Short Stories vs. Novels

Though it's true about short stories, novels in particular hold a part of your heart and soul in them. You bleed, sweat, and cry into the pages and the characters on them. Besides the fact they take far longer to write, and more planning, outlining, plotting, developing and world building—they have an effect on you.

It's the characters that affect you. They take control and lead your story on a different path, sometimes ignoring what you're trying to make them do. Also, they can hate you. My first book is set in Reconstruction-era Louisiana. The Klan was rampant down there, and I think my favorite character was the one I hated most. I loved him, because I hated everything he stood for, said, and thought (even I had a little hand in his villainy!).

But why did I hate him? He was a horrible, murderous thug in the Klan and went against everything I personally believe. I had such fun writing him for that very reason!

Back to short stories. If I had to write this guy for ten to twenty pages, he'd be over my shoulder for at max two to three days. With a novel I had this monstrous bigot in my head for five years (first books always take longer, and hey I wasn't nearly as focused as I am now!). Five years to have a cast of five main characters, all separate with separate motivations, beliefs and personalities is a lot to maintain. Kinda. Not really since they would do what they wanted.

I wrote another short story, which I'm surprised hasn't sold, but have realized why it probably won't. It's twenty pages, and though I knew the main character, how he thought, felt, his goal, and personality—he was a relative guest in my head. He arrived on a friday afternoon, and was gone by Sunday evening. Took me three days to write his story, compared to the five years with the cast of Book #1.

My second book is finished and out to a couple agents. It took me WAY less time to finish it, as should be expected. I'll say it took seven to eight months—mind you this was during a class at Harvard (which was INSANE) and a killer commute.

This book was much easier to write since I'm a lot more familiar with medieval fantasy than Civil War history (which now I think I know a fair amount. Not a by expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I know a little something something!).

Again, seven or eight months is a lot shorter than five years, but those characters are still with me. I had such fun writing them, because the characters in the "group" were a common fantasy trope on the flip side (all my tropes need to be twisted—I hate clichés!).

This group involves three characters forced together to do something (the trope), become reluctant "friends (trope) and then conflict with each other while trying to accomplish their own goals....to the point of trying to kill one another at certain times (trope flipped!).

Another funny trope (I think) is that there's the backwater farm boy "destined for greatness" and....that's all I'll say since this will hopefully sell.

And blog spiel over.

Alas!

I forgot to add this snippet of info. Alas! My agent was forced to step back due to his major health issues. Though it's a bummer, I only hope he gets better! 

I started that ever so daunting task of querying again. Having an agent will probably give me a good boost in acquiring another one.

The publishing industry is achingly slow, so the best thing to deal with the wait is to keep writing!

I'm already outlining my third book (the second in a planned trilogy starting with my second book. Sounds confusing right?). However, I'll probably hold actually writing the second installment in case the first one does not sell. If the first in the trilogy doesn't sell, why would the second?

Of course, I could make the second book a stand-alone, but then I would have refocus on introducing all the characters, which were explored in the first one. I might do that, to be honest.

However, I also love writing short stories. This may sound arrogant or stupid or both, but I find writing short stories easy. I wrote the one I just sold in under two hours, not counting the editing afterwards.

I'll post later about why and how short stories come more naturally to me. 

Grimurl part 2

A sudden throbbing pain jolted Grimurl from his dream of his father’s old pipe playing. He was greeted with another burst of pain, a thump from a villager’s booted foot that rolled Grimurl onto his back. Groaning, he took a moment to scan his surroundings: a few decaying horse stalls, mounds of rotten hay stinking of some yellow fungus, a scythe racked on the wall, and a trio of gruff men.

“Please—I’m sorry—It was an accident. I just wanted to ask about her roses,” moaned Grimurl, trying to sit up from the hard earthen floor. He glanced at the villager standing over him, a barrel-chested man with shaggy blonde hair, garbed in a filthy white tunic. Grimurl smiled lightly, looking deeply into the villager’s dark chestnut eyes, hoping he would feel some sympathy for the satyr. A scoff from a rotund, greasy looking man behind him foiled that idea.

