I was talking to our barista the other day, and somehow the conversation came around to bucket lists. One of the items on her list is to see a herd of wild horses running across a field. I don’t know why, but that just seemed so random to me. Never in a million years would I have thought of that as a bucket list item.
Then last night I watched a news special report on the BTK Killer, who, to all who knew him, just appeared to be the most normal neighbor and co-worker. It was as though he was a random selection by nature to be this ghastly serial killer.
Now the reason I mentioned those two “random” thoughts is because, as a creative writer, I am always creating characters, giving them personalities, making them come alive in some sort of realistic fashion, and those two examples remind me that truth is often stranger than fiction, and I really do have the freedom to expand my thinking when I’m creating a “person” in a book.
I’m not sure if it is terribly important that a character be “believable” compared to my logical world; what I do believe is that we make that character someone we can invest emotional currency in. In my Shadow series I have a character named Striker, who is a stone-cold killer, really completely unlike anyone you and I would ever meet in real life. My job, then, is to transcend logic and make Striker so interesting that you, the reader, look forward to every scene Striker appears in, and forget that Striker is almost totally removed from our realities.
Does that make sense?
I think what I’m saying is don’t let logic stop you when creating characters. Make the character interesting and people will accept the fact that reality has been suspended.
It is, after all, fiction we’re talking about.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
What great advice and seriously love hearing how you write your novels and come up with the finer details, as well. Thanks for sharing and Happy Tuesday once again, my friend 🙂
Thank you always, Janine! I so appreciate your support and friendship.
Great tip my friend!
Thanks my friend! Have a great week in the sun and warmth.
Beautiful! Extremely Beautiful!
I also have news for you, of which you will concur, I believe. God is like that. In the process of evolution, there’s on onward and upward march of progress … of endless possibilities. The poems I do now are superior to my originals and what I do in the future, with the Master’s Grace, would be superior still.
Here it is a Lila – a divine game – and we are meant to make full use of it. I believe that you understand and are doing your best. God speed!
I do understand, Manatita. I have grown so much in the past twelve years, and I feel so much growth awaiting me.
Blessings always
Characters can be inspired by real life characters or they can be totally a figment of the writer’s imagination. The talent of the writer lies in making them so interesting and relatable that they stay alive in the readers’s memories.
Perfectly stated, Shaloo…thank you for summarizing so well.
It’s interesting that you mention Striker as being a character we look forward to seeing. I enjoy all of your characters and a story could be written about each one of them, but Striker “strikes” me as the most interesting character I have ever known.
Thank you Marlene! In this new book of my series, I have tried to give Striker more depth. I hope you like him after this next book is published. I think you will.
Mark Twain was the one who said “Truth is stranger than fiction. but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.”
Very true, Donna! I love that I can suspend reality when I write….and still make it seem real.
Nice article – random thoughts can spin into good stories. Thanks for sharing your writing. Always a pleasure to read.
I appreciate that, Kathy! Thanks for stopping by.
Big Bro, I gotta say that your characters are believable and awesome. Compelling and multifaceted. You do so well with this and honestly, reading this gave me a fun idea about something I want to write. Ha! See…random things can generate such awesome ideas. You just never know where inspiration will come from. I was listening to a podcast and got three blog ideas in the way home tonight. Lol
Never a wasted moment with you, Lil Sis! Good for you with those blog ideas. Thanks as always for stopping by…winter just arrived here in Olympia. White and cold. Brrrrr
Hugs coming your way
Hi Bill – I read one of your Shadow series novels. (Yes, I bought a copy.) And though Striker is not the protagonist. He is the character I remember. Then there was some girl cop, and some boy cop and the bad evil guy – I remember Striker.
There you go, Mike…my favorite as well, or at least the most fun to create. Thanks so much for buying one of my books.
Thanks for the tip, Bill! For many killers, people are stunned to learn about their alter egos. I’ve never struggled to believe a character thankfully! When I come across a book I do, I will think of this post!
Thanks Shell….Bundy was our paperboy, so I have no problem believing in alter egos. 🙂
Priceless!
Bill.totally ‘get’ what you’re saying. Making a character so ‘normal’ yet so different from the norm is hard at times, but it’s soooo enjoyable, especially when your character’s got a bit of a sense of humour!
Have to admit, that’s what I like so much about ‘Joey’
I know you get it, Lawrence. That’s obvious by reading your work.
Bill, my friend, I will never ever under-estimate things like reality as compared to fiction. I have experienced the truth is stranger than fiction scenario more than I thought was normal for “normal” people. I think the key to a believable character is emotion. You’re right about connecting to the humanity of a character somehow. In my opinion, usually, that’s the emotion. Even when there is no emotion there has to be a way to express that through emotion, if that makes sense to you. It does in my head. But I’m a little weird sometimes. LOL
A little weird, Shannon? How about a lot weird? lol Which is why we get along so well. 🙂
Well said.
Thank you Lori!
What a great name for a cold-blooded killer: Striker. It fits and one can visualize the character clearly! Leave it to you, Bill, to come up with such a clever emotional link for readers.
Thank you Dee! I’ll tell you the story behind that name one day.
I’ve just received the first two ‘Shadow’ novels. Can’t wait to get stuck in and meet Striker. Just to be clear, it’s curiosity that’s motivating to make his acquaintance, not excitement. lol
You are sweet, Zulma!Thanks so much for buying them. I’ll tell Striker you’re looking for him so he’ll know you are friendly. lol
I finished ‘Shadows Kill’ this morning. Striker’s interesting. I hope I get to see him again in the 2nd instalment. I’d like to give you my overall impression of the book, but my head is still in the world you created. I need a day or two to get back to the real world. That’s a good thing. If I didn’t like the novel, I could have left your world as soon as I closed the book.
I’ll catch up with you soon.
My goodness, Zulma, that was quick.Thank you for letting me know. Yes, Striker will return..slowly I give you a little bit more of him in each installment. I’m glad you found him interesting….talk to you soon…and thanks again.
I started reading it yesterday afternoon and was about 3/4 of the way through when my husband turned off the bedroom light. I had to finish it which threw my daily routine out so dinner’s going to be a little late this evening. lol
I liked all your characters and I’m not ashamed to say I shed a tear or two along with the characters who lost a loved one. Good story. Bill. Really good.
Music to my ears, Zulma! Thanks so much….now on to Shadows of Innocence. I’m so happy you enjoyed the first.
Yes, eventually. I’m still mulling over the first ‘Shadows.’ That’s the sign of a good story whether it’s a book, a movie or a TV show. I spend a lot of time thinking about it, particularly the characters.