Whenever I write fiction that's not for children, I really enjoy writing dark comedies. But not too dark. I'm not sure that characters that are purely vicious and volatile all the way through are believable. I'm not even convinced a chocolate bunny is ever solid chocolate all the way through - there are always those air bubbles.
I know for a fact there are vicious and volatile people out there - I know people that have experienced them first hand. Part of me wants to write stories with characters like these people, but I don't want to touch them with my mind or my words and get that close. I don't want to believe they are real. I definitely don't want to immerse myself in months of thinking about them just to write a story.
My evil characters tend to be selfish and clueless or mentally ill - not pure evil at all. They may have vicious or volatile moments that take them over, but it's never pre-meditated. When they are at their most vicious, they are doing their best and don't realize the consequences of what they say or do. They set of chain reactions without realizing they have the power to impact generations of people. Let's face it, whoever made us who we are has also helped to shape who our children are - without ever giving it a second's thought. I truly believe people pop into the world as individuals - with set personalities - but how the world treats them changes them in ways they can't always recognize.
I need coffee, didn't get enough sleep, and am feeling a little vicious today. Maybe today is a good day to give the editing a break and work on my sinister story...or just sleep it off until I feel less volatile.
I'm cyber-handing out awards today. Eenie-meanie-minie-moe: I picked you. However, I've yet to post the blog.
ReplyDeleteShelly
http://wwww.shellysnovicewritings.blogspot.com
Shelly - I kindly accept your invisible award and give you one too. :)
ReplyDeleteI heard coffee. *needs to get some coffee*
ReplyDeleteAhem. As far as your post goes: I think even the villains need a purpose and a reason behind what they're doing. They may seem pure evil to some, but there has to be something that triggered it. The way they were raised, something awful that happened to them, or even just choices they made that weren't the right ones. It doesn't mean I want to delve deep into the psyche of someone who could do such horrible things, but I need to be able to at least understand where they're coming from.
I agree that writing a villain takes a certain amount of energy. Definitely takes some to clear out what they leave behind. YIKES!
ReplyDeleteMy antagonists can be vicious at times, but I do try to showcase a human side of them. For instance, I have this queen who won't hesitate to have someone executed on a whim, and yet she longs to bring life into this world as well by becoming a mother. Using conflicting contrasts like this helps me to keep the characters from becoming one-dimensional.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure to meet you via the A-Z Challenge!