Character Sketches with Eccentricity

Today, I want to talk to you about ECCENTRICITY!! One of my favorite words, and one of the things that makes for memorable characters. So….sit back and get ready for a LOOONGER post than usual, but hopefully a fun one :-)


Modern day television shows have quite a few examples. Shows such as The Mentalist, Monk, Big Bang Theory, all play with eccentricity of characters. It adds humor and interest to who those characters are. They 'stand out' in the crowd.

As far as classics go, Dickens wrote all sorts of important eccentric characters.

So what does ‘eccentricity’ mean when referring to character development?

Extremes. Out of the ordinary. Fierce passions. Unusual mannerisms. Odd humor. Larger than Life.

In a word: Different.

Very few people point out the individuals who blend into the general masses. It’s the ones who don’t fit in that stand out in a crowd.

Scarlet O’Hara wasn’t like the other ladies – she had a fierce passion about her land…and herself. She had an eccentric drive to marry Ashley Wilkes. Why? I’m still trying to figure that one out, but her passion gave her a uniqueness.


Elizabeth Bennett stood out from her sisters because of her wit, intellect, and independence. She may not have appeared as ‘eccentric’ as someone like Edward Rochester from Jane Eyre, but the reader is drawn to her vibrant personality. It was ‘different’ from those around her.

So, the main point of writing eccentricity, is to make your character 'stand out' in some way or other. Different than the rest of the people on the page.
Well, my writing can’t compare to the classics, but I want to introduce you to some of my eccentric characters.

Here’s the paragraph synopsis of my novel Here To Stay.

Eisley Barrett is a single-mom of three, who has no intention of putting herself in jeopardy of heartbreak again. When her husband traded her in for a younger version, she determined to steer clear of romance unless it was safely tucked between the pages of a book. But when a gift from her parents sends her to England to research her ancestry, she runs face to face into a wounded heart’s worst nightmare, costume-drama actor Christopher Wesley Harrison. Will she be able to solve the 400 year old mystery of her ancestor without losing her heart in the process? And if romance is in the air, can it survive a culture clash, a devious ex-girlfriend, and an Appalachian family with loads of humorous plans of their own?

When Eisely started forming in my imagination, I went in search of a picture of her. The closest I could get was Amy Adams, and Amy's personality suits my Eisley character too, so I got a two-for-one special :-).

Now…my hero was A LOT easier. Already had him in mind before the story began. British heartthrob Richard Armitage.

‘Seeing’ the characters helps me when I write – but having a visual is not a necessary tool. If you pay attention to some of the classics, detailed physical descriptions are hardly given.

In more contemporary novels, Mary Connealy doesn’t do a lot of physical character descriptions, but still her characters are gripping – because she spends her time on what counts most. A character’s CHARACTER :-)

So – to get on with it…

Eisley is a hyperfriendly personality, who has a tendency to say whatever is on her mind. That can get her into trouble, but it can also be endearing. Her father is a lot worse. Larger than life. I LOOOOVE writing him.

Let me give you a few excerpts so you can see what I mean by adding eccentricity in small doses. This first scene is where Wes and Eisley are investigating a 16th century tower in search of clues to Eisley's ancestor.

Dust swirled into the gray-gold rays of morning light filtering in through the vine-draped windows. Three windows rounded this room, allowing more visibility, but there really wasn’t much more to see. A few sconces lined the walls, a cross shaped one and then two oval ones, but other than that…nothing, not even another doorway.


“It doesn’t seem right, does it?” Wes walked to one of the windows and peered out. “The tower appears taller than this, but there are no stairs.” He glanced up at the ceiling. “No attic door or ladder.”


Eisley searched again, crossing the room to stare out another window and then back at the near-vacant room. She fought the urge to stomp her foot like a four-year old. Disappointment was never welcome. “Do you think there’s a secret door or something?”


Wes shrugged. “Where would it be? The only thing in this room is a bookshelf, a fireplace, and a bed?”


Eisley studied the sconces and finally touched the cross-shaped one, the metal cool under her fingertips. “Well, sometimes if you turn a lever, it will open a secret door.”


“Did you get that idea from Indiana Jones?”


She grinned at Wes' crooked smile. “Actually I was thinking more along the lines of Scooby Doo, but Indiana Jones works too.”


"Sorry, I don’t have the magic of animation at my fingertips today. Do you think your ancestors from the 16th century knew those rules when building the tower?”


