GOOD GUY, BAD GUY

What a writer conundrum! There is always a good guy and a bad guy in a story. It’s all about how they evolve that makes the story hold a reader like a lover. But honestly, how many times has the bad guy or the good guy (or gal) in a story read like a flat caricature? A moving manikin? A bad actor in a pretty okay movie? Don’t’cha hate when that happens? Especially when the novel’s description really captured your attention and made you want to devour the book.

Good guys that are too good make me cringe. Like Superman. Seriously? That guy needs a flaw or two. He needs a dirty secret, a hidden fetish, maybe a drug dealing best friend, you know? Even in the most extreme stories, superheroes are way more interesting when they show the hidden chinks in their armor. It’s the difference between, “Meh?” and “Oh my!”

Okay, that was a rant. I just set aside three books in a row that made me mad as hell, and/or bored me to tears. All writers have their own style, I understand that. Character development seems to have either fallen off the truck bed, or been taken over by story action. Can’t have true character growth without a good story, and we can’t be leaving that character trapped in an ice block in sacrifice to story. Two sides of the same coin. At least that’s my feelings on the subject.

I have a favorite author. Loved, loved, loved his first three books in the series, then in the next book, he suddenly shifted into third person and told three separate story arcs in one book. Maybe he had a plan. Maybe he wanted us to fall in love with these other characters so he could start new series books for them. Whatever. This was not his normal style. Not bad, mind you, just not what I was expecting or looking forward to. It took me months and months to push myself through that book, but luckily, the fifth in his series returned to his original first-person style.

It’s not that I prefer to read (or write) in the first person. It’s just that I love that particular first-person focused character. The snarky, smart-mouthed, funny, and wonderfully thoughtful guy out there doing his dangerous, thrilling work. He’s flawed, screws up, even miscalculates often and his inner dialog during these events make the whole story wonderful and compelling. I was so happy to have him back. Not just because I was used to that presentation of the character and stories, but because I adore the deep internal power of that guy.

The deep internal power of a character really floats my boat. It’s the reason I love reading deep third person. The reason I am focused on writing deep third like a pro. I honestly believe that deep third is the road to strong character development that integrates great storytelling.

But the first goal when writing multidimensional characters that develop during a strong story, is to steer clear of the caricature conundrum. There are a million ways to do that. I’m a people watcher. I like to imagine what’s going on behind that old man’s eyes. What’s rattling in that waitress’s brain. Why that woman’s brow is wrinkled, and how’s that kid’s planning to get back at dad for taking away his toy. I like to imagine how that guy got the scar on his face. If the delivery man loves or hates his job. What his family is like at home, or if he even has a family. Maybe he makes cutout dolls of the family he wishes he had.

Writing well, I believe, has everything do to with observing well. It’s why I carry a notebook everywhere. There’s sure to be a snippet of dialog or facial expression that will work perfectly for my character in the next chapter.

Ever watched a dog and imagined what that cavapoo is thinking? Fun, huh? That’s kind of what we do with our characters, especially before they become whole people and dominate our lives. There’s that magical point where you put a thought into your character’s head and he says, point blank, “No!” That’s when I’m ready to write that guy. He’s ready to live and breath and make the story idea better. It’s all hand in hand. One and the same, and important.  He’ll be himself, fail, succeed, screw-up, and make dangerous choices. He will be whole. He will develop and grow.

We want to witness WHOLE characters that continually evolve. We want to write (and read) amazing characters in amazing stories. So… that’s my completely unauthorized writing advice. What’s yours? How do you write growing, evolving characters your readers adore?