Post by Dabeagle on Dec 15, 2014 10:32:30 GMT -5
I've heard actors talk about playing certain characters and how they get into their heads and become difficult to shed when the scene is over and the cameras have stopped. I believe I recall hearing that from Jack Nicholson in reference to The Joker role, and it was used to describe a conversation Jack had with Heath Ledger.
So, too, is it with characters in a book and not just from the readers side. I do find that, when writing Alec Kutsenko, there is a little more light in my daily life, a little more wise ass going on in my head. Of course, like all things, it fades the farther away from the creative effort I am.
Some characters affect us, but we're not always able to pinpoint just why. I fell in love with Camy's character 'Martin' from his must be completed Seraph series. So, too, did I with Ryan Bartlett's recent middle brother, Robin Kirkwood. Even Ryan was mystified, saying he thought Robin was a sweet kid, but what was it that drew me. I threw out a few things - he was, indeed, sweet. He was loyal, empathetic - all good traits. And yet there was something intrinsic and not easily named that made me like the character, that made him stand out. And so I bugged Ryan to write a storyline for Robin and we batted many ideas back and forth, The Preacher's Kid being the result.
The Preacher's Kid also gave us a deeper look into Kale Kirkwood, to see some growth and a softer side to him and, as Ryan and I worked together, I came to care more for Kale than I had originally. But my focus was still on Robin and that unkowable draw. I decided to express part of that in 'Alec's Best Friend' and felt it was done pretty successfully both in establishing Lucien's interest and Robin's bona fide's as an all around good guy. I especially enjoyed his interactions (Robin's) with Alec, being able to banter but also respecting him and taking him seriously when discussing speaking to his father, the Judge.
Granted, you might say that I could have done that intentionally, polishing Robin if you will. That isn't entirely the case, though, as my writing is frequently from the hip and plans fall by the wayside as the characters begin to tell their stories. Sometimes their logic come out on the page and I wonder, where did that come from?
Then I wanted to give us a window on that unrequited love. In the movie 'Speedway Junkie' there is a very moving scene where Jordan Brower's character, who is in love with Jesse Bradford's character, gives him what he wants - a woman who is willing to teach him how to pleasure a woman. The camera moves from Jesse's character in flagrante dilecto and Jordan's character who is crying his heart out because doing the right thing hurts so badly.
That emotion was the drive behind Cowboy Up, do delve into that pain of being so close and yet doing the right thing for the person you love. This gave me a fantastic opportunity to climb inside Lucien's head and the emotion of writing that took days to fade - I even wrote Alec's death in that time frame, so emotional was that stretch of days. Then, Ryan and I started to talk and the emotion shifted in new and unexpected directions, which you'll get to see very soon.
All of that comes into focus as we move to the next two in the Sanitaria Springs storyline, with 'The Ultimate Gift' coming to you this weekend and then, for Christmas, you'll meet Hamster.
So, too, is it with characters in a book and not just from the readers side. I do find that, when writing Alec Kutsenko, there is a little more light in my daily life, a little more wise ass going on in my head. Of course, like all things, it fades the farther away from the creative effort I am.
Some characters affect us, but we're not always able to pinpoint just why. I fell in love with Camy's character 'Martin' from his must be completed Seraph series. So, too, did I with Ryan Bartlett's recent middle brother, Robin Kirkwood. Even Ryan was mystified, saying he thought Robin was a sweet kid, but what was it that drew me. I threw out a few things - he was, indeed, sweet. He was loyal, empathetic - all good traits. And yet there was something intrinsic and not easily named that made me like the character, that made him stand out. And so I bugged Ryan to write a storyline for Robin and we batted many ideas back and forth, The Preacher's Kid being the result.
The Preacher's Kid also gave us a deeper look into Kale Kirkwood, to see some growth and a softer side to him and, as Ryan and I worked together, I came to care more for Kale than I had originally. But my focus was still on Robin and that unkowable draw. I decided to express part of that in 'Alec's Best Friend' and felt it was done pretty successfully both in establishing Lucien's interest and Robin's bona fide's as an all around good guy. I especially enjoyed his interactions (Robin's) with Alec, being able to banter but also respecting him and taking him seriously when discussing speaking to his father, the Judge.
Granted, you might say that I could have done that intentionally, polishing Robin if you will. That isn't entirely the case, though, as my writing is frequently from the hip and plans fall by the wayside as the characters begin to tell their stories. Sometimes their logic come out on the page and I wonder, where did that come from?
Then I wanted to give us a window on that unrequited love. In the movie 'Speedway Junkie' there is a very moving scene where Jordan Brower's character, who is in love with Jesse Bradford's character, gives him what he wants - a woman who is willing to teach him how to pleasure a woman. The camera moves from Jesse's character in flagrante dilecto and Jordan's character who is crying his heart out because doing the right thing hurts so badly.
That emotion was the drive behind Cowboy Up, do delve into that pain of being so close and yet doing the right thing for the person you love. This gave me a fantastic opportunity to climb inside Lucien's head and the emotion of writing that took days to fade - I even wrote Alec's death in that time frame, so emotional was that stretch of days. Then, Ryan and I started to talk and the emotion shifted in new and unexpected directions, which you'll get to see very soon.
All of that comes into focus as we move to the next two in the Sanitaria Springs storyline, with 'The Ultimate Gift' coming to you this weekend and then, for Christmas, you'll meet Hamster.