I absolutely love the Terra Cotta Warriors/Soldiers. Can you imagine what it took to create them? How was that done? How is each soldier created to be different from the one before and the one after - from the hundreds before and the thousands after? Who came up with the idea? Was it preparation to be immortal in the afterlife or to lament a life so soon over? Did the creators have any idea of their impact? Did they even think of that or was it just something all consuming at the time that they finished without ever realizing their own personal greatness and contributions to history? I think books are exactly the same. There are so many books, so many ideas and so many things to be said and done. Do we really believe that all the stories have been told and there is nothing left to say? Do we really believe all we have to offer is a new perception of similar experiences? Do we value what we have, what we are contributing to ourselves, our loved ones and unknown strangers both in our time and whatever comes next? I think we do ourselves a large injustice if we limit our thoughts to the self imposed boxes.
I am struggling with that in a character I want to write actually. I find with the dramatic fiction novels I can easily put myself into each character, hear their voice, represent their side - quite easily in fact. Protagonist- no problem. Antagonist - no problem - innocent and not so innocent victims? No problem. Minor characters - again, no problem. What I struggle with is being the really bad guy. It is absolutely not a moral issue - its more of a separation issue. I tend to feel each character as I write for them and while I am truly curious about the evil that happens within some humans, I obviously still hold some fear of being truly within their minds. Yet I am drawn to them - and have been for years. I have read every single book I could find on true persons of evil - I have read every forensic psychology book, every Katherine Ramsland book, Coroners journals, "Hunting Humans", "In the mind of a Murderer", Body Farm - you name it and find them interesting to read and do great character studies on. I have read all of Kathy Reichs to see how she does it - as well as Patricia Cornwell and while they have found their way, I am still struggling to find my own way to speak their voices. I'm not sure what my block is because I know writing about people who do evil things is exactly that - just writing. It doesn't mean because I have put it on paper I desire it to happen, or that my words will make something happen. Perhaps it is something as simple as me not being truly comfortable with pure evil - which I guess is a good thing. I know before I actually do any writing on this character - or even do research - I verbally and visually surround myself with walls of protection and ensure the boundaries are clear and that I am only writing this and do not want to attract this into my life. Yes I know.. it is all crazy to someone who doesn't write, but I am hoping by putting this out there, I can settle the unsettled within me and go on to write a loathsome character in a truly inspiring way. The challenge continues...
What is your challenge? What are you struggling with? How do you create separation from your characters? How do you live them long enough to write them, but not invade your personal space when they are alive in your own head? Give it some thought and let me know...
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