The What My Characters Would Think of Me Tag

It’s been awhile since I did a tag, and now I have two in a row, thus my reason for posting on a week I generally don’t post on! And yes, I know I was actually tagged for the Oddly Specific Things I Love in Books Tag before this one, but I’ve actually gotten to this one first because that one has required some thought on my part (though I’m honestly probably overthinking it). This one, which is on what my characters would think of me, looks super fun, and the answers came to me right away! So thanks to Journey Bloomfield for a great tag, and I apologize for breaking the tag order, haha! (The bookish tag should be out the first Tuesday in November though, so look out for that!)

The Rules:

• Link back to whoever tagged you.
• Link back to the original tag.
• Share the Graphic below on your blog.
• Share one hilarious fact about your WIP.
• Share what at least four of your characters (the Main Character, the Villain, the Lovable–or perhaps Sarcastic or whatever their personality is—Side Character, and A Character of Your Choosing) would think of you.
• Tag at least five people who would enjoy taking part (you can tag more if you want).

Hilarious Fact About My WIP

Going into this tag, I was debating between doing this tag on my just-finished romantasy WIP or on my YA Christian fantasy WIP which has replaced the romantasy as my main WIP as I let the romantasy sit. This question made me decide to do the latter, as while my romatasy has humorous elements, in order to understand them, spoilers are required. Thus, my YA Christian fantasy is a safer choice. If I somehow get tagged for this again, though, I’ll definitely do my romantasy that time around.

I go into detail about what my YA Christian Fantasy is about in my 2025 First Quarter Writing Update, but a simple overview for the sake of this tag is Brenton, a young grand duke, is forced to hide his identity and become a lowly esquire indentured to a knight, Sir Arden, in order to survive his usurping cousin who’s out to kill him.

This, of course, provides room for many hilarious misunderstandings on both sides, with Arden unable to understand why his esquire is acting this way, and Brenton struggling with tasks and duties which are beneath him.

And while I’m not 100% sure how Arden will respond upon being told of Brenton’s true identity towards the end of the novel, (I’m a pantser, heh!) one of the concepts I have is him being in denial, yet gradually coming to the realization of the truth.

And I wrote said concept in snippet form for your enjoyment, because I find it quite amusing.

(And for anyone who’s unsure, the nobility ranking system in my fantasy world goes from most powerful to least: King, Grand Duke, Crown Prince, Duke, Marquis, Count/Earl, Viscount/Lord, Baron, and Knight. Arden is a knight, so being made a marquis is… a pretty big promotion and one only someone of extreme power could order.)

Anyway, enough with that. Onto character opinions!

What My Main Character Would Think of Me?

I’m going to answer these in two ways, because I have to be complicated–one, as if I was a person actually in their world who they knew, and two, as the author, with them breaking the fourth wall and knowing they’re characters in a story.

As a person in their world, I’d probably be some normal peasant person. Subsequently, at the start of the story, Brenton definitely wouldn’t care a bit about me. He’s a bit of a spoiled brat, used to getting his way as the heir to his father’s grand duchy, and I’d be someone too lowly for him to even think about, other than as a subject to be treated honorably and taxed. Towards the end of the story, he’d definitely have a different view of the common person and be more down-to-earth with and understanding of them, but still, I doubt he’d care much for me personally just because he couldn’t possibly know every single peasant in his duchy.

As the author, however, Brenton would definitely not like me. I mean, I do kinda take everything and everyone he loves away from him and I just throw him straight into the extreme opposite life without giving the kid a chance to catch his breath. Towards the end, again, I think he might look at me with more understanding eyes, but I still wouldn’t end up in his list of The Top 100 People I Like.

What The Character Of My Choosing Would Think of Me?

I’m moving this question from fourth to second because I’m using Sir Arden, my secondary main character, for this question.

