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Topic: The Time Traveler's Wife General Q&A (Read 14204 times) |
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babbs
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The Time Traveler's Wife General Q&A
« Thread started on: Aug 26th, 2007, 2:46pm » |
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This thread will be a general Q&A discussion with Miss Audrey Niffenegger about the creation of The Time Traveler's Wife. Audrey, thank you so much for giving the time to answer questions that have been in our heads for quite some time now. We really appreciate it.
But before anyone posts, here are a few rules to prevent this thread from being chaotic:
-A minimum of two questions per post please. Try to make them as succinct and as understandable as possible.
-Be patient for the reply.
-When asking questions, make sure that they haven't been asked and answered already.
-Don't double-post or triple-post to ask more questions (contain yourselves!). Let others have the chance to ask.
-TTTW-related questions only.
-Respect everyone.
By the way, Miss Niffenegger already answered a few questions about TTTW in her website, here. So again, make sure your question hasn't already been answered before you post. Thanks. 
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| « Last Edit: Sep 10th, 2007, 3:23pm by babbs » |
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Sophie
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #1 on: Aug 26th, 2007, 7:11pm » |
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Thanks Miss Niffenegger for answering. I really appreciate it. 
Where ever did you find the inspiration to create a character like Henry? He's so complex, and so real, and so lovable to boot, you must've drawn inspiration from many different places...
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book
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #2 on: Aug 26th, 2007, 7:50pm » |
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Hi Miss Niffenegger!
I would like to know your thoughts on Gomez and Ingrid.
You have done an amazing job at shaping these characters and allowing them to speak for themselves. From a fans viewpoint though, it would be lovely to have an insight to your thoughts as you created these two characters.
Thank you Miss Niffenegger. I hope nothing I posted was offensive, and have a wonderful evening/morning/night.
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| « Last Edit: Aug 26th, 2007, 7:54pm by book » |
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'Cause he seemed like he really needed pants.
Thanks to Babbs and MzLazy for the sig!=)
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Audrey Niffenegger
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #3 on: Aug 26th, 2007, 8:52pm » |
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Hello, everyone. First off, thank you for your interest in my characters. When I was writing the book I had a hard time getting friends to read it for me, and so I was wandering around all the time thinking about these people who only existed in my fictional world, and had no one to discuss them with. It's always amazing to me that readers I have never met seem to care about the TTW people as much as I do.
It is sometimes hard to explain where a character comes from, because they begin as abstractions. In TTW, I started with the title: The Time Traveler's Wife. So right off the bat I had a time traveler (obviously male) and his wife. I could see the wife very clearly: she was waiting, she was an elderly woman, she had a cup of cold tea and a coral cardigan. She had been waiting a long time, but she was patient.
I write by pulling an idea out of nowhere (I can't explain where ideas come from) and then asking myself questions about that idea. In this case the question was: who is this woman, how did she come to this moment? What are these people's names? Who is the husband? How did they meet? By answering these questions, I got new questions: what do they look like? What do they care about? How does the time travel work? Why does he leave her?
Answering the questions is mainly an intuitve process. Sometimes you have to back up and change the answers if they are wrong, but in these early stages it's like holding out your hand and waiting for the lit gods to place the answer in it.
Henry began as a voice, telling about the experience of time traveling (this section became part of the prologue). When I first begin to write a character they are like a bad puppet, they usually don't move or speak naturally. Henry was different, because I was writing a character very close to my self, whose thoughts and feelings were what I would imagine myself experiencing if I was living his life. As I developed him I had to work on making him more male, seeing the world as a man might. I thought about both Henry and Clare as children, as teenagers, as adults; I tried to make sure that they changed according to the experiences they were having.
Writing in first person (I, me, mine instead of she, he, theirs) means that the characters who speak are able to tell us exactly what they want to tell us. So when Clare tells us that Henry looks a certain way, we have to take her word for it. The secondary characters are at the mercy of the narrators. So Ingrid might be a much more sympathetic person if she were the narrator, but instead we see only what Henry and Clare know of her.
Ingrid began as a self-portrait. She was a container for a lot of unhappiness, and as she developed she became bitterness and nothing much else. I tried to put in glimpses of hope for her, but she is in someone else's story, and there's nothing she can do about it but protest and flame out. She functions as the anti-Clare, shows us Henry before and without Clare. In her own book maybe she falls in love with Celia and is happy. Probably not, though.
Gomez is different. He is based on a friend of mine (and Charisse is based on that friend's wife). I had a tiny idea about Clare being Penelope, Odysseus's wife, who waited for him to return from the Trojan wars and who had all these suitors in her house. I thought Clare needed some suitors, and Gomez appeared to take that role. Originally Charisse and Gomez were simply two people who Clare saw dancing at the Aragon Ballroom. When I needed friends for Clare and Henry they became real characters.
