Undead characters

So, I've been watching things about zombies and ghosts all day, which got me thinking about some of the things that have haunted me. I've seen a couple of creepy things in my old apartment, but mostly I've been haunted by my characters. A group of seven in particular have been a part of me since I was in middle school. I know everything about them. What they fear, what they hope, what they look like. Yes, one of them is a badly disguised version of me, but the rest are actual fictional characters.


I've tried writing novels and screenplays with them, not entirely sure what form their stories are best told in. I even tried writing a TV pilot. Nothing has quite worked yet, but I know three things: these characters belong in a series and not in a stand alone novel or script, they're supposed to remain teenagers, and I'll probably never be able to get rid of them. I've tried to move past them for about 10 years, but nothing has worked. None of them has figured out that I wouldn't mind if they left me alone. Sometimes they trick me. I'll think they're gone for a while and then they return. Sometimes they sneak back in quietly, and it takes time for me to realize they've come back. Other times I feel like they make a huge entrance and take over every aspect of my life. When I can't think of any writing ideas I tinker with their stories. When I feel totally uninspired I go back to them. Sometimes it's annoying because I want to write other characters, and sometimes it's comforting because I know I can always go back to them.

Have you ever felt like you were haunted by your characters? If so, why?

Photo courtesy of SXC