tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post141639662202401219..comments2024-03-29T05:45:39.184-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Ask The Editor - How bad can a character be?Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51814948755917239982009-12-13T08:47:17.567-07:002009-12-13T08:47:17.567-07:00If you read just about any book published by HARD ...If you read just about any book published by HARD CASE CRIME, you will find a hero /heroine/central character doing fairly despicable things for a variety of reasons. The writing is usually very good and the authors involved make it work.<br /><br />I think it really depends on the overall story. The only limits I see regard whether or not the publisher will allow the book to be published as the author wrote it. Some readers may refuse to read it, but that happens with any book.Kevin R. Tipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04170714419133752724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-20180083327579224912009-11-05T13:51:57.767-07:002009-11-05T13:51:57.767-07:00Another great post, Maryann.
Thanks for sharing :...Another great post, Maryann.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58033409433714497862009-11-04T21:33:00.510-07:002009-11-04T21:33:00.510-07:00Debbie, I just couldn't connect with Dexter. I...Debbie, I just couldn't connect with Dexter. I tried several times, but just couldn't stomach the fact that he enjoys killing and I should somehow say that is okay because he is killing other serial killers and helping the police. My mind just can't go there, which doesn't mean I have any judgment of folks who can accept his characterization.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-15084019654173645882009-11-04T08:25:16.861-07:002009-11-04T08:25:16.861-07:00Then there is Jeff Lindsay's Dexter. A serial...Then there is Jeff Lindsay's Dexter. A serial killer who kills other serial killers. But is he doing the wrong thing for the right reason or the wrong thing because he has to, whether it's wrong or not? He works for the police force. He could just turn the evidence over to this sister.<br /><br />But he LIKES killing. And he's a fascinating and very fun character to hang out. And creepy, too.Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15584643018505305470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10695282426969938072009-11-04T06:25:22.774-07:002009-11-04T06:25:22.774-07:00If someone shot an arrow through somebody's pr...If someone shot an arrow through somebody's privates at point blank range I probably would keep reading. Especially in the case you described where the person performing the castration has a good reason to want to do it. <br /><br />As long as it is carefully crafted I can find almost any level of violence or insanity plausible! It doesn't necessarily turn me off a character or make me lose interest in a novel.<br /><br />I would have said go for it!Rachelhttp://www.rachelpictor.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-73066459720178910892009-11-03T00:59:04.236-07:002009-11-03T00:59:04.236-07:00I have flawed characters :)
Interesting post, when...I have flawed characters :)<br />Interesting post, when I read a book and the MC is so perfect, I cringe. I find myself saying no one is that perfect and then lose track of the story.<br />I have a character that seems to good to be true, so I gave her a flaw and I like her a little better for it.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35658171880420729132009-11-02T21:41:31.480-07:002009-11-02T21:41:31.480-07:00I have a character in Dead On, the heroine who spe...I have a character in Dead On, the heroine who spends the entire book wanting revenge and she is driven to it, and she would have gone too far had she not been talked down by the hero. I do mean central characters when I use these terms. In other books, I have created central characters with more flaws than you can shake a stick at but when I wanted Alastair Ransom to make a unnich of a pedophile priest my editor balked big time and isnisted I find another way...which I did but Ransom is arrested for it due to his reputaiton. So I am no stranger to over the top central characters. I posed the question to truly ask if your main character did something of that nature, cut off someone's privates for instance, or fire an arrow through the bad guy's family jewels at point blank range...do we lose the patience and understanding of the reader. OK there I have been more specific haven;t I?Rob Walkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-56920585928339820802009-11-02T21:22:26.233-07:002009-11-02T21:22:26.233-07:00Helen, I agree. i don't like a character who s...Helen, I agree. i don't like a character who seems to enjoy killing -- at least not the protagonist. What I really like about Elvis Cole is that killing really unnerves him. I just read one of the first books that introduced this character and his reaction to having to kill someone is powerful, and it doesn't just last a moment. He is upset for some time, and has to convince himself that it was the right thing to do to save a child. Powerful characterization.