Eisley ignored the challenge in his lifted brow and tugged at the sconce. “You’re hilarious. Sure you’re ancestors weren’t from the jester line?” The sconce didn’t budge, so she tried to twist it. It loosened under her grip, inflaming her determination. She grabbed with both hands and POP. The sconce shot through the air an inch from Wes’ head, and imbedded itself in the wall beside the bookshelf.


Wes ducked just in time, his eyes wide.


“Oh goodness, Wes.” Eisley covered her mouth with her hand and ran to him. She could see the headlines now, 'Actor Christopher Wesley Harrison found dead in a 16th century tower. Clumsy American held responsible'.“I’m so sorry. I almost decapitated you.”


He threw up his hands in surrender. “I know that was the habit of the 16th century, but let’s not regress, shall we? I surrender. No more sarcasm.”


Eisley rolled her eyes and walked passed him, lightly punching him on the arm. Maybe she could be just friends with this guy. Maybe all this attraction would just disappear if she ignored it long enough. “Don’t loose your head, cutie, I wasn’t aimin’ for you.” \

The sconce stuck out from the wall? Eisley leaned closer. Or the bookshelf? How did it get stuck in a rock wall? She fisted it and tried to wiggle it free, but it was wedged. 

 “Eisley, do you feel that?” Wes was beside of her, his voice by her ear. Close.


“What?”


He took her hand and placed it just above the spotwhere the sconce disappeared between the bookshelf and the wall. Frigid air cooled her palm. Wes’ gaze locked with hers.

“The air…it’s coming from somewhere.”


“Exactly.” His face was inches from hers, lips tilted even closer. Her eyes flickered down to them and back up. Heat crept into her face and her breath must have gotten caught in her throat somewhere, because it wasn't making it into her lungs. Friends? Maybe not.


Wes wedged his fingers behind the bookshelf and pushed, then pulled. After the third attempt, the click of a latch released and a crunching noise followed by another loud click. The shelf creaked forward to reveal another set of stairs.

A subtle way Eisley is eccentric is her wide-eyed wonder. The fact that she’d think ‘Scooby Doo’ instead of ‘Agatha Christie’ is a bit of characterization through eccentricity. Plus, her internal dialogue brings out her innocence and struggle.

Okay – here’s one of my favorite characters. Eisley’s dad – a mountain man who is determined to protect his daughter’s heart from another jerk…so Wes gets put to the Daddy-test :-)


Here is Wes and Nate’s first meeting and then another small excerpt to give you a little of Eisley’s mom’s personality too :-) Btw, I see Nate as an older Jon Hamm and her mom, Kay, as Michelle Pfieffer. It helps with description, plus when you see the characters acting, it gives great ideas for describing their movements.


He stood about an inch above Wes, his hair a medium brown, and his body boasted hard labor from one massive shoulder to the other. A tennis ball sized lump gathered in Wes’ throat, but he squared his own shoulders and offered his most charming smile. Or at least he hoped it was charming. It felt a bit stiff at the moment.


“Nate Jenkins.” The man extended his hand and gripped Wes’ in an iron hold. “I gotta bone to pick with you, boy.”


Wes stuttered. “Pardon me?”


“How dare you bring some Ford pickup truck up my driveway? Don’t you know that’s almost criminal? We’re Chevy people ‘round here.”


Wes hoped for comprehension, but Ford and Chevy strung between the word driveway left him at a loss, and the half-furious look on Nate Jenkins’ face didn’t help.


“Don’t’ mind him, Wes. He’s just territorial.” A petite woman, light hair curled up in a bun and pale blue eyes glowing, stepped forward and took his hand, her smile as welcoming as Nate Jenkins’ frown was discomforting. “We’re real pleased to have you here. I’m Kay Jenkins.”


“It’s a pleasure, and thank you for allowing me to stay with you.”


Nate’s grin lifted, viciously. “Best way to keep your eyes on your enemy, ya know.”


Wes met the challenge, their gazes locked for a few seconds. “Well, I don’t suppose you have any enemies within close proximity at present, Mr. Jenkins.” Wes felt his smile tilt and the corner of Nate’s moustache twitched.


“Mr. Jenkins? Oh naw, you can’t go ‘round callin’ me that. Only my wife can call me Mr. Jenkins.”


Kay rolled her eyes and produced an apologetic grin.