“Liar!” screamed the blonde-haired man, kicking Grimurl’s side again. “Why us? What have we done to you, beast?” he demanded, shoving Grimurl back on to the ground and placing his foot on the satyr’s chest.

“Why you what?” asked Grimurl, confused. Though wracked with agony, groggy, and a bit hungry for some fern leaves, he couldn’t help noticing a peculiar musk in the stable. He hadn’t noticed it before, perhaps because he was unconscious, but now Grimurl smelled it—like wet fur.

“He’s lying, Bertrand,” interjected the other villager, a lanky redheaded man, sitting nearby on a pile of the rotten hay.

The blonde man, Bertrand, growled and turned back to Grimurl, “The sheep, the goats, the cattle! You’ve been sneaking around here at night killing and slaughtering all our livestock.”

“Ha! You look at him shake,” sneered the lanky villager, with an outstretched finger.

“Shut it, Corwyn! I want to know why us? What’ll it take for you to leave us alone?” growled Bertrand, removing his foot, bending down, and grabbing Grimurl by the horns. He hauled the Satyr up to his feet, ignoring the fae creature’s bleating cries.

“Sirs, you’re wrong. I’m sorry, but you’re just wrong,” Grimurl moaned, stamping his hooves on the ground to show the villagers.

All three men glanced down at the satyr’s goat-legs, and burst out laughing. Bertrand let go of Grimurl’s horns, and pushed him away. “Now that’s funny!” he exclaimed.

“I don’t think so,” grumbled Grimurl, rubbing his sore horns, and then brushing the dirt from his furry legs. “But since we got off on the wrong leg so to speak,” smiled the satyr to another gale of laughter from the villagers, “Maybe I can help you with whatever’s killing your livestock. I can find any animal in the woods, you’ll see!”

Bertrand and Corwyn fell silent, exchanging glances. “How you know it’s an animal, beast?” questioned Bertrand suspiciously, both villagers looked to the third, who as of yet said nothing. He was bulkier than his companions, wearing padded armor, furrowing his thick monobrow.  

“Oh—” said Grimurl uneasily, “Well, I just assumed since you saw me,” he looked at his goat legs. “And figured it was an animal, not to mention you used the word ‘slaughter’…that’s how,” he smiled cheerfully.

“Aye, it be an animal. The worst kind there is,” said the bulky, armored villager. “I kept quiet till now—thought with the full moon passing two night’s ago, it wouldn’t matter. But, last night…there was no full moon…we have ourselves a werewolf, boys,” he said ominously. 

Grimurl part 1

I decided to post some short stories, just for my own giggles! :)


Grimurl had to rest. He halted, heaving clouds of breath into the cool night air. Laying a hand  against a towering oak, he could feel Nature's lifeblood coursing through its woody veins. He glanced around him, and decided he had taken the right direction—this forest was thick with trees that had been born centuries ago.

Villagers shouting for Grimurl's blood echoed through the woods, reverberating off each leaf on every tree. Their violent calls terrified the young satyr. There would be no escape this time, thought Grimurl and in a single bound, his goat legs propelled him onto the treetops. He climbed several feet higher, finding a long sturdy branch, he crawled to where it met the tree's crown. Still shivering, half from fear and half from the chill in the breeze, Grimurl huddled himself close to the tree so the wood warmed him. It was delightful, Nature wrapped her leaves around him and for a moment he forgot he was being hunted. 


Grimurl cursed under his breath when he spied the pinpoints of torchlight bobbing among the trees. He remembered. But it was an accident. Grimurl had not meant to frighten the woman. He just wanted to ask her about the roses in her garden. Perhaps his legs had frightened her, he thought, studying the hairy appendages. No, that couldn't be it—maybe the sound of his hoofs on her floor? No—they sound just like a horse's...his horns! "That's it," he whispered excitedly to himself. Grimurl felt the small curved bones atop his head. 


