I do it anyway. Fair or not.

I live. Part-time. In make-believe worlds. Because I like to write stories. About make-believe people. And in order to do that. Effectively. I have to give free rein to my imagination.  In essence, I create people. Starting with the exterior. The outer shell. And then I have to go inside. Deep into their psyche. That’s the hard part. I have to pretend. That I’m the actual character. That I’m trying to create. I have to get sort of carried away. Without totally losing myself. I play the role. The same way as a good actor.  With feeling.  I apply a similar technique. In getting to more intimately know my friends and acquaintances. I imagine what it must be like. Living in their shoes. In their situation. Of course, it helps. That I already know them. At least in limited and shallow ways. But the most fun. Comes in sizing up a total stranger. On a scant first impression. Don’t know if that’s being fair. But I do it anyway. Because that’s the guy I am. --Jim Broede