“Hey, daddy, did you see how the dogs took to him.” Emma knelt down and ran her fingers through the retriever’s golden fur, her smile still in place. “You always say dogs know a good person when they see one.”


Nate jolted Wes entire body with a firm pat to his shoulder. “Even dog’s can have an off day, huh Wes?” Nate shook from laughter and pointed to the three younger men scattered nearby. “We was just fixin’ to start up a game of football, now that everyone’s here ‘cept Eisley. We didn’t tell her to come ‘til 12:30 to make sure you’d get here first, so you got…hmm…’bout an hour.” Nate’s expression turned lethal. “Lots can happen in an hour, can’t it, boy?”


Wes hoped Nate didn’t notice the tension in his smile. He’d never appreciated his acting lessons so much.


“Don’t you worry, Wes.” Kay patted his arm and whispered. “He’s not as mean as he looks.”

*** (here is a quick discussion about football later in the scene)***

“It seems in soccer one mostly uses ones…feet, thus the reason why the British refer to it as football. From my limited experience, in American football one tends to use one’s hands for the most part.”


“Naw, naw.” Nate shook his head and steadied his hand on Wes’ shoulder. “Football’s all about strategy.” He pointed to his forehead and then chopped the air with his hand. “You use your brain to really get the job done right.”


“And a few three hundred pound linebackers help too.” Greg started off at a run to catch the football from Brice.


“Similar to rugby, but I notice you throw the ball forward, not back? In rugby, a forward throw is illegal.”


“Boy, this ain’t rugby…this is football.” Nate spoke with the conviction of a preacher.


“Be nice, Daddy.” Emma called from the veranda with Kay sitting beside her on the steps. “He’s not used to your way of playing.”


Nate’s head jerked up and he patted his chest. “Nice? I’m always nice.” He looked at Wes. “You just ask my little wifey over there. I gotta heart of gold, right honey?”


Kay looked up. “Did you say as hard as gold?”


“Humpf!”

YOUR TURN – how are your characters eccentric? Maybe everyone else in your novel is eccentric except your hero or heroine (which would make them the ‘different’ one). Got any examples? Quirks are good too. Eisley talks with her hands when she’s nervous – to the point of knocking stuff over.

What's Up the Street For Next Week?

Characters!
The heartbeat of a great story.
You know it's true. It's those characters you thought about long after you closed the book. The ones you wished you could be like, or hoped you'd never meet, or daydreamed about. Yep, those characters.

Well, The Writers Alley wants to give you a glimpse at some of the characters we're working to create, and we don't want you just to read about them, but we want you to see the 'pictures' of what we have in mind when we write them. We're going to call it A WEEK of CHARACTER SKETCHES.

Remember, it takes all types of characters to create books. Some stories are made up of an all-star cast, others have a few who really grip your heart, but the main focus is the people who are 'telling' the story. The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly.

Sometimes a picture comes to your mind with one name:
Scarlett
Rhett
Mr. Darcy
Dirty Harry
Indiana Jones
Hamlet
Juliet
Heathcliffe

So this week, step into our stories and see some of the characters we envision as we write - and get to know us a little better too :-)

Monday - Pepper is trying to choose between three book ideas to introduce to you, but she thinks she's narrowed it down to two. A single mom who is running away from the possibility of heartbreak with a British actor who hides a secret past. OR A rookie professor with a desire to leave Applachia forever must prove herself by reforming a widowed mountain man, but will she be changed in the process?

Tuesday - Castles, disguises, swordplay, and romance fill the air when Sherrinda introduces you to her cast of characters. With a medieval story where the heroine must dress as a squire to be safe, but then ends up falling in love with the man she serves, you're bound to discover some strong-willed characters and a delightful story.

Wednesday - Get ready to have Sherlock Holmes goes to high school in a YA novel with adventure, humor, and a little bit of sleuthing along the way. Mary leads us on a journey inside her brand new wip and the characters who make up this tale.

Thursday - Casey takes us into a contemporary world of intrigue and secrets, with her women's fiction novel characters.  A marriage on the brink, a love-child from another relationship, and a mysterious woman who binds all the secrets together. Oooh, sounds good, so drop by and find out more.

Friday - One word: Sandwiches. What do you do when you're not looking for romance, but end up crammed between two possibilities? With her usual romance and laughter, Krista introduces us to her novel about a young woman who is sandwiched between her boss and his conniving fiancee. How will she survive this feast on her profession with her job and heart intact?

