When I look back at the first book I wrote, I feel a twinge of guilt for my characters; all five of them to be precise, if I want to be picky and count the minions.
Why do I feel guilty? Because, unforgivably, I neglected to give them a life. I just dumped them on the wintery London streets of Shad Thames and said “Right, off you go and do this.”
To their credit, they did what I asked, but not to the best of their ability, and that is solely down to me, because I did not spend the time in getting to know them. A year ago, I would have sworn different. I would have told you my heroine was an independent woman, owned a bar and lived a relatively normal life with only her handsome neighbour next door for support. The hero, and her love interest, was an actor who was quiet and thoughtful and ……. Oh my God, so boring!!!
Then I met Kristen Lamb. She told me to write a back story for my antagonist, so I did. I proudly wrote four pages and emailed them over to her. Her reply? “Crap, do it again.” I was mortified. How could it be rubbish? (Yeah, ok, you can stop laughing.) But she was right. It was absolute tosh. Oh, how naïve I was back then.
The reason it was rubbish, and it’s so clear now that I cringe every time I think about letting Kristen read it, was this. My first antagonist was a nice, wholesome, little rich girl who went nuts because the guy she liked was in love with someone else. There was no venom about her. She was kind to others, well liked, popular at school – you get the picture. But my reasoning for creating this totally unrealistic girl, who went off the deep end, was because Glenn Close had done it in Fatal Attraction. If a block busting movie could do it, why couldn’t I? The problem was, Glenn Close was not the normal, hard working, successful woman she appeared to be before Michael Douglas slept with her. If you look closely, she was actually a borderline psychotic and her back story would have backed this up with actions, events and certainly haunting issues.
I was guilty of analysing the plot of a story too much and just letting the characters roll along for the ride. Now, however, and much to my husbands annoyance, I analyse and pick holes in everything on TV. Still, men are there for us women to annoy so I think it is a win-win situation. 😀
So, this is what I have been taught, and would strongly recommend to anyone creating a character:
It starts with their creation. They need a look, a height, and a style. Personally, I look for a picture of an actor or actress and go from there. Then give them a home, a childhood, parents, siblings, pets, school proms, jobs, friends, enemies, lovers, fears, stressors.…. you get the picture. What they do with them after that is then up to you. They can use them, annoy them, play with them or kill them. They can go to jail or become President, but their back story must lead them to the moment you start your book. You cannot have, like I did, a nice antagonist who turns in to a crazy, killing machine, because it is convenient to the plot.
If you are stuck, then I would suggest writing your own biography first. Start with where you were born, who your parents were, if you have any siblings. Remember your childhood memories, relationships, good and bad. Jobs you’ve liked and jobs you’ve hated. Gravesides you have stood at. Tragedies you’ve had the misfortune to bear. All these things define who you are now.
Oh, and one really important thing I have learnt is this. Your protagonist does not have to be perfect. Perfect is BORING! Give her a flaw. Make her human. I guarantee your reader will not dislike them for it.
Look at Mel Gibson in the first Lethal Weapon – he was a suicidal drunk. And Frasier, from the TV show of the same name, has serious commitment issues, but do we hate either of these characters? Do we ‘eck. In fact we become more compassionate towards them.
Now, as always, I want to know something. I want to know who your favourite protagonist is and what flaw they have. Hmmmm….. has that got you thinking?
Hi Donna. Great blog. I love your voice. I can even hear your accent in your fresh vocabulary. I know. What accent?
I have lots of favorite protagonists, but the first one who comes to mind is Bond. My favorites are the Daniel Craig ones because he is vulnerable in his love for Vesper. In the first one as he falls in love, and in the second as his bitterness over her perceived betrayal leads him through a journey of revenge.
Close seconds are Hazel from Watership Down and Mal from Firefly/Serenity. Again, because of their flaws. When protags are flawed, they are like me. When protags like me do amazing things, they make me think I could, too, and isn’t that part of the fun of reading? All the best.
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Hi Piper, thanks so much.
I absolutely love Daniel Craig as James Bond because of his vulnerability. Show me a woman who does not fall for a tough guy with a sensitive side and I’ll show you a liar lol.
I remember watching Watership Down years ago when I was at school. Oh my God, did I cry! I have been too frightened to watch it again. I am such a wimp.
I’m heading over to your site now, as I have forgotton one of the kids clubs (naughty, naughty), and have a spare half hour (unheard of). I can’t think of a better way to spend it than reading your blog 😀
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I’m just getting the hang of this. I still write crap. But at least, I’m improving. 🙂
About your villain. How can your villain be a villain if she’s so kind? I would understand the Mary Sue style if she’s the hero (actually she would be better as hero than a villain). Maybe if she was engaged to the man and he took half her money or if the man abuses her, then I would understand why she had to go ballistic (for the villain). At least you learned your lesson now so you probably won’t repeat.
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Hi Marilag, and welcome!
My villain was rubbish because I made her too nice. By the time I had finished the rewrites, she was so nasty, it was scary.
My problem, as I was told, was that I was too nice. I’m not now though. Now I am utterly ruthless, which is great fun and gives me a freedom when I write.
As for your writing. When you say ‘I’m just getting the hang of this’, do you mean WordPress or do you mean you have just started to write? Let me know.
Thanks for your comments, it’s always great to hear from readers.
Donna xxx
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I just started to write. I’m still trying to figure out the bells and whistles of writing but I’m getting there. Like how to make my characters believable enough? How to make my plot believable? My settings? My character’s speech patterns? My plot? All help are welcome. 🙂
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There are many layers to writing, and some that I was not even aware of when I wrote my first novel, and some I am still learning now.
I would strongly recommend reading Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’. Also, for your social media, you must read Kristen Lamb’s ‘We Are Not Alone’. Also, and obviously, you must join my email subscription to this blog.
If you would like to run anything by me, feel free to email. I will help you in anyway I can. x
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Very good. I am so proud of you. ALMOND SNICKERS!!!
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lol, I have excellent teachers 😀
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My favorite protag?…This question alone would make my b/f laugh. I tend to either dislike or be lukewarm about main characters. I think it’s because I spend too much time with them. Which is funny b/c if I thought I spent a lot of time with the MC before, it’s nothing compared to the time dedicated to making them and the story. Still, I love Azreal…even though he is a little moody.
Lets see….I still haven’t answered your question…I’m going to have to think about it…
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Thanks so much for your comment……I cannot wait to read who it is. 😀
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This got thinking so much, I am glad I came across this.
In all honesty, the blog said little more than what I already knew. However, it feels like it was the final push over the edge, something just clicked. Something about the way you described giving your character more to them. Sounds like I can save my protagonists from a droll life in the story.
As for my favorite Protagonist, that is hard to say, but I can say that one of my favorite protagonists was Croaker, from the Chronicles of the Black Company. He was the medic and annalist in a mercenary band, who didn’t always fight for the bad guy. In one event, the group raped and pillaged a group of rebels, opposed to their employers; apparently they had done this in the past. Not that Croaker really got involved, but he didn’t care either.
Thanks for the boost, Donna.
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You are very welcome! And thank you for the wonderful ego boost lol.
I have never heard of Croaker but, after what you wrote, I want to know all about him.
Thanks so much for your comment.
Donna xx
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Lovely post
Characters that are flawed are more lovable or believable. Like the little grains of grit that make pearls.
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