The lure of the dark-side – anti-heroes and anti-heroines

I have to admit that I really enjoy a story with a well developed anti-hero. I’m not talking about the basically good guy who has had a string of bad luck or a tough life. I am talking about the true post-modernistic archetype: someone who can not easily be defined as a villain or hero. These are characters whose attraction hooks you and reels you in as strongly as they repulse you on some basic level. There is just something about these characters that fascinates me. Their complexity can lead a carefully crafted storyline down some totally unexpected twists and turns of the mind, but you have to admit – it can be an adventure. It is a character type that is well suited to both paranormal romance and stories dealing with espionage as well as sci-fi/fantasy literature: all genres that appeal to me as both a reader and a writer. In my own writing, I am finding myself including anti-heroes or rather heroines on a fairly regular basis, but something I discovered, which surprised me, was how difficult it is to create an anti-heroine.

These women characters exist. Consider Scarlett O’Hara, any number of roles that Angelina Jolie has played, and – my personal favorites – Nikita from the story La Femme Nikita and Murbella from Frank Herbert’s Dune series. The creation of an anti-heroine seems fraught with many of the same issues that confront women in real life, from business to social settings. A delicate balance must be struck between the characters “good” qualities and those that are less appealing.

So, how does one craft such a creature?

From my research into the female anti-hero, it appears that beauty or physical attractiveness alone is not enough to off-set the brutality, amoral behavior, or ruthlessness needed for a true anti-hero. It seems to take a combination of physical beauty, innate intelligence, and some sort of triggering event – but not the jaded, “world-weary” technique often seen in the male anti-hero – to set the stage for a believable, or rather acceptable, anti-heroine. If the balance isn’t achieved, one is left with a psychotic or clichéd character.

Whether or not I can create a true female anti-hero in my own writing remains to be seen, but I am going to have a lot of fun with the process.

Help! I’ve written myself into a corner and I can’t get out…

I had this great outline for a chapter. I knew exactly what I wanted to say and where my characters were going. It was – in my mind – perfect. A month ago I started writing and before I knew it the characters hijacked my storyline and took a route that ended at a dead-end; a dead-end that has nothing to do with the rest of the story or the six chapters preceding it.

With a degree in English (writing concentration no less) and a “day-job” that involves helping others condense their ideas, plans, and/or processes down to a clearly written document, I know all the tools and techniques for overcoming writing obstacles. This problem is less about the mechanics of writing and more about the ideation process. Creativity does not necessarily follow the “science” of story-craft or academically recognized good writing standards. So what does one do when one’s muse has decided to trash one’s precisely organized plotline and character development sketches? What comes next when the hero turns out to have a really nasty side that doesn’t fit with the rest of his actions?

After a month of ruminating on this, I think the answer is to leave things as they stand and let my main hero have his baggage. Most people I know (myself included) have some baggage that they don’t reveal or emotions that are not quite in keeping with the public face. Sometimes how we deal with this baggage or why it exists in the first place can be a story on its own. The trick for me going forward will be to balance the not so savory aspects with my character’s good side in a way that will “work” for the reader. In the romance genre, most heroes are some type of “bad boy” personae – at least on the surface, but there is always a legitimate reason for this guise. What if there isn’t? What if it is simply part of who he is instead of a forum for a struggle of right overcoming wrong?

While it adds a complexity to the story that I had not previously contemplated, and will necessitate some serious edits to my original storyline, there is something to be said for seeing where this thread leads.

Silencing the voices within - aka character development

Sounds like a rant on multiple personality disorder doesn't it? Some of my other writing pals and I were discussing the way that characters can take on a life of their own within the recesses of your mind. My husband's take on the whole situation was, "Don't they have medication for that?" Very funny sweatheart, now why don't you go take a nap? [evil grin and manical laughter as I contemplate his knife roll.]

No, it is all good, but in all seriousness - as crazy as this sounds, sometimes a character just won't shut up and leave you alone. As they "talk" to you, the process becomes much akin to meeting a new friend. (or not depending on the character who is doing the talking.)

Maybe this is a struggle for the newbie as a writer and the authors who have a number of best-sellers under their belts just breeze through the process. I don't know - I would love to find out! (translation - hope my book sells, a lot of copies.) In my case, the process goes something like this: initially I sketch out what the character looks like in very rough dimensions, gender, coloring, height, hair and eye color; then I start filling in the specifics and checking facts like geography, time period, etc.; finally, I work on their backstory - most of which may never make it into the story but it helps me listen to what the character "tells" me with the right context.

After this somewhat logical approach, things take a less than rational turn. Night-time is the worst. As I snuggle up to sleep, scenes unfold, dialogue develops and I know its time to forget about shut eye. I have a laptop and my husband bought me a substantial bed rest pillow when I was carrying our second child so I am good to go until my muse decides to give it a rest. (Or my normally tolerant husband points out that being sleep deprived and handling knives isn't so good for retaining his digits.)

Some writers keep a pen and notepad by the bed, others use the mini-recorder devices but I think the main point is that the voices won't let you rest until you listen. And take notes.