Saturday - Welcome author Lena Nelson Dooley takes us on a journey through her publishing experience, up to her newest release JUST LAST MONTH – Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico


Sidewalk Talk


HOLD ON TO YOUR STETSON – Mary Connealy starts off July with a visit to The Writers Alley on July 3rd AND she's giving away her BRAND NEW BOOK Doctors in Petticoats. Make sure you stop by for your chance to win.

July 10 - Welcome Author Vickie McDonough as she discusses writing a male point of view.

July 17 - Kathleen Y'Barbo teaches us the imporance of adding the five senses to our writing.

July 24 - Join Shawna Williams as she discusses e-publishing and her writing journey.

July 31 - Big hats and corsets? Donna Winters drops by to chat about women's fashion from 1900-1905.

THE NEWSTAND

For the month of June, Pepper will have a Blog Series called “Sizzling First Encounters” on her personal blog at http://www.pepperbasham.wordpress.com/

Some of your favorite authors will answer the question, “What do you think makes a great cute-meet between hero/heroine?”, then provide a scene from one of their books to prove it. This week featured authors are Mary Connealy, Melanie Dickerson, Colleen Coble, and Julie Lessman.

Special Guest Saturday: Michelle Sutton and "Edgy" Fiction!

Why I Write Edgy Fiction

by Michelle Sutton

If you look up the three separate words that make up the name of my blog you will find definitions that go something like this…

Edgy - daringly innovative; on the cutting edge



Inspirational - imparting a divine influence on the mind and soul



Author - a person who writes a novel; composer of a literary work



The reason I refer to myself as the Edgy Inspirational Author and set up a blog dedicated to book reviews and giveaways with that title has to do with how well the combined definitions describe my heart for fiction.

I want to be daringly innovative and on the cutting edge when it comes to plotting and characterization. I believe the stories I write are inspired by the Lord imparting a divine influence on my mind. In other words, God always gives me a burden to write about a particular subject and I also believe He has called me to be very realistic with what I present to my readers. Last, I am an author, which is obviously a person who writes a novel.

What does this mean in a practical sense? First, I like to surprise my readers by having them think the story is going in one direction, then throw them off course and send them in a different direction. This tends to keep people guessing and reading to find out what's going to happen next. I also like to dangle a little carrot at the end of the majority of the chapters to make the reader want to continue on. I don't want people to set my books down because then they might miss out on the redemption themes in the story.

When I wrote my YA novels they were actually written as contemporary fiction for adults. My publisher and I have decided that since the majority of my readers are adults, we will re-release the two YA books in an adult series next spring. So the two characters who adopt the baby in It's Not About Him will get their own book, which actually preceded It's Not About Me when it was originally written.

To give you an idea of what this story (Letting Go, Healing Hearts, book 1) is about, I'll give you a snapshot of each main character. Diane is a lawyer who advocates for children in court. Her problem is that she is too beautiful and her upbringing as a child beauty pageant contestant taught her how to get the attention of men. Unfortunately, the men she tends to attract are already taken and just cheating with her. She doesn't want to be the other woman; she wants to be loved for who she is. So she gives up on romance and trying to please men.

Along comes Dave, a gorgeous, but sterile man who plans to adopt a foster child (toddler), and when the birth mother shows up and wants her son back, Dave goes into a full blown panic. To make matters worse, the child's case worker doesn't seem to like him and wants to rip his foster son from the only home he knows. So Dave hires Diane to help him keep his foster son and that's where the romance begins. I won't say any more because I want everyone to read the book. : )

My latest release, Never Without Hope, is my edgiest book of all. It's about a Christian woman whose husband is ignoring her in the bedroom, which begins eroding her self-esteem. Lonely and hurting, she is vulnerable to temptation and does the unthinkable when a younger man who shows interest in her comes along. But her heart is still longing for her husband.

The more she sees this new man, the more confused she gets. She becomes trapped in the sticky web of adultery and knows she must come clean, but when she does, her life blows up in her face and she risks losing everyone she cares about. This book contains quite a few sexual situations because the story revolves around sex in marriage and the damage that can be caused when one spouse neglects the other in bed. The Bible cautions against that "lest the one person cause the other to stray." My novel shows how with God involved in the healing process, married couples are never without hope.

