A rule of writing

[winter]

Put your characters in situations that rip them apart. And rip them apart some more.

- Sherry Thomas, On fundamental rules of writing

I think this is something that I've internalised over the past year or so. The downside is, I have a lot of traumatised characters.

(On the other hand, I think this is why I adore movies like Equilibrium and Once Upon A Time In Mexico so much. Set up a successful character. Rip them apart utterly. And twist pins in the wounds until the diamond core emerges and smacks you in the face with a pair of pistols.)

Comments

[arabwel.livejournal.com]

*looks at the characters she is putting through everything but the kitchen sink* Yup, I would sayy I agree with that rule.

[winter]

And that's what angst is for ;)

[arabwel.livejournal.com]

Ohyes. Sometimes it is kind of bad cause, well, I have the one huge-ass story that tends to rip ME apart because I identify with the self-inserts xharcaters so much..... funnily enough, another a lot more dire 'äverse hurts a lot less because I ahve more distance from the characters, I suppose.

[winter]

I've learned the hard way to distance myself from my characters. Now I'm just enjoying the ride as they gnash their teeth :>