Maybe he could reason with the villagers, yes that is a great idea, Grimurl thought. He would properly introduce himself, let the woman feel his horns to prove they're harmless. If that didn't work he would show the woman the field where the perfect flowers grow, and even give her his finest flute. Of course, that had to work! Grimurl began the awkward climb down the oak. If only he was not afraid of heights he would jump, he thought. "You old fool, why'd you jump up here?" he asked himself with giggle and a bleat.


Grimurl turned around as he made his way down through the branches. He wanted to be able to talk to the villagers when they found him. Suddenly, the sensation of fire struck his chest and his heart seized. Clutching the arrow in his chest, Grimurl cried out in pain and fell from the tree.


End of Part 1

A Developed World Breeds Developed Characters

I haven't written anything in a while due to a class I took at Harvard. It kicked the crap out of me, emotionally and physically. Haven't even found out my grade yet, but anyway I digress.

Today I had a conversation with my mother, whose an avid reader, about what makes a good book. Everyone's different—my personal favorite genres are Fantasy (of course!), Philosophy, and Science...astronomy...astrology...space nerd stuff.

My mother prefers World War II novels, but reads a variety of genres. During this conversation I was explaining the premise of my second book, and in order to do so had to explain a little about the Romani/Romany culture ("Gypsies" is a slur, which developed from the false belief the people originated in Egypt...they came from India). She said something that may seem fairly basic, but struck me in a deep way.

She said, "Good books need developed characters, and more than that they need a developed culture."

"A developed culture"...is what stuck in my head. Think about it...we develop our characters, or try to, in such a way that a random person could say, "i like/hate this character, but I know this character." Knowing a character is more important than whether we like or dislike him/her. When we are able to chuckle, knowing "Joe" is going to open the door clearly marked "Zombie inside, BEWARE"...the writer's done a good job. I should note I have a friend I know so well that I could predict what he would do in most situations...and he would open that door and run in with a smile. I know him.

I suppose the same goes for movies...knowing a character on an emotional or intellectually level makes us enjoy the movie that much more.

Back to the "developed culture" (I ramble, I know!)...we create worlds, whether in a movie or a book. The world we create may be exactly the world as it is today, but we make it our own by having control over it, weaving intense situations from meaningless moments, beginning wars over a hot dog, or showing back door politics, etc. A good book needs a developed culture...something that sets it apart from everything else. Harry Potter is a great example, though I hate the story, but it is so vividly real. It has its own distinct feel of existence.

A developed culture is providing the world in your story with a voice of its own.

Ramble over. :)

Finally!

Today, I finished my analytical paper on Frankenstein for my class at Harvard. When I typed the last word and clicked save, I let loose a sigh of relief. Writing it wasn't the hard part, the in-text citations and the mountainous pressure on my back was the trouble. One minute mistake and it's plagiarism, and the structure needs to be on point.

Anyway, I sat back and soaked in the scene...man my desk was a mess! Books and papers strewn everywhere! I honestly can't figure out how there was room for my laptop. It reminded me of something someone once told me: "Cleanliness is happiness." A perversion of that old adage we all know and love but it, as well, is true.

Living in chaos in frustrating enough, but having to write in it is worse. Humans are social creatures, our happiness stems from both external and internal forces. We need safety, food, shelter, relationships and all that good stuff.

Our creative minds have needs too. They vary (somewhat) from person to person, but we all need a clear mind...a sense of calm and like many things, "calm" can mean many things. Some people find that calmness in mess...even soothed by it (not me), but it takes that serenity for our ever tinkering minds to plow through the jumbled thoughts caused by stress. Find that calm...Goose fraba.

My mind's drawing a blank right now...the dog is barking to go out...I can't think with it :). 

My Motivation

The first time I saw the United States Holocaust Museum it was horrifying obviously, but it was more than that. It reminded me of standing on the event horizon of a black hole, peering into the depths of darkness...that cold, unknown, and dark force staring back at you, offering only obliteration, but also a forlorn shimmer of hope.

Motivation.

In the museum there is a cattle car which was used to transport my people, the Jews to various death camps, and a gross monument to death in the form of shoes piled atop each other, much like the Nazis did to not only us, but the Romani, the handicapped, blacks, and anyone who did not fit the perfect race.

Motivation.