The subject matter (marital unfaithfulness) is all too common in the church, yet no one wants to talk about it. God placed a burden on my heart to write this novel to help hurting couples, so I know He will accomplish this. However, if I had ignored the nudge from God to write this book, I can't help but wonder what the results would be. So far several marriages have been healed as a result of people reading this novel, and I'm sure there will be many more to come. With God, nothing is ever wasted. Because of this, I don't ever want to be too afraid to do what I know He wants, regardless of what other people might think.

That is, in a nutshell, why I write edgy Christian fiction. : )

The Romantic Times review for Never Without Hope~ 4 stars!!

Sutton's move into fiction for adults is packed with drama. This timely, relevant message about sex and sexual sin involving married people is quite edgy and not for those looking for a sweet romance. The realism is gritty, but ultimately uplifting and incredibly significant for the world we live in today.

Summary: Hope loves her husband and is content with her life. Yet when things begin to go wrong in the bedroom, she becomes more and more frustrated. Her husband shuts her out emotionally and physically. Though Hope never thought she would stray from her marriage, she give into temptation. Is there any possibility for redemption in her marriage?

If you are interested in this novel and wish to cash in on a great deal, Michelle is running a special until June 15th. Buy her latest book, Never Without Hope and get free shipping. Buy two copies of the book and get it for only $25. Email Michelle at: michelle@michellesutton.net

Spectacular Settings: Avoiding bare walls and 3-sided houses

It never fails.

Except for the occasional low marks for "is this appropriate for the CBA market" (I don't call my books edgy, but they are more so than some) my lowest contest scores are for setting and/or sensory details.

I've tried to analyze why I evidently struggle with this and have come to a few conclusions.

• I dislike books with too much details. I really don't care what hue the grass is, and need a paragraph describing the details of the room the character just stepped into, because well, *yawn*. So, in my own books, I tend to overcompensate and use too little detail sometimes, which can be just as bad!
  
• I am an action kinda girl. I focus a lot of what is going on. I love dialogue, so the descriptions are something I have to work a lot harder at.
• I'm naturally an "overlooker." Funny story. My husband gets irritated that I *ahem* sometimes forget to close a cabinet door in the kitchen. A few years ago, we all sat down for dinner one night, and I had to get up, walk through the kitchen, and get something out of the garage (can't remember what, go figure!) Anyway, I walked back in, walked through the kitchen, and sat at the table again. My husband sat there dumbfounded. I asked him what his problem was, and his mouth quirked to the side, and he said, "You really just don't notice it, do you?" Then he simply got up, went into the kitchen, and proceeded to close every kitchen cabinet and drawer. He had gotten up while I was in the garage and opened EVERY SINGLE ONE of them, wide as can be, just to see if I would notice. I failed his test, as it didn't even phase me. Some may call this scatterbrained, I choose to call it focused on my task:-)

So, what is a girl to do who tends to breeze over sensory details? Who LOVES a good dialogue and rolls her eyes at flowery descriptions of settings?

First, I realize that it's okay ... to a point. My books will never be lyrical ones that make someone intake their breath at the awe of the setting. They will appeal to those who like faster paced romance novels.

Second, I admit I have a problem. Knowing this is an area I'll always struggle with is important, as I can put extra attention on it during the editing process.

Third, and what I'm going to focus on today, is I equip myself with tools. At my heart, I'm a visually learner. I can describe something much better when I'm looking at it. Once I see it, I can then close my eyes and picture it. But if I haven't seen it, it's fuzzy at best.

Oh, wait, before I give you my tools, another funny note (I love funny stories, SORRY!) The other day, I was writing a scene in my WIP and trying to visualize the room, with not a lot of luck. I tried to draw it out on paper, and I realized quickly what was missing.

A wall.

That's right, my heroine's house had only 3 walls. Kinda like a TV sitcom set. I'd set it up so I could see it in my head, but if I turned around... all I saw was ... the reader (aka audience.) It was also then that I realized the house I was picturing in my head was really the one from Everybody Loves Raymond... Remember that show? Hilarious! Anyway, I digress ... I'd never realized I'd fashioned my heroine's home that way!

Okay, back to my point.

Here are a few tools that might help you fill those walls and have a complete, 4-sided house.

