Write On This ... Exercise

What's Your Poison?

Even the good guys need a streak of bad; it's human frailty. Nicer than nice and whiter than white don't quite capture the reader's interest. Why? Well, how can someone relate to somebody who isn't human? (and, yes, that counts for monsters and aliens, too)

A prostitute with a heart of gold = Pretty Woman
A serial killer with a with a love of classical music = Hannibal Lecter
An adulteress who solves crimes = Miss Marple
A vandal in the Temple who wants to save humanity = The New Testament

Whatever way you look at it, our protagonists need a dark edge, and our antagonists need redeeming features to make us interested in them, their choices, and their story. Just like comparative imagery adds a powerful punch to our writing, so do a broad spectrum of personality traits in a character.

Write
Think of a character type (cop, killer, bully, hero etc.,) and write them a scene where a little of their 'other' side can shine out.



** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **

** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **