurities — these will seep into your narration, consciously or not.
We paint ourselves as characters.
Without delving too deeply into the philosophy of what “the self” is, we can probably all agree that there is a lot of focus in our society on “finding your true self” or “showing who you really are.” People constantly struggle to define themselves, to understand who they are and to show other people what they’re about.
Every anecdote you tell, every photo you show, every point you argue — these are all part of your deliberate or unconscious effort to define yourself: to paint your character. This does not mean we are all deceitful, conniving people (although there are a few of those out there), but rather that, faced with the impossibility of processing and describing the entirety of our lives, we are forced to choose what passes through the filter. In choosing, we are painting our own characters.
In a Twitter-esque exercise, I’d love to see you all drop a comment below with a 150-character (a tad more generous than Twitter!) character sketch of yourself. You can even just post your Twitter profile description, if that’s your ultimate character sketch.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
First of all, congratulations on your blog, which I discovered via Twitter. I love it and must confess to also being very jealous of your talent as a writer.
This post intrigued me and I struggled to sum myself up in 150 words because when I think “oh yes, I am x”, zillions of situations where I actually wasn’t x come to mind. Plus I’m incredibly indecisive and rarely sure of anything. So interestingly enough, my twitter profile is actually the best and most accurate way I can describe myself: English to French translator, football player, cheese and wine lover. I think a person’s hobbies and activities actually give a good idea of what they’re like. Or maybe not. I’m not sure. See???
céline´s last blog post..Advice to a translation student
Tough Zoe, but I’ll do my best. The description would have likely been different yesterday, and will probably change by tomorrow, but here it is today (great exercise by the way).
I’m a husband and father of two, still in the late dawn of my life. I am generous and often funny. I wear my heart on my sleeve perhaps too often, but it’s one of those things that I could never change – like the size of my hawk nose or my 6′ 3″ frame. I love my family above all and have only recently found the soul food of the perfect written cocktail.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Writer Dad in Rough Draft
I never thought of my desire to express myself as trying to paint my character for myself and other to know and se, but I guess your right. That’s a little embarrassing to think about and realize all it reveals, isn’t it? Here’s my attempt . . .
I am a writer, a thinker, a talker, a woman, a wife, and a mother. In every role I’m gleaning knowledge and nurturing people and ideas.
TJ Hirst´s last blog post..From Cold to Hot
What a great excercise. I see you have been engaging your readers to reveal more of themselves lately, and certainly have a way of connecting. So, here’s my offering back…
I am proud to be married to my first love for 25yrs. I am both strong and weak, and that continues to dismay me. I love to be Mom to two kids, when I thought I would never want any. I love to read, and how words can provoke thought, or evoke images. I am creative and crafty (in the many ways that implies). I receive joy from the simplest things in life, and LOVE to laugh….
Hi Zoe,
I am a writer and a programmer; I am a amateur photographer and a photoshop junkie; I am a teacher and a learner; I am German and a global citizen.
An egocentric gun with a pen in his hand and the bullets in the ink.
Matthew Dryden´s last blog post..It’s Too Complicated
I love this post, Zoe. My Creative Writing students just handed in their memoir portfolios today and we’ve been talking about how to “tell the truth.” We decided that what you remember, what you believe, that is the truth (when it comes to writing — I’m didn’t encourage them to partake in any big life-threatening lies!!). Anyway, here’s my truth:
I’m still a little girl, but I teach high school English. I’m just learning how to be an adult and I’m having a hard time doing it. I want to be a student for life and I’m on a mission to write more. Mostly, I just like to have fun and I often choose what’s pleasurable over what’s practical.
You are very inspiring. I have been having a tough time finding my voice on my blog. Mostly because I am like “no one will care about this”. (Which may be true, but I don’t care as much as I used to.)
Elyse is an idealistic grrl who likes to play with all things Internet-related. She is ambitious but doesn’t always have the motivation she needs to get things done.
(I wrote it in third person as I would have on twitter).
Elyse´s last blog post..College Board is My Enemy
@ céline – You’re right, we are such fluid things that it really seems impossible to define ourselves! I think that even if we are given 10 pages to describe ourselves, we would not feel satisfied. Sometimes short definitions are good because they do not claim to cover everything — no length could be exhaustive, anyway!
@ Writer Dad – “The soul food of the perfect written cocktail” — that sounds wonderful and delicious!