1. Real-Estate. I've started to go online, usually in the area of where my setting is, and search for houses for sale. Not that I'm going to buy my character a house (wouldn't that be hilarious?) but using a real house as a mock-up is SO helpful. Not only can you see what "normal" houses are like for that area, but you can also find one with a decor that would fit your character and save the pictures you find online for use later when you are trying to visualize and add descriptions for your setting. *Note* Don't do what I did the first time and bookmark the page. Houses do sell occasionally ya know! Instead, right click and save the pics into a folder for your WIP. Some good websites are: realtor.com or your local real-estate agent's website. Here in TN we have realtracs.com which I use a lot.
2. Maps. Not just any ol' map, though. We live in a techno age where we can get satellite maps that go right down to a curb-side view sometimes. Scary, I can see my van parked in front of my house on google maps! This works great for helping you visualize your town, especially if you don't live near it and need to figure out what exactly is between the pizza parlor and the gas station. Even if you are using a fictional town, sometimes using a real town as a guideline is helpful too and can save some time and effort:-) Google Earth is also a good resource for this.
   
3. Zillow. Similar to above, but I love Zillow because it will give you a TON of information on houses including a map and some information about the communities. Depending on the area, you can even find out what houses have sold for to give you an idea of if your character could really afford that 4 bedroom in the suburbs.
   
4. SHOPPING. I don't do a lot of shopping online for my family, however I DO shop online for my characters. If I need a fun outfit that I'm having trouble visualizing, I might go to macys.com, kohls.com or any other department store online and pick something out. Having a picture of the outfit my character is wearing sometimes helps me be able to describe him/her better. Or, I might need some cool home decor, so furniture stores online are great places to scope it out (roomstogo.com or ashleyfurniture.com ... just to name a few.)
5. Take a Drive. Sometimes, when all else fails, get in the car and drive around. Be intentional about taking in the scenery, looking at landscape designs, picking out what your character's tastes would be. For me, I have to have this be my focus in order to take it in, as I rarely do if I'm driving around to "do" something else.
   

So what about you? Are you one that takes note of every detail, or are you an "overlooker" like myself? Regardless, what do you do to ground yourself in a setting and relay that to your reader without making them yawn?

Creating Compelling Villian and Hero Final Moments

One of my favorite movies of all time is First Knight starring Richard Gere, Sean Connery and Julie Ormond. And as I was watching this movie a couple of weeks ago, I got to thinking about creating villains, and creating villains that perfectly compliment the hero. You might be scratching your head over that one, but read on and I will explain.

First let's look at the hero. We want a hero that is strong, moral, has his weaknesses, but in those weaknesses, he can find his strength.  He isn't perfect by any means, but usually has a bravado to cover for what he can't do. And he must be handsome (okay, maybe I just threw that in because I wanted to ; )

Now the villain, must posses the exact same qualities, but with exact opposite reason and intent. He needs to be everything the hero is, but with the obvious evil that sets him apart.

 In First Knight, Richard Gere plays Lancelot, a gypsy sword fighter that fights for money. He loves no one and is the best sword fighter within miles of his sword tip. In some ways he is reckless, merely living life with no apparent reason to live, one of his first lines in teaching a rookie about sword fighting is: "You have to not care whether you live or die." And that is Lancelot.

Malagant  is his arch enemy, though Lancelot has yet to know that. Malagant  wants Camelot, wants to defeat King Arthur and at first the viewer thinks that the movie will be about King Arthur defeating Malagant, but when Lancelot sets his sights on Lady Geneviere (Julia Ormond),  he suddenly has something to live for. Something to fight for. And Malagant, who wants Lady Geneviere's country, becomes the arch enemy of Lancelot

Malagant, to make him the perfect enemy to Lancelot, is his perfect match, if not better than Lancelot. He has the speed and ability of superb sword fighting. The determination and the reason to fight. He wants Camelot, that is his motivation. And every villain, like the hero needs a motivation and a reason to fight.

Lancelot has a motivation, to protect Lady Geneviere. And he does time and time again, putting his own life on the line to rescue her, going up against Malagant for her safety.

Now I could go on and on about the other reason that play into this movie, but for right now I want to just focus on the hero and villain's final fight.

This fight needs to be the strongest battle of the novel or movie. But before you can get to the final fight, you must see the villain and hero's tendencies. All throughout the movie we see Malagant and his vicious tactics at fighting. It is brutal and bloody, he cares not what harm he leaves in the swath of his path.

