Which Character Are You Most Like?

Have you ever read a book and wondered which character you are most like? Maybe you see a little of yourself in the main character, or maybe a supporting character. When I started creating the characters for A Birthday Surprise In Triple Oaks Forest, I never really thought about which one I might be most like until I was asked. It did not take me long to know the answer. Like most authors (well, maybe not the ones who write horror stories), each of my characters has a trait or two of my personality, but I am most like the twin raccoons, William and Benjamin!

William and Benjamin are kind and thoughtful, but they also have an ornery side. They enjoy having fun, spending time with family and friends, having little adventures, and keeping things interesting. They aren’t the kind of characters who are content to sit around and watch the world go by. They want to be part of the action! And honestly, I can relate!

I love to have fun, laugh, and enjoy life. I also have an ornery side that occasionally makes an appearance. But underneath all that fun-loving behavior, I believe it’s important to be kind and thoughtful toward others. In my opinion, you can enjoy a good laugh and have a playful personality while still caring about the people around you. I think William and Benjamin show us that you don’t have to choose between the two.

One of the things I love about creating characters is that while each one has a different personality, they all have a little bit of my traits too. Grandpa Bear might be a little gruff (this would not be a trait of mine) on the outside, but he has a soft spot underneath. Mother Deer is gentle and caring. Skully the Skunk is shy and doesn’t like to go where he’s not wanted. And then there’s William and Benjamin, who are always ready for a little adventure!

As an author, when I am writing, I think it’s fun to imagine what makes each character tick. What are their likes and dislikes? What makes them laugh? What makes them nervous? How do they treat others? The more you get to know your characters, the more real they begin to feel. Sometimes, you might even discover that a little piece of yourself has found its way into one of them! For me, this is especially true with these characters. I am least like Grandpa Bear and Skully, but that’s okay too. When I think of a Grandpa Bear, I try to think about how he would be in real life, just based on the way male bears are. I think of someone gruff but also having a soft side that comes out every once in a while. With Skully, I try to think about how skunks are by nature in real life. They generally like to be alone. They forage alone and do not hang out in groups, and then there’s the occasional smell. So, when writing A Birthday Surprise in Triple Oaks Forest, it stands to reason that he would be shy, mainly keeping to himself, but also kind and helpful. I am kind and helpful, but not shy. I like to socialize, and I wear perfume!

Now it’s your turn! If you’ve read A Birthday Surprise in Triple Oaks Forest, which character do you think you’re most like? Are you a little like Grandpa Bear, with a tough exterior and a soft heart? Maybe you’re gentle and caring like Mother Deer, or perhaps you have a playful, ornery side like William and Benjamin. There isn’t a right or wrong answer. We all have different personalities, and that’s what makes getting to know one another so interesting. And of course, that’s what makes our characters interesting too.

I’d love to hear your answer! Which character are you most like, and why? Share your thoughts with me, on my comment page. You might discover that you’re more like one of the Triple Oaks Forest friends than you ever imagined!