My grandfather has numerous articles of his time during the war on display in the museum, books, letters to my grandmother during the time he oversaw the Landsberg DP camp, and pictures. Horrifying pictures, pictures so devastating I keep hidden if for some reason a niece or nephew were to rummage through my place as kids are known to. These are pictures of my people, Jews piled atop one another like garbage, scantily clad and decimated to the point of not looking human.

Motivation.

The pictures of survivors are as or worse than those of stockpiles of the dead. Skeletons with barely enough flesh left to survive...if they were eight feet in height they could have passed as Frankenstein's monster...sunken eyes...yellowed skin...sparse hair that hung like torn curtain from their pates.

Upon leaving the museum my grandfather sat my brothers and I on a bench just outside. He told us that  during the war he had seen things that made him ashamed to be a human being...that we were capable of such inhuman and barbaric actions could never be ascribed words that would sufficiently describe the feeling.

Grandfather said that no matter how depressed or angry or wrought with despair he became, he would never let the bastard, Hitler win...he didn't say that part, rather he snarled, shaking his fist at the sky as if threatening the bastard...wherever his soul may have been. He explained we as Jews no longer could live as individuals...we were representatives of our entire people...at any point men like Hitler would point to even the most insignificant Jew and paint all of us in that man's image. Because of this it was our duty as Jews to live good lives, do right, and succeed. This was not religious in nature...from fighting in the war, Grandfather had learned hard that there was no God. This was revenge or rather justice...that, "I'll be goddamned if I let that bastard win"...to do well, live, and persevere was the greatest revenge or justice we could bring to Hitler.

THIS finally brings me to motivation. The above is my motivation, what keeps me going in all aspects of life, and most importantly writing. My grandfather wrote...several memoirs, and manuals on military combat which were consequently stolen by the Russian government and re-issued as one of their own manuals. He found it a complement, and rather funny.

Find your motivation. Something that does not give you the right to quit. You may fail...fail to become super rich...fail to become published...but you need to never quit. You only ever truly fail when you quit.

If you for some reason don't think you have this type of motivation, dig deep, and you will find it.

Overcoming the Agony of Querying

I recently joined QueryTracker.net even though I have an agent. Go figure I'd decide to join AFTER needing it. What inspired me to write this post was a back and forth between some folks on that site querying the agent whom represents me. I had mentioned it too about six months, maybe a little over, to acquire one.

Admittedly I felt foolish saying, "It took me six months!" Why? Well,  because some people never find agents. This isn't to say you can't get published! So, don't worry, there are plenty of small presses, e-pubbers, and other means out there for unagented authors.

Why it took me six months?

Luck I suppose. I have a list of every agent I ever queried...92 to be exact. Forty of which were rejections, several partial requests, even fewer full requests. Overall, I would say fifty were no responses, IF I'm being kind to myself.

I have to admit though, the first few rejections were entertaining. I was excited to even GET a response, whether positive or not. About ten rejections in and I think, "This stinks now." At the twenty rejection point, and a majority of no responses, I started to falter. I was discouraged, not wanting to check my mail, so I took a while off from querying.

Mind you through out my querying I was already writing my second book, and that's key. NEVER STOP WRITING! If you're like us, "writers" it's in your blood. I would write for as long as my aging hands would let me...why? That's for another post.

Back to querying agents. It's hard, draining, time-consuming (if you're doing it right), and full of hope, excitement, and often dream shattering. Yeah I said it—it can and probably will at some point drag you into the depths of chocolate and ice cream.

That's life. We live in a cruel world of cold, hard truths, but that's no excuse. Your job as a writer is to A) write and B) query if you want to get published. It's like anything else. In order to get results you need to do the work.

It's understandable how frustrated some can become, I went through it myself at one point, but I always kept one thing in mind: HP Lovecraft had over 200 rejections before getting published. That's right, the master of the Cthulhu Mythos received over 200 letters saying, "Tough cookies, Mr. Lovecraft." And do you know what he did with those 200 rejection letters?

Here's the main point of this post.