As a person in his world, assuming I lived in his town, I definitely think he’d know me on an acquaintance level. As a simple knight who’s lived in one country county his entire life, he’s pretty used to interacting with the populace. While we couldn’t probably be friends (class distinction and gender divides, of course) we’d probably be the closest thing to friends as possible. Arden’s generally a pretty laid back fellow with a kind, albeit maybe a bit naive heart, and he’s not so arrogant to where he can’t help someone of a different class out.

As an author–I don’t know if he’d dislike me. It takes a lot to make Arden dislike someone (and wow, as I’m writing this, I’m laughing at the fact that Brenton is one of the few people Arden dislikes for some of the book, speaking volumes about Brenton’s brattiness). But I do think Arden would be asking why a lot, just as he asks God in the story. But compared to Brenton, this guy honestly doesn’t have it too hard. So at least he wouldn’t dislike me! He probably just wouldn’t have an opinion.

What the Villain Would Think of Me?

Ah yes. Good old Herbert, Brenton’s usurper cousin. He’s smart, but not too smart, dumb, but not too dumb. Average intelligence here, so take that as you will.

As a person in his world–well, I wouldn’t classify myself as drop-dead gorgeous, and again, I’d probably be a peasant, so I suppose he’d just ignore me and treat me like any other common person, as if I’m non-existent. At least, until I refused to pay my taxes, and then he’d take note. But he’s pretty vicious so I definitely wouldn’t want to do that unless I was certain I could escape his grasp or something.

As the author, he’d respond one of two ways–either ignore me like above, or look at me as his worst threat and enemy. I mean, I did, after all, give him the grand duchy with a sweep of the pen–I can take it all away just as easily. In which case, I think he’d hate me, but he’d try to charm me and hide his true feelings, knowing and fearing my authorly powers.

What Would My Lovable Side Character Think of Me?

For my final character, I have to pick Brenton’s eventual best friend and brother-at-arms, Boliviar.

A note on brothers-at-arms (as you should know I couldn’t escape this without providing at least one historical note!): Becoming brothers-at-arms was done between two knights, and it was actually a vow made with a ceremony and everything. These two knights would pledge their loyalty to each other until death, supporting and defending one another. These vows were often written down, and then the two knights would take Holy Communion together, mix their blood, and exchange what was known as the “kiss of peace”. This oath was so strong, that it even overrode an oath to one’s lady (the third most important oath in a knight’s life, only subordinate to an oath or duty to God and to one’s feudal lord, and then to one’s brother-at-arms).

Anyway. If I was a person in Boliviar’s world, honestly, much like Arden, I think he’d know me, although I do think we’d actually be friends. He’s only an esquire at the beginning of the story, and quite unconventional, taking a liking to Brenton even when Brenton is his absolute brattiest. So I definitely think he’d be a pal, at least at first. As he matures, I think he would understand the class and gender protocol enough to follow it, while still being friendly and kind.

As an author, Boliviar would definitely be the most unique of the characters as I could see him becoming a curious chatterbox. He’d definitely question everything, but not in a woe-is-me why like Arden, but in a curious what’s that way. Like, he might even become mildly annoying with his childlike questioning. And I honestly can see him liking me, in a childish awe-struck way.

Strange. I never thought I’d say one of my characters likes me.

---

Well, there you have it. My thoughts on a hilarious fact about my WIP and what my characters would think of me, along with one entirely unnecessary ramble on the historical meaning of being brothers-at-arms. Hope you enjoyed it!

And now! ‘Tis time for the taggies! (which are entirely optional! If your characters all absolutely hate you and you wish to hide this from the world, or just don’t have time, there is absolutely no pressure!)

Kayti, Rissy, and Jaidie @ Sisters Three Press (this counts as three, right??)

Cate @ Southern Scribblings

Jordyn @ Jordyn Hadden

Honestly, these are the only people I know that I don’t think have already been tagged for this. But, if you haven’t been tagged and want to do the tag, consider yourself tagged!

Thanks again to Journey Bloomfield for the tag, and thank you for reading! Let me know in the comments below what you thought about my ramblings and what your favorite was! And if you’re an author, what do you think your characters would think of you? ~ Kay Adelin