Writing with
Benefits
Another great email came in
this week, this time from a longtime fan in Boston. Jackie M. asks: “What is the
best part about writing a novel?”
This is one of my favorite things
about writing. We often see interviews with actors who talk about how much fun he
or she had in playing the role of a “bad guy.” Alan Rickman’s performance in Die
Hard, Gary Oldman in Leon: The Professional, Gene Hackman in The
Firm, and what about Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, and Glenn Close
in OMG, Fatal Attraction!
Let me say from a writer’s
point of view that being close to your hero is one thing, but the real fun is
the cast of characters you surround your hero with. And if you know what you’re
doing as a writer, at least two or three of them are going to be “bad guys.” “Bad
Guys” drive the story. They give your narrative energy, electricity, and if
you’re lucky, they send your work over the edge. When I wrote City of Stones,
I loved creating Matt Jones, but I couldn’t wait to get to any chapter that
included Jack Temps, a corrupt detective living in disgrace who is a truly
horrible and dangerous. When I wrote City of Fire, I loved who Lena
Gamble was becoming, but any chapter that included Martin Fellows, a maniac
serial killer, had me completely stoked. Who needs coffee when you’re dealing
with characters this outrageous? This awesome?
Thanks to Jackie for your
kind words about my novels and for your great question! I hope I added
something to this topic I love so much. No doubt about it, playing the “bad
guy” in a film is thrilling. And writing about one, creating the character, is
thrilling, too!
All best,
Robert
Link to City of Stones on Amazon
ROBERT ELLIS WRITER’S BLOG
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