I definitely identify with characters, and over a (long) period of time my version sometimes morphs out of all recognition. I have written at least two 'original fiction' characters who are based on other people's creations, but with complex transforms -- of personality rather than experience or life events -- that make them Not The Same Person.
As You Know, Bob, I write fanfic: and this is mostly because I engage with the characters.
Apropos of nothing, I was on a panel once about why there is little fanfic based on Golden Age SF -- and argued that this might be because old-skool SF tends to rely less on character and more on plot, thus giving the character-hungry reader less to engage with.
Hmm, should do a poll: "Do you now or have you ever engaged with a work of fiction to the extent of self-insertion? ... of identifying with a character? ... of making up more story?" I would be surprised if there were many people who could give a resounding 'no' to all of those. I think we all did it as children.
no subject
As You Know, Bob, I write fanfic: and this is mostly because I engage with the characters.
Apropos of nothing, I was on a panel once about why there is little fanfic based on Golden Age SF -- and argued that this might be because old-skool SF tends to rely less on character and more on plot, thus giving the character-hungry reader less to engage with.
Hmm, should do a poll: "Do you now or have you ever engaged with a work of fiction to the extent of self-insertion? ... of identifying with a character? ... of making up more story?" I would be surprised if there were many people who could give a resounding 'no' to all of those. I think we all did it as children.