It’s quite narcissistic to think that the people I meet resemble the characters in the creative projects I’m working on, but I can’t help it. Usually, I design characters but sometimes, I find that they — or at least, some parts of them can be found in the people I meet in real life.
When I was in university, I did Nanowrimo. In the book, there was an Ah Beng character called Francis. I highly doubt this story will ever be published or see the light of day, but my friends and I used to go to this bar on Saturdays. (We don’t anymore, though. Everyone has gone their separate ways, but that’s another story. Also, I don’t drink, so whatever.) Anyway, the bartender’s cool and somewhat brash attitude resembled the character I had created. I was questioning my sanity, and asking myself about life imitating art and so on.
It also felt a little silly, since the book was, well, unedited and my dream of being a published writer was just that — a dream.
Fast forward a few years later, and Dragonhearted was about to be published. I had also switched jobs to teaching. I see Xin Long in many of the girls I teach, obviously — some of them are just as smart, some of them spunky like her, and others cheeky. One of them, who shall not be named, is as close to Xin Long in terms of character as I can imagine. Maybe I am just projecting — but her mannerisms fit Xin Long to a T. Xin Long is a lot more rebellious than her and would never be nominated to be a prefect, like her, but it’s a pretty close match.
Naturally, Four Eyes was based on that one kid at school who is always studying. I see Four Eyes in some of the kids I teach — the ones who come crying to the centre because they go for too many tuition classes and there is always a mountain of homework. The reserved, soft-spoken ones who don’t like answering questions are also quite like him. The introverted, brooding ones are like him in that aspect. There’s also one child in my class who is very much like Four Eyes, but an older version. Based on his behaviour in class, I would think so. Four Eyes is also based on one of my friends. Or maybe, one of my friends is like him. Regardless, the resemblance is there.
The Shu Pings are the ones who are exuberant and cheerful. They’re the ones who bounce into class and always have a smile for me. They’re the ones who pass stationery to their classmates and always direct their friends to the part of the worksheet that I’m talking about. They’re the cheerleaders and optimists of the class. They’re also the most empathetic and the best listeners. Some of them are prefects.
Then, there’s Ah Ma. Recently, I met a lady who was as kind, patient and wise as her, and I am so very glad to know her. Most of her wisdom will be in the sequel, and that’s all I can say for now.
I suppose that it goes to show that what authors come up with depends on their observations. Some things haven’t changed — students have always been stressed, and I suppose that went into the book. I steal names and make observations to create these characters, so I shouldn’t be surprised when I encounter these reflections in real life.