You Hate Me! You Really, Really Hate Me!
As I've mentioned, I'm on a writing hiatus.
(I'll repeat this often, more for my own personal reminder than for your benefit. You've been warned.)
That hasn't stopped me from thinking about Cougarette #3, especially when it comes to the development of the three new characters I'll introduce in the book. One character in particular is not what I'd categorize as an antagonist...but the character is, shall we say, slightly antagonistic.
I'll be honest: creating a villainous persona is one of my biggest challenges as a writer (which is precisely why I need to do it more often). When I created Felicity Hunter in The Cougarette, for example, I struggled with the task a bit. I like bitches but she was a straight up See You Next Tuesday, for real. The night I wrote the first draft of her climactic confrontation with CeeCee in the boardroom, I felt CeeCee's tears, envy and pain. I wanted to tear Felicity's weave out. I hated her, I still hate her...but she was pivotal for the book to end the way it did. Felicity was required and I thank the skank for her contribution. *tips hat*
This time around, I am trying to build a character that my readers by and large will not like. I know this because I know (and love!) my readers. My struggle will be my innate need to infuse sympathy for this character because I really feel sorry for them. I'm trying to figure out why this is an issue for me. Am I afraid that my readers will spend at least half of the book stewing in anger while reading about this person? Is that really a bad thing? Writing should evoke emotion, right?
But how much is too much emotion when it is a negative one?
So come May 1st, when I dust off my brain and begin the obligatory shitty first draft of Cougarette #3, I am going to challenge myself. I am going to write this character organically. I am not going to infuse likeable characteristics unless they truly fit him/her. I am going to give you - the reader - a true portrait of an antagonistic character. I won't shortchange you.
Just promise me you'll keep reading when all you want to do is send me a nasty Tweet about how much you hate this person - because you are GOING to hate this person.
(I'll repeat this often, more for my own personal reminder than for your benefit. You've been warned.)
That hasn't stopped me from thinking about Cougarette #3, especially when it comes to the development of the three new characters I'll introduce in the book. One character in particular is not what I'd categorize as an antagonist...but the character is, shall we say, slightly antagonistic.
I'll be honest: creating a villainous persona is one of my biggest challenges as a writer (which is precisely why I need to do it more often). When I created Felicity Hunter in The Cougarette, for example, I struggled with the task a bit. I like bitches but she was a straight up See You Next Tuesday, for real. The night I wrote the first draft of her climactic confrontation with CeeCee in the boardroom, I felt CeeCee's tears, envy and pain. I wanted to tear Felicity's weave out. I hated her, I still hate her...but she was pivotal for the book to end the way it did. Felicity was required and I thank the skank for her contribution. *tips hat*
This time around, I am trying to build a character that my readers by and large will not like. I know this because I know (and love!) my readers. My struggle will be my innate need to infuse sympathy for this character because I really feel sorry for them. I'm trying to figure out why this is an issue for me. Am I afraid that my readers will spend at least half of the book stewing in anger while reading about this person? Is that really a bad thing? Writing should evoke emotion, right?
But how much is too much emotion when it is a negative one?
So come May 1st, when I dust off my brain and begin the obligatory shitty first draft of Cougarette #3, I am going to challenge myself. I am going to write this character organically. I am not going to infuse likeable characteristics unless they truly fit him/her. I am going to give you - the reader - a true portrait of an antagonistic character. I won't shortchange you.
Just promise me you'll keep reading when all you want to do is send me a nasty Tweet about how much you hate this person - because you are GOING to hate this person.
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message 1:
by
Dana
(new)
Mar 02, 2015 11:25AM
Dammnit, You and this hiatus, mane!
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