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62036386142721674192009-11-02T17:06:17.611-07:002009-11-02T17:06:17.611-07:00On TV, Jack in 24 is definitely doing terrible thi...On TV, Jack in 24 is definitely doing terrible things for what he believes are the right reasons.<br /><br />I'm also reminded of the MC in A History of Violence. A bad guy becomes a good guy, then is pushed beyond the limits back into being a bad guy. Fascinating. Then, again, Viggo Mortensen makes anything fascinating to me.Cellophane Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08166797508899835493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-15411485076687545122009-11-02T16:57:20.480-07:002009-11-02T16:57:20.480-07:00I'm reading the Mitch Rapp series by Vince Fly...I'm reading the Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn. I'm reading book 5 or 6. In this book, I'm liking Rapp less than before. In this one he seems hungry to kill (granted, he kills only the bad guys or those trying to harm the US) and he'll confront anyone who doesn't agree with him. It feels a little like he's gone over the top and is looking for people to kill, as if he's crossing that line between hero and bad guy. Since he's the hero, I'm hoping we're seeing his dark side, but he won't cross over to the dark side.<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12836981515131918402009-11-02T15:43:00.964-07:002009-11-02T15:43:00.964-07:00I love this topic. I hate when a hero or heroine i...I love this topic. I hate when a hero or heroine is perfect. My characters live in shades of gray, even the ones some would consider a villain. However, a writer has to tread carefully or they could make their main characters too unlikeable for readers. <br /><br /><a href="http://kelleyheckart.com" rel="nofollow">kelleyheckart.com</a>Kelley Heckarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05673342477988998070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84703230173905974182009-11-02T14:31:40.401-07:002009-11-02T14:31:40.401-07:00These days, especially in movies, the lines are ve...These days, especially in movies, the lines are very murky.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://makeminemystery.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26665386855989996922009-11-02T14:25:47.441-07:002009-11-02T14:25:47.441-07:00I think in the publishing world, especially in gen...I think in the publishing world, especially in genre fiction, the term hero and heroine are used too often in place of "central character" or "protagonist". I'm sure that is what Rob meant when he used the term hero. At least that is what I went with in my answer. :-)Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-77986655196815368632009-11-02T13:26:38.409-07:002009-11-02T13:26:38.409-07:00Ah, yes, Cole and Spenser... two of my favourites ...Ah, yes, Cole and Spenser... two of my favourites (and Scudder). <br /><br />Doing the wrong thing for the right reason is forgivable; doing the right thing for the wrong reason isn't.<br /><br />The moral compass should guide your character in these situations. <br /><br />Cheers, Jill<br />"Blood and Groom" will be released in two weeks!<br />www.jilledmondson.comJillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152599507268946811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62260506957863007592009-11-02T12:12:44.324-07:002009-11-02T12:12:44.324-07:00I just finished reading The Hunger Games by Suzann...I just finished reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Her main character is definitely flawed, but so plausibly and redeemably so that the reader (this reader anyway) hangs onto every word.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62362566176812021242009-11-02T11:57:29.879-07:002009-11-02T11:57:29.879-07:00Ah, but that all depends on how you define Hero or...Ah, but that all depends on how you define Hero or Heroine, doesn't it? The classic Hero of myth was a very, very flawed creature. Look at Ulysses, who according to the story was famous for being duplicitous, for being a very effective liar. And look at Hector, a hero of classic literature in the Iliad. Hector fought for glory only, not for country, loyalty, or to saves the lives of those he cared about--but he was a Hero.<br /><br />The word "Hero" is used today in a much different way than it was used in the past, although the newest crop of Superheroes have all the flaws of everyday humans, with the added burden of trying to control their superpowers and not misuse them when angered, jealous or whatever. Yet, they are heroes, and in some ways closer to the old heroes of myth, or even to the gods and goddesses of the ancient world, who were merely humans grown overlarge, overpowerful and often cruel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67501322178789911412009-11-02T10:58:04.339-07:002009-11-02T10:58:04.339-07:00I find it interesting that Rob's question pres...I find it interesting that Rob's question presupposes the main character is a 'hero' or 'heroine'.<br /><br />I find that almost all my main characters are so flawed, that although they're not entirely evil you could hardly call them heroes.<br /><br />It provides a great source of conflict and I think it makes the writing more compelling.<br /><br />I would always recommend writers make their good guys do, or think, or feel something truly terrible!Rachelhttp://www.rachelpictor.co.uknoreply@blogger.com