Mr. Lovecraft, and if for some bizarre reason you don't know him go rent any number of movies which are directly or indirectly inspired his work, took each letter and hung them on the walls of his office. The office in which Lovecraft wrote was lined floor to ceiling with rejection letters, every inch of space covered. Two hundred? Jeez, I only got forty! Now THAT is one dedicated author, AND he didn't stop writing while querying.

All a rejection letter means is "try again" and Lovecraft knew that. He never gave up, and neither should you. We all deserve the life we want. So, just take it. Query. Query. Write. Write. Write. Query, and Query some more.

So, Farewell,  keep on writing, and make sure your pen has ink!

A Lay Guide to Publishing Avenues

My cousin, a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) sent me a nifty little cheat sheet about the various means of becoming a 'published' author. I use the quotations, because she pointed out to me that many organization do NOT consider you published or professional unless you've received at least a $1,000 advance. Makes sense, because a publisher who has already dolled out money for you will want to make that money back! This leads to more aggressive marketing of your book. I have to note, I have no knowledge of that from dealing with publishers, but a degree in business gives even me some basic insight! :)

So, on to some of the publishing methods:

Traditional: The top of the line method that we all dream about. Huge advances (not so much anymore), your bool in every Barnes & Noble, or as my agent calls them "The big boys and girls in NY."

Upside

     -You get to work with top notch team who will handle editing, art/cover design, and marketing
     -A major advance
     -Large print runs to start
     -Availability in stores

Downside

     -You need an agent 99.99% of the time.

     -Kill or be killed = publish or fail

     -Sales record counts...sell 1 copy and say goodbye to that next advance or the publisher themselves

Self-Publishing: You publish your own work. Online or in print through an insurmountable number of channels. (Online channels: Smashwords, Createspace, Barnes & Noble, etc.) I'm not going to list channels of self-publishing in print, because they're everywhere.

Upside

     -Anything goes...you can publish a picture of a monkey eating a banana on 375 pages and call it the True Story of King Kong...you get the idea.

     -You get to run everything, track sales, decide how to market it, and you can get a royalty rate of between 35-70%.

Downside

     -Anything goes...people can print books such as the True Story of King Kong...and if I find someone did publish it, I will sue you, because it is MY great and hilarious idea :)

     -You CAN make a lot money, but you won't. Those who say they have are the exception to the rule, not the rule themselves. Watch...I can't remember the movie right now, so if you made that movie please know I'm giving you credit even though I forgot what movie it is that you made.

     -You HAVE to do all the work, marketing, etc. unless you're rich, in which case you can pay people to do that for you.

     -There's no advance, and bookstore staff will probably give you a funny look when you ask for placement on their shelves...and THEN when you leave, laugh at you with their friends. Sad I know, but that's how the cookie crumbles. That's what I would imagine on my way out after they said no in a polite fashion.

E-Publishing (Electronic Publishing): E-publishers are EVERYWHERE. I can't tell you how many there are. These aren't bad, per se, or at all. It just depends on what you're looking for. These are usually small presses, though they may have as many as 20 authors (I've seen it), but all their books are published online. MANY claim if a book is successful it will go into a limited run or become POD (Print-on-demand). This would be something to ask them about before signing a contract.

Upside

     -Much easier to have your work accepted, whether you're agented or not.

     -SOME provide an advance, but to be honest after pouring over pages of them, I've only seen one offer an advance, and that was one that did do print, not just electronically. 

     -You get to work with staff, which I would call so-so quality (A LOT better than me, but nowhere near HarperCollins staff)

     -You'll get more staff attention as it is a small press with a limited amount of authors

     -The press may already have loyal customers who will purchase your book just due to the publisher.

Downside

     -Rarely given an advance, and when you are, they're small!

     -You do have to or rather SHOULD do marketing yourself as the press will have limited means to help you. You should use, of course, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, LinkedIn, etc. etc.

     -You won't have much contact with many of the "big boys and girls in NY" as my agent says! Always make me laugh and smile :)

     -Your book will likely not reach any form of print.

VANITY: Don't use this. They may make you pay, or only sell your book to you alone. Don't do this. Don't do it! GO check out pred-ed.com. A FANTASTIC site about scammers and the "big boys and girls". It's run by Dave...something, but it is an INVALUABLE tool. USE IT!

