Packing Heat 009: Creating Characters
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Last Week's Assignment
Last week I asked you to take a scene that wasn't working and re-do it three different ways. I tried this for a sex scene that I'm working on and I talk about the various considerations I had in mind.
Creating Characters
A good character affects me so deeply that I often forget myself and start thinking that they're real people. I love that! How can you create characters with that kind of resonance?
Consider what the kernel of your story is about. If it's plotty, your characters would spark from the plot needs. If you have a character idea, create other characters to contrast with him or her. If you have an idea for an unusual sex act, think about what types of people would be into it. (And maybe it's fun if they need some convincing!)
Melanie Anne Phillips has written a fascinating article about creating a character from scratch by giving them a nickname:
http://storymind.com/articles/2003-08-31.htm
You could also write some throwaway scenes that are like preliminary sketches where you get to know your character's voice and backstory.
A Grain of Salt
All writing advice is not created equal. Do you write for the same market as the writer who's giving the advice? Does the advice resonate with you? If not, toss it out the window!
Must every male character in erotica have a twelve-inch schlong? Does the story always have to have a happy ending? Is a cock by any other name still as hard? Listen and find out!
Your Assignment
Use one of the character building techniques to create a totally new character, or to add some dimension to an existing character who feels a little flat.
I want to write a book one day (when I'm much older). I think my problem as a amateur author is never finding the right time for my characters to actually have sex. I can never seem to wield in a sex scene for some reason, and because of that I don't know if my readers get frustrated?
I really liked your example of the American and Russian man
And as a long time fan of the Psycop series, personally the strangulation sex act wouldn't bother me. But for Vic and Jake it would be out of character. As readers we need to see some sort of extreme kinky play from either or character, to not be surprised when they do something extreme. There needs to be a hint or act in the series, for us readers not to be shocked or alienate us from the scene. But if you did add that scene, I would sit back and go "huh" not because I'm uncomfortable with it. But I really couldn't see a cop doing that, or a psychic. Now if Crash did it, then I'd believe it. -grins-
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Hi Lidyah! Thanks for swinging over here from the PsyCop blog to check out the podcast
I know what you mean about figuring out when the sex scene is appropriate. I've had many readers remark that I have fewer, shorter sex scenes than other M/M erotica authors that they read. For me, it's just that I've got a lot of plot to squeeze into the book. That said, my characters have become so real in my mind that it's not uncommon for Jacob to barge in and nail Vic to the wall, whether that was what I'd planned for him to do or not!
I suspect I'll need to write some more Crash-short-stories to get that guy out of my system. Sure, he'd do the strangle-sex...he'd try anything!
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You're welcome, I don't know if you had linked to this BLOG before, so when you did in your recent post I came over.
I like (no I LOVE) that your books are focused on the plot. I mean don't get me wrong when Vic and Jacob do the nasty, it's always well written. But I was like the sexual tension between them two. Especially in the beginning of the series.
However I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it hard to get a sex scene written. For small one-shots I do, they're always p0rny because it's easier to write for me then, because there is no intiial plot (PWP). But in an actual chaptered story always hard for me. Even when my main characters have hooked up. I think I just like teasing my characters, work all that sexual tension or something, lol.
LOL, I bought his short story you wrote. Loved it, it was so darn cheeky. I hope he gets his own full-blown novel one day. Never one to badger authors, it's just he's a great supporting character, and I don't want to hate him, since he likes hitting on Vic. LOL.
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I think I just like teasing my characters, work all that sexual tension or something, lol.
I think the teasing is critical to the sexual tension of the story. It's actually my biggest "secret," to have the characters wanting to have sex somewhere, or with someone, they shouldn't. Stories where everyone just says, "Yay, let's do it!" aren't going to be as enticing.
I bought [Crash's] short story you wrote. Loved it, it was so darn cheeky. I hope he gets his own full-blown novel one day.
*sigh*
Some people call 'em plot bunnies. I call 'em brainworms. I think one just landed in my ear and crawled up into my cerebral cortex. Crash is difficult because I don't want to give him a full-time boyfriend (because that would let Vic off the hook from his incessant flirting. Well, not really, since Crash isn't exactly faithful Still, I don't want to pair him off with anyone permanent.) Maybe he has someone he truly connects with but they live somewhere else, only meet up every few years. That could be really romantic as well as hot & nasty!
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Very true, I think the sexual part of the story needs to be built as much as the characterisations and plot. Otherwise it is too easy.
You know that reminds me off, Sarah Black' story (Partner's in Crime: Book 1 from Loose Id). Two of her characters loved each other, but they didn't live together, cause they were so different. I wouldn't have though I'd have liked that, but she made it work.
He can still flirt with Vic, even with a boyfriend
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