Have you ever been a fan of something so off the wall or out of keeping with your personality that you've almost been embarrassed to admit it? If so, you're not alone. Everyone has a list of what they consider "guilty pleasures." Even fictional characters, if they are well-rounded, have a few interests or traits that don't fit in with the way they usually interact in the world.
Maybe your tough-as-nails-eats-bad-guys-for-breakfast hero is completely smitten by his toy poodle, or maybe your no-nonsense heroine likes to run a hot bubble bath and read steamy novels. If you can find a trait like this in your character, it is a great way to make him or her more complex and ambiguous. Readers will follow an interesting leading man or woman to the ends of the earth. A two-dimensional one won't hold them through the end of the first chapter.
When I'm trying to come up with a quirk for one of my characters, I usually go back to some of my own weird pursuits. In the interests of science, then, here are some of my guilty pleasures:
1. Johanna Lindsey. Why would an extremely cynical lesbian enjoy Lindsey's sweeping heterosexual romance sagas? Beats me. Perhaps it's because Lindsey writes smart, funny characters and puts them in situations where they can and do get quickly get up to their ears in trouble. When I'm in a bad mood, I can always count on her for a fast, fun read with a happily ever after lurking at the end.
2. Office Supplies. I don't know whether it's a writer thing or my own personal quirk, but I cannot walk past an attractive notebook or crisp yellow legal pad without wanting to give it a home. By my current calculations, if I never bought another piece of paper, I could still sustain my writing career at least another 50 years. I'd tell you more, but there's this really cute notebook with stars on it calling my name...
3. Judge Judy. Honestly, I can't say that I'd want her as a friend, but I do like watching her demolish miscreants in her courtroom. She actually gets to say the things that I, and many other social workers I know, have been thinking for years. Beyond that, her self-confidence and her ability to see the world in black and white fascinate me. She is the polar opposite of my own personality, and I think it's a human trait to be drawn to those we do not understand.
4. Las Vegas. I love the blackjack tables, the video poker machines, the noise, the lights, the shopping, the food and the unapologetic atmosphere of excess. It's where I go for a few days when my brain is fried and I really want to get away from everything "normal."
5. Chocolate. I had weight loss surgery back in February, so chocolate is not supposed to be on my menu, but I've been able to "fudge" (excuse the pun) here and there. My protein bars and nutritional shakes are both chocolate flavored, and I've also found a Jell-O sugar-free chocolate mousse that tastes pretty good. No, it's not as fun as scarfing down a bag of Hershey's bars, but it's better than nothing.
So, tell me about your fiction writing? What are the things your character hides from other people? What are your own guilty pleasures?
NaNoWriMo Update
This Saturday, I attended one of Kansas City's National Novel Writing Month kickoffs. I was amazed by how many people showed up and by how many people had "won" (written their 50,000 words) NaNo in the past.
Thost "in the know" were very patient with us newbies and offered some great advice. Some of my favorite tips included:
- Start early. Write fast. Write often
- Don't get discouraged if you're behind the eight-ball. Magic happens on November 30.
- On the other hand, don't get complacent if you're ahead of schedule. Leads can vanish quickly.
- Don't delete anything you write, even if you're sure you'll want to edit it out later. As long as you've got it on paper, it can help you reach your word count total.
I'm looking forward to starting my novel, The Ghost of George Boleyn, on November 1.
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