Now for the citing of sources, as I don't want to get sued or be assassinated for misusing/plagiarizing someone. 

Source: November 2011 RWA Magazine, Article, by Virna DePaul

And a special thanks to my cousin, Leslie Carroll for making sure I never fell prey to any scammers!

So, Farewell,  keep on writing, and make sure your pen has ink!

Responses from Publishers

Before acquiring my agent I had queried several small presses for publication. A few rejections, but an overwhelming number of offers. Quite frankly, I'm astounded at the number and the speed at which they came in. In a week-and-a-half period I literally had FIVE offers. It's pretty staggering considering some criticism I've had by a one or two people I let read some. They weren't publishers, or agents or anything of that sort, but one was an editor. Anyway, before I actually started to delve into the 'business' I used what is called head-hopping. If you're reading this blog you probably know what that is.

Most people have told me it's not confusing, some have, and honestly I like it. Having read numerous books with 'head-hopping' I find it a great way to learn all the characters, and how they interact with each other, and how they truly compare and contrast each other.

Anyway, four of the five publishers were great to communicate with, all very professional, and though one contract was outlandishly poor, I passed. My agent is currently shopping it in NYC, and I have full faith in his advice and abilities. He's a big timer.

One publisher that I passed on replied with a scathing remark. I must use the word "astounded" again. I inquired about an advance, and was informed by this publisher: 'No, advances are given on an author's merit and ability to sell."

So...you want to publish my book, but don't believe I have any merit or ability to sell? I found it rather silly, and honestly a bit rude. Mind you I had asked politely...sort of I guess..."What type of advance can I expect?" Nothing too insulting, I think.

There were some other passive-agressive comments made, but I don't want to get into that, nor name this publisher or the email's sender.

I'm a newbie to the business, and maybe I was out of line?

All the other small presses were very easy to deal with.

I guess my point is that though our books should be written with marketability in mind, write what you want. My second book I've opted not to use head-hopping, but I still think it's fine.

This is the end of my ramblings :)

So, Farewell,  keep on writing, and make sure your pen has ink!

PS My cousin is up for the Good Reads Choice Awards for the Best Historical Novel, BECOMING MARIE ANTOINETTE so, everyone should go vote for her at this address!

Research and Its Funny Effects

I'm a research hound. I get it from my father I think. An example is if I'm watching TV and see something about a cookie cutter shark I pick up my iPod touch and start a fervent search for information about it. No idea why I do this...maybe I'm addicted to knowledge?

Anyway, in the process of writing my first book, THE FREEDMAN AND THE PHARAOH'S STAFF, which is currently being shopped in NY might I add :) I must have bought 20 books about the Civil War and that time period (which is when the book takes place!). Books about the styles of clothes, hair cuts/facial hair, swears, food, slang and all that. Though it's a speculative fiction/fantasy I always need things to be realistic. Voodoo is involved, so I have books about that written by actual practitioners, and even had numerous conversations with some friends from Haiti. They were the most helpful.

Now, I'm nearly done with my second book. It's a medieval fantasy (my favorite) and I have a dozen books about castles, siege warfare/machines/defensives, clothing, armor, weapons and those sort of things. You don't even want to know how many books I have on magic..."real" magic like Aleister Crowley and in the case of evil magic, I a copy of "The Black Arts". Another great book. I often wonder what my cleaning lady thinks when she sees that book...she must think I'm a nut job Lol.

When creating a fantasy world I suppose it makes sense to detach from reality, but I think this is something agents and publishers disagree with. In no way am I an expert in this area, but I have noticed from my days of querying before finding my agent, a lot of agents and publishers stated that fact. I remember one publisher/agent? I forget which, said they wanted realistic fantasy...not talking dogs!

Even the greats like Margaret Weiss keep realism in their writing. People get sick, people die...if I remember correctly, Flint Fireforge died from a heart attack/heart disease as he was chasing after someone. Sad, but realistic...people do die of heart attacks. As did Caramon Majere, now that I think of it.

