Cathartic Characters

I think all writers have a guilty pleasure. You’ve seen quotes like this one, right?

“Be careful what you say to a writer. You might end up killed in their book.”

Why, yes, I will eviscerate you in fiction. If you cross me, I will find a way to give your character a horrific and satisfying end. Cathartic characters are like therapy.

The first time I did it, I named a fantasy character Wratt after being aggravated by too many guys named Matt. A friend even delighted in the creation because she, too, had a Matt she wanted eviscerated in fiction. (A side note to any Matts I know: no, this is not you. This person has been out of my life for a very very long time).

But there is also the opposite.

I have had a set of characters named after friends. All siblings in the same family, their dynamics came into play as absurd and childish antics. I only managed to kill one of them–and the plot demanded it. Seriously. It wasn’t that I put this person in and then wanted to kill them off because the friendship soured or anything. The plot just arced that way O.o

Once upon a time, a coworker grated on me with just her presence. I could not stand her. Not could anyone else, honestly. But I had a thought that maybe I could have a character like this: overly polite to compensate for being quite dim–but given a kick-ass twist when all cards had to be in play. Kind of a wish fulfillment that I hoped that this person would live up to the potential that their backstory they provided offered my imagination.

What about you? Have you ever planned to slip someone into your narrative? Good intentions or bad intentions?

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