Character Assassination
19th February, 2010 - Posted by seb22277 - 7 Comments
I don’t write murder mysteries. Or anything close to them. But I routinely assemble the worst parts of someone I don’t like in my real life and turn them into a thoroughly disagreeable character in my writing. Nastiness shines front and center. The ending leaves them alone, penniless and /or humiliated. It’s immensely satisfying.
There’s this guy I can’t stand at my “day job.” He’s got cockiness up the wazoo and doesn’t associate with anyone he thinks is a rung lower on the career ladder. Has to be taught how to say ‘good morning” when he walks in the office. You know the type. Short, balding and a whopping case of “little man” syndrome.
Meet Nigel, the sneering, superior rival for my heroine’s heart. He’s height and hair challenged…sound familiar? Nigel fools our girl for a short while, but eventually reveals his true obnoxious self. He winds up disgraced, fired, and alone in his bed, cuddled up to a bottle of Scotch. If only we could deal with the stinkers in our own lives so easily!
Do the jerks in your world show up in your writing? What’s the most fulfilling justice you’ve meted out to a character? Did it help you deal with the person for real? I’m guessing we’ve all assassinated a few characters from time to time. Tell us about yours.
Posted on: February 19, 2010
Filed under: Miscellaneous
7 Comments
Debbie
February 19th, 2010 at 4:41 am
LOL What a delicious idea! I haven’t used it for a particular person, but a real life situation has sparked a suspense story for me.
Suzanne Rossi
February 19th, 2010 at 5:42 am
I do write mystery/suspense and use people who give me a pain as nasty characters. It’s fun. I get to vent and they never see themselves in the story. For instance, in Along Came Quinn, the villianess, Victoria, is a woman I worked with for a couple of years. I used her physical appearance in my story, but have no concerns she might be offended. IMHO, the silly twit doesn’t know how to read. LOL.
Patrice
February 19th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Oh, yes, I have done that. I gave my ex a heart attack while he was in bed with his secretary in my unpubbed book CATER TO YOUR HEART. I had so much fun with that scene. Aren’t I nasty? But that’s the fun of writing. We can do anything to anyone, as long as the motivation works. Hee hee.
Mary Ricksen
February 19th, 2010 at 10:08 am
I haven’t yet, but you have just given me some great ideas!
traci
February 19th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
OMG. I love it. I suppose that the people we meet who rub us wrong are just as good for character study as those who inspire us, so why not use what we observe to write real to life characters????
Allison Chase
February 20th, 2010 at 11:03 am
I haven’t specifically done this yet, but I do use traits from people I know. If you tend to use a certain gesture, watch out – I might just borrow it. I did make the heroine’s mother in one of my early books very much like my own – and Mom never picked up on it! Not even the fact that the character liked to straighten up and do a little rearranging whenever she visited her daughter’s house. (Does anyone else’s mothers do that?)
Aleka Nakis
February 22nd, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Creative on short, bald, and ‘little’, but, you’re too kind. I killed Mr. Nasty in a wip.
hehehe
Allison, I like your mom story–good one and typical of her not to pick up on it. That’s so cute.
Patrice, a heart issue in bed? Hmm, wicked.
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