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12:27 pm
March 26, 2011
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Some of you guys will remember that a while back I asked the forum how would they feel about Anne Boleyn's ghost appearing in a novel I'm writing. I've been doing some more work on this and one of my characters is starting to resemble Mark Smeaton.
He is a friend of the main character and known her for years, and although they don't see each other often, when they do they always get on really well. He is artistic, just like her, imaginative and free spirited. He is clearly attracted to her-and she undeniably to him. Yet when he tries to take their relationship beyond mere friendship, she refuses, saying that she would never cheat on her partner (who is not a nice guy by by the way). Despite this there is a certain shall we say 'spark' between them…like they really understand one another and can talk very honestly in each others prescence.
What is really worrying me is that there may be similarities to Mark Smeaton, and that not only will people say that they are like a modern day Anne and Mark, but also that the real Anne and Mark were close to having an affair.
Of course I would never claim that anything in a work of fiction was in any way historically accurate, but I'm starting to think I should scrap the character. Any opinions would be appreciated.
12:37 pm
May 16, 2011
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I don't really think the character resembles Mark….
Did Anne & Mark like each other ?.. 
• Grumble all you like, this is how it’s going to be.
12:43 pm
March 26, 2011
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I don't know, it's just the way they have been portrayed in films and things….and also, my character was going to play a guitar at some point, so I guess I just thought, oh dear-it's the lute player 
12:45 pm
March 26, 2011
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Oh and I think the character has similarities to Wyatt as well….this is getting very confusing
6:04 pm
May 16, 2011
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hahaha that sounds tough. I bet it'll be good anyways, just don't name the guy Mark Wyatt, Thomas Smeaton, or Mark Thomas. Because then people will think it's a combination of Mark & Thomas. …
Good luck .
• Grumble all you like, this is how it’s going to be.
8:38 pm
January 9, 2010
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Maybe if Mark Smeaton and Thomas Wyatt are taking over your character/s it means they want their voices heard! I’ve heard that when writing novels characters can take on a life of their own
You could always go with that and weave subtleties of Smeaton and Wyatt into the character and have it as a literary device, a clever in-joke if you will – something that the average reader wouldn’t necessarily pick up on but people who knew about the fall of Anne Boleyn would get and appreciate. There's nothing wrong with giving a tip of the hat to the men who suffered with her too.
1:23 am
April 9, 2011
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I can't remember if your main character is meant to be a reincarnated Anne or not, but if she isn't I can't see why having a Mark Smeaton type character would be a problem. I'm with Bella, if it is subtle it would be a nice little in-joke for those readers clued into the Boleyn saga while to other readers there would be no connection made. It's like when watching a TV show, the writers throw in a little nod to an actor's previous role. Something the actor's fans would giggle at, but fans of the show would totally miss.
7:25 am
August 27, 2011
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I like the idea of the men who loved Anne being spiritually woven into the character of the man in love with the book's heroine. Besides we are Tudor-ists, it is inevitable.
Kimberly
1:17 pm
February 24, 2010
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Bella44 said:
Maybe if Mark Smeaton and Thomas Wyatt are taking over your character/s it means they want their voices heard! I've heard that when writing novels characters can take on a life of their own
I agree. They may be your muses.
2:23 pm
March 26, 2011
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Thanks for the comments everyone, I'd be lost without you all-I really would! 
Yes, definitely, this has reassured me that there is nothing wrong with keeping this character, Bella, you are right! I think this character really is taking on a life of it's own. Furthermore, I really wanted to mention the men who suffered with Anne in this novel, so I suppose this is a perfect opportunity; and as you all say, it's only fellow Tudor fans would pick up on this. I think what I write would flow so much better if I just got it all down rather than over analysing it….I really need to stop holding myself back on this one.
5:14 pm
January 9, 2010
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I have a friend who’s a short story writer, and what she does is write as much as she can, leaves it for a week and then goes back so she look at it with fresh eyes to avoid, as you say, over analyzing it!
I have no writing talent whatsoever but am always in awe of anyone who does – so all the best for your story!
10:01 pm
May 16, 2011
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I try to write but i have this thing where i start writing then something else pops into my mind and i start writing about something totally different then i read it and i end up confused. Also when i get really good ideas it's usually at a time when i have absolutely no access to paper or pens. But someday i'll just sit and not get up until i stay on topic and just write and write and write.
Good luck, hopefully you don't have the same dilemma as me. 
• Grumble all you like, this is how it’s going to be.
10:08 pm
April 9, 2011
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One of my goals in life is to write a novel AND write a musical. I think I've had an idea for a novel in my head for about 15 years but just too lazy to commit to it. My brain then decided that perhaps if I turned that idea into a jukebox musical it might work better. But the songs I want to use keep changing or I don't have paper with me to write down the song when I hear it and when to use it so I forrget about it. I now have an idea for an original musical and while I could probably write a decent script – penning the songs would be beyond me to be honest AND I don't want it to be a play I think it could work awesomely as a musical.
So I take my hat off to everyone involved in actively writing something at the moment or in the past.
11:50 am
December 12, 2010
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My advice would be to keep at it too. Many authors say the characters take on a life of their own and do what they want, even diverging from a path the author had initially planned. You can always go back and change it later. And in any case, like everyone else, I don't see a problem. I try to write too, but I struggle to stick to one story. I'll get so far and then start on another. Not a good way to get it finished by any means. Good luck with this story. Sounds very interesting
