I cannot answer that question, but I can tell you something that I do with my characters:
I try to limit how much of myself goes into any story I write, Phil.
Of course, there is some of me in a few of them, but I work at diffusing this by spreading parts of my personality through many characters.
Some of the characters are the way I would want to be.
Some behave in ways I would never behave, at least not under normal conditions.
And the evil ones are fun to write because you can experience being thoroughly evil vicariously, without having to suffer any consequences!
"I offer you a Vulcan prayer, Mr Suder. May your
death bring you the peace you never found in
life." - Tuvok.