Keeping faith to even the most basic facts about castles, medieval life, and weaponry can add pounds of world making. Little things...dwarven proverbs...a stereotype against elfs (I don't condone racism, but it happens)...and celebrations/holidays all make for wonderful world building.

A couple agents and some beta readers for my first book have commented, "it's like its own world." THAT makes me happy, because in its own way it is. Reconstruction Louisiana, a place where voodoo is at its heart...common knowledge that is so uncommon to us...like the spreading of brick dust across doorway or in a circle around yourself  keeps those with ill will towards you from crossing over the line. A true belief and practice, but few people outside the culture probably know or believe it.

Anyway, I've probably rambled enough.

So farewell, and keep on writing, and make sure your pen has ink!

Question: What research do you do for your writing, if any at all?

What Makes a Character Interesting?

I’ve seen a lot of books out about this subject; how to make realistically interesting characters. I actually own one, though I never have, and most likely, won’t read it. Why? Character development is one of the things I am most proud of doing, because I feel I do it well.

I would define an interesting character as someone you can come to know. Literally! Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman (two of my favorite authors) are GREAT at this, because they realize people are people. This is true whether imaginary or not. A great character is complex, good, evil, kind, and cruel. We, as people, have all been and will be again, these things. It’s just the nature of the beast.

This lays the groundwork for the art of creating our heroes, villains, and side characters. Be weird! Nothing is more real than the bizzare. Fact is, indeed, stranger than fiction, LITERALLY. Go read some historical books, or scientific articles, and you’ll see the universe is outlandishly strange. So, too, should our characters (and people, in fact). For example, in the past year or so I ran a D&D group (yes, I’m a huge nerd), and people loved it. Why? I think because of the characters.

Here I’ll outline some odd and funny examples:

-Twin brothers, one’s a good priest of healing, the other is an evil priest of war, and  they love each other...brothers and all. Totally opposite in every way (besides appearance) but they love each other. One told a funny story about their childhood…one found a stray cat to take care of…the other one killed it…you can figure it out! It's just a quirky thing that isn't totally unrealistic. Heck, I know family that if we ever got into a political/religious conversation we would end up choking each other out. 

-A demon who was madly in love with one of the player’s characters. MADLY in love. A character thought it would be funny to feed him a love potion…and it was…for hours…HILARIOUS!

-Another great character, the players overall favorite, was a traveling minstrel who was a pathological liar, but he was funny! He told great stories about heroes, villains and monsters he’d slain…half were true…a half he thought were true…the other half he made up, and still more were taken from the people who had done the very deed he claimed was his. :)

How does this translate into writing great characters? Easy, your villain is the epitome of evil. He steals, lies, and murders at a moment’s notice. BUT perhaps, he loves beautiful sunsets, and must stop and watch it everyday. Perhaps, his evil deeds hide the fact his life isn’t what he wanted it to be, or he'd rather be a painter. Basically the more contradictory a character may seem makes them more real. After all, there is the theory of 3 "You's"...there is you as you think of yourself. There is the you that others see you as, and then there is the you that IS you. Abstract theory? Yes, but applying to one's writing can only help fleshing out the world and its inhabitants.

On the other hand, your hero can be an alcoholic. Cliche? A little…but when he drinks he lashes out physically at whosever there, wets his pants, and wakes up ashamed of what he has done. Every other night he’s out saving the world, but then he sees a car drive by…a car he swears is his father’s who left him as a child. He gets drunk that night, gets arrested, and now is the criminal…so to speak.

These are not well thought out characters, as I am writing this on the fly. However, they are fair examples. Think of Frankenstein’s Monster…best character EVER!!! And why? Because he’s complex, he’s evil, he’s good, he wants to be good, but can’t be. Just being ugly turns him into a murderer, a simple analyzation, I know.

A great character will have readers coming back, and will have you, as the writer, salivating to write about them again. You read the dialogue, and think, “That is just so Bill!” Having that effect on you is what makes Bill a GREAT character!

Farewell, and keep on writing, and make sure your pen has ink!

Who are some of your favorite characters? I'd like to know!