We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes

OK, so if you’re on my site you know that I write, but what you don’t know is I hear dead people. Well … not dead, I guess I should say I hear imaginary people talking to me all the time. Does that sound less creepy?

When I'm working on a new project, it’s always with me. I live and breathe that shit. Yes, it’s that serious. While I’m washing the dishes minding my damn business one of my characters will tap me on the shoulder and want to chat about her future. I’m taking a shower and BAM one of my characters nudges their way in, taking up all the hot water because he wants to tell me he’s in love with Charmaine and he knows the perfect way to win her back.

Yep, these book characters are with me wherever I go. They're all strong-willed and want to have an active say in the fate of their future. I get it. If I was imaginary, I wouldn’t want some random chick making critical decisions about my life either. So, because of that, I listen to them. I realize that a book is a collaborative effort I am the artist and they’re the very vocal muse. Two characters have an argument and I decide to have Tami storm off in a huff. Not so fast… Tami wants to cuss their ass out. And Tami will scream in my ear until she gets her way.

Tami: Oh no Abby didn’t. Let me tell her where she can go.

Me: Chill, it’s fine. Just leave.

Tami. Nah, I’m not going anywhere.

Me: Tami, it’s not that serious. You need to leave and we’ll have you deal with Abby in chapter 10.

Tami: Chapter 10? But I’m here now.

Me: Yeah, but if you fight now what are you gonna do in chapter 10?

Tami: You’ll think of something. Hey, Abby let me holla at you…

The conversation doesn’t stop when I go to bed. In fact, that is when they are the most active. Apparently, all my book characters are night owls, and they want to wait until my head hits the pillow to start waxing poetic. Oh, so now you know exactly how to explain the text messages on your phone from your ex but when I was sitting at the computer for two hours it was crickets. While they talk, I grab my phone, open my notes app and start typing. At night these characters be spilling all their secrets. Wait, did you just say you were married. When did that happen?

Writing looks like a one-woman job, but it really takes a host of characters to bring my stories to life. One day maybe I’ll tell you about the character that has been in my head since I was a child. She has been dormant these last years as other voices have grown louder but I know she is just hanging back waiting for the right time…

OK, no lie she literally just told me that her book should start at the funeral of her late rapper husband who was murdered at the age of 25.

Image: Unsplash