tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post5355637882464695707..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: When Characters Cross Ethical LinesDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-45530014541983623122015-01-22T11:50:16.024-07:002015-01-22T11:50:16.024-07:00Dastardly deeds require dastardly solutions, Debby...Dastardly deeds require dastardly solutions, Debby. I'm big on revenge novels. But good people sometimes do bad things. It's portraying them that makes it interesting.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88393977818016904612015-01-22T10:55:28.948-07:002015-01-22T10:55:28.948-07:00Both as a reader and a writer, I've always bee...Both as a reader and a writer, I've always been fascinated by characters on the edge. I agree wholeheartedly with Linda that following the movements of a character on the edge makes for a riveting read. I like your priorities!debby turner harrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-79824543556782385432015-01-22T08:15:48.102-07:002015-01-22T08:15:48.102-07:00That's what I hope for, Linda. There has to be...That's what I hope for, Linda. There has to be a reason that makes a person take that step. Hopefully, readers will agree with the character's reasoning. Thanks for commenting.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10112916538594276682015-01-21T22:06:13.262-07:002015-01-21T22:06:13.262-07:00A character faced with "crossing the line&quo...A character faced with "crossing the line" verses allowing someone to be harmed in some way makes for great conflict. Following him across the line to see where things go from there will get me every time.LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-72239262532089294452015-01-21T12:06:39.073-07:002015-01-21T12:06:39.073-07:00I, too, have sympathized with the "bad guy,&q...I, too, have sympathized with the "bad guy," VR. I also agree that it's how the book is written. I have "that" book on my Kindle, and expect to read it at some point, so it's not fair for me to make a determination based on others' <br />opinions. Just too much written about it in the loops and reviews, both for the book and movie. <br /><br />Interesting characters are interesting characters, period.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87842512219026823932015-01-21T11:27:01.686-07:002015-01-21T11:27:01.686-07:00There are a lot of what I call mustache twirlers i...There are a lot of what I call <i>mustache twirlers</i> in mysteries and thrillers. One dimensional characters, whether saintly or immoral, are boring. I think writers often confuse true character flaws with simple bad behavior, and because of this, their stories come off flat. <br /><br />I'm a fan of psychologically driven mysteries and thrillers, which means I read a lot of books with unlikeable characters. If I'm able to empathize with a character, no matter how morally bankrupt he or she is, I'm vested in the story. It's up to the author to make this happen. In the right hands, I can also get caught up in stories about sociopaths who have no sense of right or wrong. Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell are the masters at writing these characters who fascinate not because of the devastation they precipitate, but because they're so self-obsessed, they are oblivious.<br /> <br />My take away from the 2014 book—IMO, by far the author's weakest—is that a scary amount of people have revenge fantasies, and this book provided vicarious satisfaction. <br /><br /><a href="http://vrbarkowski.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">VR Barkowski</a><br />VR Barkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927993233682731113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89511159869009464392015-01-21T09:20:50.863-07:002015-01-21T09:20:50.863-07:00And yet, Diana, I can name two bestsellers that ha...And yet, Diana, I can name two bestsellers that have characters like that, so there must be some draw, and that draw is a well-written book. Wish I had the formula. Thanks for the comment.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42796110784580064172015-01-21T09:17:04.322-07:002015-01-21T09:17:04.322-07:00I think I'd like you, Christopher. I love char...I think I'd like you, Christopher. I love characters who tread those ethical lines.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33698380458108665052015-01-21T09:13:39.076-07:002015-01-21T09:13:39.076-07:00Oh, Elaine, my new book will test your boundaries....Oh, Elaine, my new book will test your boundaries. I can't wait to hear what you have to say. Thanks for giving Ellis and me the chance to fill in.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2470198567517953932015-01-21T08:43:14.410-07:002015-01-21T08:43:14.410-07:00I think the white hat hero protagonist died somewh...I think the white hat hero protagonist died somewhere in the 1980s. Every action movie has the viewer rooting for the "right side" to win, even if that means blowing things up, causing massive mayhem on the highway, and gunning down endless "bad bad guys." That said, there are instances wherein someone can write characters so loathsome, I don't want to read the book. The difference is the way the writer approaches the character. If the writer can invoke sympathy for the character's cause, I can sometimes get behind them. Though I admit there are some premises that are a turnoff anyway. But if the writer obviously dislikes her own characters, why should a reader spend hundreds of pages with them?Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63116096063526620302015-01-21T08:36:56.292-07:002015-01-21T08:36:56.292-07:00I think my characters are all over the map ... the...I think my characters are all over the map ... the ethical map that is ... kinda like their author, I suppose.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-31233166135807401242015-01-21T08:17:39.030-07:002015-01-21T08:17:39.030-07:00Ah-ha! I knew you had something to say! And althou...Ah-ha! I knew you had something to say! And although I'd like to say, "Told you so," you and Ellis Vidler helped us out at WWK this fall when our regular bloggers were out sick--and you blogged in their place--so I can't say it!<br /><br />I'm not sure I want a corrupted main character, but I do like when they are clever. I even don't mind a legal infraction or two. But they must have some ethical boundaries or I can't trust them. When a main character had something bad happen to them that wasn't their fault, but paid the price, even if no one else knows of their innocence, then that's fine by me.<br /><br />A questionable (often humorous) secondary character with questionable morals and ethics is a wonderful addition. That guy you bring in to hack into a terrible polluting conglomerate's system and steal their secrets--now that's a wonderful addition. E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-38523034572460549972015-01-21T07:58:20.522-07:002015-01-21T07:58:20.522-07:00Thanks, Linda. I, too, have to root for the charac...Thanks, Linda. I, too, have to root for the characters. I hope I make the circumstances believable so that the reader doesn't close the book. Glad you stopped by.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-73230203889219481472015-01-21T07:54:38.017-07:002015-01-21T07:54:38.017-07:00I always found iffy characters more interesting, b...I always found iffy characters more interesting, both in writing and reading. And you're right about strong stories trumping everything. Thanks for the comment. I agree totally.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89055104170642509802015-01-21T07:25:51.794-07:002015-01-21T07:25:51.794-07:00Less than perfect characters with occasionally que...Less than perfect characters with occasionally questionable morals have populated books and the silver screen for decades. Consider Pretty Woman, the Richard Gere (wealthy businessman) and Julia Roberts (down-and-out prostitute) movie hit in 1990. We could mention many others, as well as numerous books, that include flawed main characters. (Think about Scarlett O'Hara of Gone with the Wind back in the 1930s.) Whether or not we individually choose to watch, read, or write about main characters who cross ethical lines, most of us understand that even good people do bad things. Nobody's perfect. In my opinion, reader (or viewer) identification with such characters probably trumps strict morality in many cases. Certainly, a reading audience exists for those who walk the line and those who cross it. Strong, compelling stories often win out over the indiscretions of those who populate its pages. Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-90745452068449783732015-01-21T07:05:31.819-07:002015-01-21T07:05:31.819-07:00Polly, I've enjoyed all of your books. I found...Polly, I've enjoyed all of your books. I found the characters generally likable--people I could root for because circumstances led them into situations that forced them to make ethical choices. For me, it's the ability to root for at least one character in a book that makes it a winner. I may finish a book where all the characters are detestable and/or evil but I probably won't pick up another book by that author. Life is too short. Linda Lovelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06689184015264104687noreply@blogger.com