Both Clare and Henry needed to be bad at times; they are not perfect people. Gomez is Clare's opportunity to be bad. She could send him away if she wanted to, and at the end of the book she does (the scene where she drops off Charisse but doesn't come into the house, just waves at Gomez from the driveway). But she hangs on to him for a long time, he is an escape if she chooses to take it. I see Gomez as long-suffering and essentially good, though compromised (he becomes a Chicago alderman, which is like shaking hands with the devil).
I know that all of the above probably doesn't address what you would like to know (where do the characters COME FROM?). Essentially, I open my brain, they jump in. There's a feeling of recognition: oh, there you are. But how does this happen? I don't know.
When I am trying to teach students to create characters, I give them a questionaire I have made. They have to fill out names, pets, religious beliefs, romantic disappointments, dreams etc. for their imaginary people. And it does seem to work. Every time we decide something about the character, they become a little more real, until they talk and act and make love and eat and pretty soon they are drinking my liquor and using up all the towels. Go figure.
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book
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #4 on: Aug 26th, 2007, 10:41pm » |
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Thanks a lot for answering Miss Niffenegger.
I can see that very clearly; just having the characters jump in and the details steadily discovered. I really appreciate your replying about Ingrid and Gomez. The Odyessus comparison is clear to me; I can see Gomez as a suitor, as well as Ingrid being the anti-Clare. (I knew she was anti-something, darnit!) It seems so amazing how characters just come and grow through questionaires, questions, and discovery. Comparing a character from beginning to final result must be a breathless experience, with a touch of reliefe: a complex feeling.
Lol. *Hands you more towels and good wine* 
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| « Last Edit: Aug 26th, 2007, 10:47pm by book » |
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'Cause he seemed like he really needed pants.
Thanks to Babbs and MzLazy for the sig!=)
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Sophie
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #5 on: Aug 26th, 2007, 11:34pm » |
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Thank you so much for answering Miss Niffenegger. It's amazing to learn of how Henry (and the others) were created and how they grew. Your saying that Ingrid began as a self-portrait fascinates me. It must have been hard, for lack of a better word, to pour yourself and a few personal things into her, knowing that she will be read by many. I probably could not have taken that, given that I am very sensitive and very shy.
But I also like the idea of how a character can grow through questions and analysis. I've always thought them to just pop out with everything already inside them (naive, I know). But I'm sure, like book said, seeing how your characters have grown must have been a proud experience if anything. It would be like seeing your children grow up, almost.
But thanks for answering. It's enlightened me a lot.
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jltyler
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #6 on: Aug 27th, 2007, 10:38am » |
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I guessed that Gomez represented Penelope's suitors, and I really liked that he was as much in love with Clare as Henry was. I'm one of those readers who didn't dislike Gomez and saw him as a normal guy with great instincts, not sleazy until he becomes a politico. I could even imagine a portion of the story of Clare and Henry with Gomez as the narrator!
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playswithstars
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #7 on: Aug 27th, 2007, 2:54pm » |
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Hopefully this doesn’t spoil anything with the character I’m asking about. And If you haven’t then you might not want to read my character question.  But I’m figuring the people here have already read the book at least once. I've been reading these forums since it was advertised on IMDB. I have a character question but on an unrelated note since I’ve seen Miss Niffenegger on these boards and answering questions. I just wanted to say how awesome of a book TTW is. I’m reading it for the second time right now. My older brother has even read half of it which actually surprised me first when I found out.
But onto my question if you don’t mind answering and enough of me rambling. I've just now registered because I had something to ask Miss Niffenegger about a character that seems to not have gotten any attention in this thread. After all the sadness Clare and Henry went through with the whole pregnancy issues I was glad that something good finally happened. I was just wondering if Alba was based on any children in your life in particular even though I know you said above a lot you just created in your mind. And had you decided when you first created Alba that she was going to be like Henry or did you end up deciding that she would share that characteristic later on?
Thanks
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bajix
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #8 on: Aug 28th, 2007, 01:24am » |
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Um before I ask a question, I just really have to reassure myself of something.
Miss Niffenegger, are you absolutely sure that we can ask you questions? Because I wouldn't want to feel that I'm imposing on you (sorry, I just had to get this off of my chest).
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thank you so much babbs!
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Codie
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #9 on: Aug 28th, 2007, 08:51am » |
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Miss Niffenegger, thank you so much for taking the time and interest in these questions of ours. It is very inspiring and educational to understand the process, intentions and reasons behind the book.
I've heard from many writers (although mainly script writers) that they put characteristics of themselves in almost all of the characters, I have also found this myself as it helps to feel more emotional or sympathic to the characters, especially when writing bad or misunderstood characters. I know Ingrid has a lot of you in her but how much of yourself is there in the other characters? Also were there any other characters that initially inhabited the world of these characters that didn't make the book and if so did any of their functions or traits reappear in other characters?