But we also see Lancelot and his fighting abilities. He fights with honor and purpose. He fights with the ability to beat everyone he comes into contact with strength and determination. No fight is left untouched by his abilities. But the one fight that is conspicuously absent is the clash between villain and hero and the viewer waits for it with baited breath. They have been set up through the entire movie and know that the fight between Lancelot and Malagant is inevitable.

And that is very important for the author to remember. To create a compelling villain/hero fight, you must show their tendencies, both weak and strong so the reader will be fulling prepared for that final moment.

Creating that final moment must be breathtaking. It must never slow on pace. It must never let the viewer or reader take a full breath until the villain has been vanquished.

So how do you create it? Here is what I observed from the First Knight.

A stunning beginning. Malagant rides in and threatens to kill Arther and burn down the city of Camelot. The fight ensues with Arther commanding his people to never surrender.

Lancelot grabs up a sword, but he does not rush at Malagant. That would be too soon. The final battle must be drawn out just a bit longer, or it will feel too rushed. He fights those around him, first with a flag pole and then a sword. Leaving a swath of destruction behind him. We see he is strong and in his prime.

But one glance to the right and so is Malagant. And then. Then they see each other and both instantly know that the moment has come. Their swords clang, but something comes between them, driving them apart.

Again prolong the fight a bit longer for dramatic effect, but too long and your reader will start to skim to reach the next turn. Malagant shoves someone aside and the two rush at each other again. They are even, exchanging blow for blow. Both dancing away from danger, only to lunge forward again.

Now here is another great moment in the hero/villain fight. The hero must be hurt. He must be rendered in pain is some way, but not life threatening. The reader can't breathe at this point, all is surely lost. The villain leaps forward to take the final plunge on the fallen victim. And then. Then this is the moment when the hero must dig deep and become stronger than the villain.

In First Knight, it is when Lancelot sees and grabs the King Arther sword, in Christian fiction, it is when the hero or heroine calls out to God and begs for help. The hero needs a salvation, the hero needs something stronger that the villain cannot beat, but it must be realistic to the reader or they will become frustrated. In First Knight the viewer cheers when Lancelot grabs up the sword and becomes invincible, we have seen the strength and power of Arther and Lancelots' respect for each other and their swords fighting.

In Christian fiction, the heroine or hero needs to have been led down the inevitable path that calling out to God is the only option, the most viable option.

This moment is the turning point. No matter what injury, the hero can prevail. Take the upper hand and defeat evil.

This moment is the moment the reader has been longing for, cheering for and it must be perfectly matched, so let's go back and do a quick revision.

~The hero and villain must share the same abilities and to a certain extent the same values, but don't take this too far. One for good, the other for evil.
~They both must have a compelling reason to fight later on, prolong that fight for as long as possible
~When that final moment reaches a head, don't jump right in. Throw in drama wherever you can during the fight, prolonging that clash, but don't take too long. Run on instinct here.
~The hero needs to be wounded by the villain, the moment where everything seems lost
~But the hero cries out, digs deep and comes out stronger, defeating the villain

This moment does not have to be just in action books or movies. It can be in the character driven novels, the battle between good and evil for a person's soul. That is the greatest fight of all.

But no matter the fight, these steps will need to be implemented to create that perfect clash that will leave your reader breathless. And by the way, it doesn't hurt to have two handsome heroes battling for the same heroine's affection, drives up the action and stakes even higher. : )

Okay, maybe I said that so I could include this picture, I just love it. : )

So, do you have a strong hero and villain conclusion? I would love to hear about it. : )

Juggling Summer Days and Writing

Summer has come, life changes. Kids are home. Vacations and weddings are around the corner. Daily routines shift. How will you manage writing this summer?






AND THE TOP TEN LIST IS............DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....


10. ORGANIZE: This has earned the fine distinction of number ten because it’s one of those jobs writers hate. Ever wonder why movies depict authors/writers sitting in a room filled with stacks of papers and shelves of books?

9. DUE FIRST: When in doubt, do what is due first. When feeling lazy, Do What Is Due First. When uninspired, DO WHAT IS DUE FIRST.

8. BIC: This is not a pen. Butt In Chair. Flittering distractions yank us from our train of thought, assist us in sensing the need to call Aunt Josephine who lives in Siberia even though you haven’t spoken to her in 37 ½ years, motivate us to check facebook or email for the tenth time in the last hour, or invigorate us to do ANYTHING except finish the last sentence of that chapter.