@ TJ – “In every role I’m gleaning knowledge and nurturing people and ideas.” That’s the best part of it, and something I always strive to do
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@ Trina – Nobody can be strong all the time… we always have to balance it out
. 25 years? Wow! Wonderful.
@ Ulla – Teacher + learner is a great combination — I hope to enjoy both for a long, long time.
@ Matthew – Of course you come up with the coolest, most bad-ass character sketch. I expect no less of you
@ Caren – I completely agree with what you and your students decided — we can’t attain truth, only what we perceive. I just started a lovely book on writing that deals with this topic: “Alone with All That Could Happen” by David Jauss.
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By the way, I’m with you on the “student for life” mission
@ Elyse – I had a hard time finding my “blogging voice” too. But when you let little pieces of yourself into your writing, people will want more. It’s the best way to really make connections!
I’m never quite sure how to describe myself for others. I’m not entirely sure how I see myself. I definitely don’t understand how anyone else sees me.
James A Woods´s last blog post..Dr. Horrible Available for Pre-Order
Writer, poet, lover of life. Introverted but giving. I have or need no attachments to things in this life. Life is an adventure – live it like it is.
Am I the only one who noticed you sanid 150 characters, not words? (Sorry, I went 152!)
Great post as always, Zoe. You are finding your voice.
Peace,
Alden~
Alden Smith´s last blog post..Improving Your Article Headline
@ James – It’s definitely bizarre to wonder how others see you. In a way, it’s exciting to think how many facets we all have, simply based on how many people perceive us. (And that’s not including all the facets we see of ourselves!)
@ Alden – I think you might be one of the few who noted that I said “characters”
. These are all still great to read, though! “I have or need no attachments to things in this life” — that is admirable, and I imagine it feels liberating. There are few things I have attachments to, but I still feel that I accumulate too much stuff. I have to do routine purges…
I AM
I’m much more than all the labels that the others or myself could assign to me. There are no words for it. The important thing is to drop the labels.
Josep.
PS: As you will be able to notice due the gramatical mistakes… the first sentence is mine, the last part is by Anthony de Mello. Sorry, my english sucks.
PPS: Once again: congratulations on your blog.
Hhhhmmmmm…
I make the art that my soul needs to get out into the world. I explore new and old cultures. I learn. I read. I walk the dog. I snuggle my husband.
I’m sure there are more eloquent ways to say this, but that about sums it up!
Wendy Edsall-Kerwin´s last blog post..The Elements of Creating a Necklace
Okay, so technically this is 152 characters with spaces, but I like to bend the rules a bit.
Friend, lover, mother, writer. Goddess. Funny and freckled. The perfect balance of soft and strong. At peace in solitude or with others. True to me.
Oh, I’m okay. Alden used 152 characters as well. *smile*
Urban Panther´s last blog post..I used to love online shopping
Melissa here. I’ve got a cat and a laptop and some words I’d like you to read. If you play the right music, then I’ll show you how I dance.
Melissa Donovan´s last blog post..How to Write a Novel (Part II)
@ Josep – As soon as we try to define ourselves, we realize how many things are unsaid… but using more words doesn’t mean that you’ll come closer to defining who you are. It’s a crazy exercise, but I think using few words helps… what you wrote, for example, shows a lot about you. Thanks for coming by
@ Wendy – Eloquent or not, that sounds like a lovely existence!
@ Urban Panther – I relate strongly to the words you used — simple and poignant (though I’m not a mother and I’m not freckled!). An impressive use of 152 characters!
@ Melissa – Funk and style…love it
Reading what you have all written here has splattered one huge grin after another across my face. I love how my readers write, and you remind me constantly why blogging is wonderful.
At first I thought you asked to write a 150 words character sketch about ourselves, I was like, ‘no problem. But might take a while though.’ Oi vey, it’s 150 characters (smacks forehead.). By the way, I love the question you posted on a character’s language so I’ll probably attempt a character sketch here seen through the eyes of my protagonist, John in my murder series.
Kate would’ve help up a gun to her head. She would, she wouldn’t hesitate to feel the cold surface of the gun against her temple except she had picked up her pen and started unleashing her own demons.
It was too early to die yet.
Kate Y.´s last blog post..The Devil Wants You Dead – 5
@ Kate – Ooh, your character sketch through one of your own character’s eyes… I love that idea!