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"I think of myself as this thirteen year old boy, who doesn't really know how to be an adult, taking notes for when I'll have to. Kind of like I'm in a dress rehearsal for a junior high play." Before Sunrise
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jltyler
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #10 on: Aug 28th, 2007, 10:14am » |
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I suspect Ms. Niffenegger may be preparing for the new academic year, but if she's still willing to answer some questions, I have one, too.
Did the real people on whom you based Gomez and Charisse recognize themselves?
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playswithstars
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #11 on: Aug 28th, 2007, 10:42am » |
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I agree with you jltyler. I've been busy just as a student with my classes that started monday. I'm sure professors are even busier with everything they have to get ready and do for classes.
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Audrey Niffenegger
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #12 on: Aug 28th, 2007, 3:17pm » |
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on Aug 28th, 2007, 01:24am, bajix wrote:Um before I ask a question, I just really have to reassure myself of something.
Miss Niffenegger, are you absolutely sure that we can ask you questions? Because I wouldn't want to feel that I'm imposing on you (sorry, I just had to get this off of my chest). |
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Don't worry, Bajix, it is really perfectly fine to ask whatever you want. I am more worried about looking like an egomaniac than I am about being so overwhelmed with questions that I have to be revived with smelling salts and strong drink.
I'm afraid that I am not busy prepping for classes; I'm not teaching this semester, so all my professor friends are bracing themselves for the onslaught and I am feeling a little left out but mostly happy to have the time to do my own work. I'm actually at a writers' colony at the moment. I've been packing, I leave tomorrow morning. I love travel, I hate packing. But that's why I haven't been posting.
playswithstars asked:
"I was just wondering if Alba was based on any children in your life in particular even though I know you said above a lot you just created in your mind. And had you decided when you first created Alba that she was going to be like Henry or did you end up deciding that she would share that characteristic later on?"
At first they weren't ever going to manage to have a child, but as I was writing all those miscarriages I thought, This is way too dark even for me. So Alba began as an answer to the question, "What would Henry be like as a girl?" Then I sat down and wrote the scene at the Cornell Rooms in the Art Institute. I don't know very many children, I'm afraid. The main quality I had in mind for Alba as I began with her was fearlessness.
Codie asked:
"I've heard from many writers (although mainly script writers) that they put characteristics of themselves in almost all of the characters, I have also found this myself as it helps to feel more emotional or sympathic to the characters, especially when writing bad or misunderstood characters. I know Ingrid has a lot of you in her but how much of yourself is there in the other characters? Also were there any other characters that initially inhabited the world of these characters that didn't make the book and if so did any of their functions or traits reappear in other characters?"
There are no surplus characters that got cut; I usually make a character to fill a function, so the story would have to change a lot for a character to get removed. There are certain characters in TTW who are essentially the same person filling different roles; an example would be Alicia and Helen. Very similar personaities, very close to Clare, they each appear in scenes where the other can't be.
All characters have to receive something from the writer of themselves. You have to inhabit their point of view, you have to want what they want while you write them. This makes writing dialogue a bit weird as one is hopping in and out of each person's head. You have to be shy with Laura and uptight with Philip, etc. The only time in my life I ever wanted to have a kid was during the weeks I worked on Clare while she tried to have a baby.
jtyler asked:
"Did the real people on whom you based Gomez and Charisse recognize themselves?"
No, and that was pretty funny, because even though I changed some stuff (he's not a lawyer, she's not an artist, etc.) they were fairly close portraits. Anne Lamott has some good advice about this in Bird By Bird (she's actually trying to coach people on how to write about family and ex-boyfriends without getting sued). But I can't quote her advice on this board because there seems to be a bad language filter here.
Another excellent book on writing is Francine Prose's Reading Like A Writer. If any of you are writers, this is a careful and insightful guide to close reading and how the mechanics of novels work.
Are any of you writers? I know katalius123 is a musician, and Codie must be a screenwriter... what do you all do?
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Johneaux
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #13 on: Aug 28th, 2007, 3:27pm » |
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Thanks Audrey, for giving us an insight into the development of your book's characters. Fascinating stuff.
What I do, among other things, is give tips on packing.
Lay out all the clothes you intend to take and all the money you plan to spend.
Now put half of the clothing back in their drawers and closets and double the amount of money you were planning on spending.
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Audrey Niffenegger
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Re: Character Creation
« Reply #14 on: Aug 28th, 2007, 3:33pm » |
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on Aug 28th, 2007, 3:27pm, Johneaux wrote:Thanks Audrey, for giving us an insight into the development of your book's characters. Fascinating stuff.
What I do, among other things, is give tips on packing.
Lay out all the clothes you intend to take and all the money you plan to spend.
Now put half of the clothing back in their drawers and closets and double the amount of money you were planning on spending. |
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Hee hee. In my case the process goes more like this: I get out all the boxes and steamer trunks and tote bags I arrived with, then I sit on the bed and eat M&Ms for a while, then I try to put all the art materials and half-finished paintings into the boxes. Then I give up and read the LRB.
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