Saturday, April 12, 2014

Word about Evil Characters

If you want to know how to write about evil, then you have to dance with it.  Writers may talk about characters, and discuss how evil is not real; that it is a construct of religion and morality and ethics, but for the purpose of writing, nothing suits us better than to explore this thing.

To dance with evil is to explore an area inside you, inside each of us all, that we all share.  What sets us humans apart from undomesticated animals is that we control our innate impulses.  Sociopaths may not have this tool. 

What is it that frightens you most?  It may different for each of us, and whether it is due to nature vs. nurture is beside the point.  We can talk about writing, or we can use words as tools, those colors of our palette, to reveal to ourselves what it is that we fear the most.

When you work at digging deep in the boneyard, then others will be drawn to your honesty.  Writers may be telling a story, but a tale that reveals the truth about ourselves rings true, like a bell. Others will see this as bravery.

Otherwise, we are writing on the surface of a lake, instead of diving into the dark depths.

Your antagonist should contain those things you fear.  Reveal to your reader your fears through the evil character. Your protagonist should fight those fears, win or lose.

Or not.



---willies out.




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