There are two ways to interpret Main Character Energy: you have the confidence to lead your life like a main character…or you think you’re the center of everyone else’s world. I’ll leave it to you to pick which one you like. In this post, I want to share a bit of behind-the-scenes with an author’s perspective on MCE.
For me, writing is inhabiting another world, another life. The main character of whatever story I’m currently writing is the one defining it. Yes, I’m the author. No, they don’t always do what I want. I can’t explain how it works, but I adjust to their world, their story as they grow with each word written.
My first experience with this was writing a character with heightened senses. I found myself noticing scents and sounds more often. It was a little strange, but I wrote it off and moved on. It took a few more years before I realized that I do take on a bit of each main character’s energy. The Rahki Chronicles had a lot of travel which was based on my travels. Each new location was one I saw from Mia’s eyes though.
It wasn’t truly intentional…until it was.
Studies reveal reading allows us to be more empathetic. We see things from other’s perspectives, and that change in POV changes us. Writing certainly requires seeing things from another POV, and it does change me each time.
While my characters do have bits of me (and others) helping to form them, I keep parts from them as well. I won’t reveal too much in case you haven’t read my books yet, but I do want to introduce Kenna Chordan.
Kenna is a Snake warrior who was part of the Rahki Chronicles. No, you probably won’t like her in that series…or, at the least, you probably won’t trust her. She’s been dictating my world for many months in my new series, Serpent Warlock (mandatory author plug – get your copy of Snake in the City HERE).
This is the first time the main character I’m writing could be described as morally grey. In the Rahki Chronicles, Mia very much tries to do the right thing and does put others first. Kenna doesn’t do either. She has a bit of a bloody history which I’ll let her reveal in the series. She’s become a bit more pragmatic and a little less concerned with others as she forges her own path. Her focus is getting the job done. Her determined drive has given me a new edge. It’s allowed me to be more disciplined in my actions on the pages (writer’s life) and off the pages (‘real world’ life).
The book’s tag line is ‘Prophecies are lies and redemption is a scam.’ for a reason.
I do have a full-time job outside of writing. Kenna’s inspiration has made it easier to balance those duties and my determination to make the ‘on the pages’ part my full-time job. I haven’t threatened others with blades to get things done my way as Kenna is prone to do. I have found I take things a little less personally and set my boundaries differently. I also enforce those boundaries and keep moving.
Having characters I’m writing (not just reading/ watching) have such an impact on me is yet another thing I’ll add to my ‘things people didn’t tell me about being an author’ list.
I’ll also continue to embrace Kenna’s main character energy in my life.
2025 is the Year of the Snake (check out a post about that HERE). Snakes can represent transformation so I’ve been embracing that too. I want to keep at least some of Kenna’s edge as part of myself. There are still two books to write for her. However, I hope to keep her with me long after that.
I also hope I continue to collect energy from other main characters to add to my own.
I don’t write books to change the world. I write books that are changing me…and that changes my world.
When writing characters, I do start with certain ideas about them. I judge them a bit as I create their physical appearance, attitude, and emotions. The beautiful mystery of writing is watching that new being grow and challenge my original intentions. I’ve had to go back and adjust a character’s introduction to suit them after writing more of their story.
For Kenna, she was already in the Rahki Chronicles so I couldn’t make changes. In the interest of full disclosure, I had written Kenna off early, but she just kept coming back (her determination often crossed the line to pure stubbornness). I could and did realize I’d gotten some things wrong about her.
This is one of those real-world lessons for me. My judgments about others can be wrong. People can also grow and become different than when I was first introduced to them (and made those judgments).
Kenna isn’t perfect. She is evolving even as I get to know her…and so am I. I’m not the same person who wrote the Rahki Chronicles 10 years ago. I would certainly write it differently now, but I’m good with it being part of my history and my writing foundation. I’m also good with making changes in my life to move forward a little differently. I want to take a page from Kenna’s book and forge my own path. That’s the kind of MCE I want to embrace!
Are you evolving? Are you the same person you were 10 years ago? Is 2025 the year you transform something in your life? How is your MCE?
If you want to chat, feel free to drop a comment here. If you are a reader collecting your thousand lives, consider inviting Kenna into your world.
Happy reading and living, my friends.
-RSJ
Truth is a double-edged sword.
I wanted a break from magic, not the revelation of a paranormal renaissance and strange new powers. I really didn’t want witches with a superiority complex complicating my job.
My sentry assignment was supposed to be a blood and guts murder threat with three earlier victims. Unfortunately, supernatural factions wanted to join forces to solve the mystery. There are at least two problems with this plan.
One, I’m a Snake warrior who works best alone.
Two, no Seer will trust me as I have Romani blood on my hands.
I’m sure everything will be fine. Did I mention the magical weapons I haven’t figured out how to control yet? What about demons?
Being accused of murder isn’t exactly a sign of success for a guardian.
It’s a good thing swords are a girl’s best friend.
Get your copy of Kenna’s story HERE!
Rennie St. James 