7. REWARD: Set up quality rewards when completing designated portions of your WIP. Go ahead. Give yourself a reward—not because you deserve it—but because it will inspire you.


6. LISTEN: Set times to be away from your WIP. Go to a park, coffee shop, or the mall. Sit back and listen to the people around you. What do they say? What inflections are used? What don’t they say? Here is my favorite example: One afternoon, while sitting in my dining room the neighbor children came out to play. Three-year-old Henry announced to the other children, “OK, let’s take turns. Everyone behind me."

5. CHORES: Take time to do daily chores. When the laundry is done, the grass mowed, or the dog walked you'll feel more freedom to write.

4. PLAY: Who says you’re too old to play? Find a partner, whether young or old, and play a game. Interested in basketball or bike riding; care to climb a tree, play a board game, or the piano? Playing stirs the creative side of the brain.


3. READ: Try a new genre this summer. It might be like taking medicine, but you may survive. Step out of the lines: read a comic, a picture book, something nonfiction, or what about Shakespeare, Unger, or Asimov? Read a chapter book with a child and hold a book talk. You might be surprised what they say.

2. LAUGH, CRY, and SING: Hermits are allowed to express themselves, although it works better with a friend or family member. Did you know the Bible says God laughs, cries, and sings? Zephaniah 3:17 states: The Lord your God in your midst is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over you with singing. (I can’t wait to hear Him sing in heaven!) To experience life is to acquire reality for our writing.


1. BUDGET: Work in a regular time with God, everyday. The more time invested in a relationship with God, the more you will produce what God has called you to do. You shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth fruit in season. Psalm 1:3

What fun ideas do you have planned for this summer? How will you gleam kernels of truth, humor, and quotables to use in your future writings? What would you like to complete this summer?

The Anti-Hero: Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

Ahhh, the Anti-Hero. Some of you may be wondering what exactly IS an Anti-Hero. Well, I'm here to explain.

Here's a definition of an Anti-Hero: An antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis. 


Basically, an antihero is an amoral person who does some good...sometimes. 


In one definition, the appeal of the antihero is that he or she is often a HERO. Namely, he or she does what we wish we could. Where superheroes like Superman and Wonderwoman do it because they lack the physical limitations we do, an antihero does it because he lacks the moral limitations. Very often these antiheroes end up stealing the show. Sometimes you love them, sometimes you hate them.


Let me give you some examples from FILM:

• Captain Jack Sparrow, in Pirates of the Caribbean: Sure, he ends up making right decisions for the most part, but he is a law breaker, a drunk, and for the most part amoral.
• Han Solo, in Star Wars: He is a rebel, a loner, and out for himself. In direct contrast to Luke Skywalker, the hero and "all that is good".
• Batman, in The Dark Knight: While his intentions are good, his methods leave something to be desired. He is willing to break the law to accomplish what he wants.
• Clint Eastwood, in just about every movie he's ever made: He's the kind of guy who is not afraid to duel and pull the trigger first.

Examples from literature:

• The Dark Towers, by Stephen King: Roland puts his quest for the Dark Towers above the lives of his friends. 
• Sherlock Holmes has been known to commit a few crimes to solve his mysteries. He even does cocaine on occasion.
•  Severus Snape, in Harry Potter. Has ties to the Dark Lord, dislikes Harry and yet does good at times.
• Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, Edmond Dantes in The Conte of Monte Cristo

Examples from TV:

• Dr. Gregory House, House MD
• Timothy Riggins, in Friday Night Lights: Hometown Hero on the field who always chooses wrong from right, drinks, and basically is a trouble maker. But everyone likes him because he has a good heart and can put on a charming face.
• Jack on 24: Not afraid to break the law to do what he needs to do.
• Angel on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Oh, there's more, I assure you. In fact, I got almost all these examples from TVTROPES. Check their site out for many more examples from various genres.

So, were you surprised to see some of your favorite characters portrayed as an Anti-Hero? I was. Hans Solo...sigh...I loved him more than Luke. It was that blustery, rebel attitude that really drew me in. In my mind, Han was the true hero.

In my current book, I have two villains. Evil, they are. There is no hero material in them at all. But I think in my next book, I may have to give the Anti-Hero a try. 

How about you? Has you ever written an Anti-Hero? What did you love about him/her? What did you hate? 


Sherrinda