The LadyKillers

Seen at a Distance

-       from Susan, adapted from a piece I wrote for my blog in April 2010

Whoops - I thought I was on the rotation assigned to write about where we find our charaters. So, even though the topic has shifted, here's my take on last week's subject, which was covered so well by other LadyKillers.

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The color photo on The New York Times social page shows a couple walking into a gala. She is strikingly lovely, with long hair and a sophisticated evening gown. Her hand is looped gently around his elbow. He’s tall, with a tanned face, the hint of jowls on the way into being, a relaxed grin, and a classic tux.

I know them, although not well. I know a little of their histories, their courtship, and their good fortune. Our paths haven’t crossed in years, however, so I don’t know much about how they’re doing these days except that they are still married and on the social A Lists in a handful of major cities. He gives major money to prominent charities and cultural organizations. She makes Best Dressed lists. Still, I can recall each of them before they married, recall the intensity with which other women pursued him, and the lively personality with which she won him.

They are real and I have found it useful to think about aspects of their lives, only bits and pieces of which I know. Not Them but small and incomplete shadows are morphing into my fiction. For my purposes, I need to answer questions about the make-believe characters I’ve created: Was she scared when she had to face the society crowd at first? Is he afraid she married him for his money? Did she take riding lessons in secret so she could impress his friends? Is he prideful? Do they love each other?

I’m interested in the fictional answers about the fictional characters I’ve created from this photo and my memories. That’s what a writer does, takes the thinnest wisp of something real and spins it into a series of “what ifs” that don’t depend on facts to be intriguing.

 

Garret or Coffeehouse By Michael A. Black

I had to look up garret in the dictionary before I started this week’s blog. I found out that a garret is a room under the roof of a house, such as an attic or a small living space. It sometimes connotes a space that is dismal or cramped. The word comes from the French word, garir, which means to provide or defend, and has an accompanying military connotation of a watchtower.

The second part of the title topic, coffeehouse, was more familiar to me. I remember those places from my youth, where people would go to sing, read poetry, and drink coffee. They’ve since evolved into slicker upscale versions like Starbucks or Caribou Cafe, but a few of the old, independent coffee shops are still around. There’s one on the South Side of Chicago called Java Express.

So in which of these places would I feel more comfortable writing? The answer is neither.

My friend Dave Case and I usually meet for coffee at McDonald’s a couple times a week. We talk about a variety of things, but mostly we center on writing and police work. While I don’t mind discussing things in these places, I don’t think I could ever feel comfortable actually writing in one of them. There are too many distractions. Plus, writing is by definition a solitary activity. When I’m working on something I always have a bunch of papers with handwritten notes close at hand. So what do you do when you’ve got your notes all spread out on the table next to your computer and you suddenly have to go to the bathroom? I don’t know about you, but I sure wouldn’t leave my computer sitting unguarded in a public place. Nor would I leave my handwritten scribbling for that matter.

Trying to write in a garret would be almost as bad. A small, cramped space doesn’t sound conducive to producing prose, at least not for me. I prefer a bit of room, in case I have to leap to my feet and dance about the room, shadowboxing or trying out some action moves before putting them on paper. (You can probably see why the coffeehouse option wouldn’t work out too well either. The manager would probably be telling the paramedics to bring the straitjacket.) I used to have a room set aside as an office, where I composed on my old computer. I’ve since transitioned to a laptop, which I can easily move from place to place. For the last few months I’ve been doing most of my writing at the kitchen table. It has a ring of old familiarity to it because back in high school that’s where I used to do my homework.

Having said all that, I will mention that a writer should be able to write just about anywhere. I’ve written things in trains, planes, and automobile. There were times when I even stole a few moments of writing time inside the police station. I always carry a pen and paper with me, especially if I’m in the middle of writing a novel. You never know when a scene or a new snippet of dialogue is going to come to you, and you’d better be able to write it down at that moment or you’ll probably later wish you had. When I was writing my caper novel, The Heist, I was working the night shift. I used to sleep during the days and patrol the streets at night. Remaining alert was paramount while I was working, so my writing time was scarce. Still, a lot of ideas would occur to me especially as I was driving into work. But trying to write something down while driving on the expressway can be dangerous as well as problematic. I solved this problem by carrying a small pocket tape-recorder with me. I’d switch it on and dictate the new ideas as I drove. Naturally, I’d have to rewrite and polish them later, but at least I got them down.

I’ve always done what I feel is my best writing when I felt comfortable. Finding the routine that’s right for you is the key. For the moment the kitchen table is ideal. I have a window that I can look through which gives me a good view of my neighbor’s old house, and the coffee pot is right across the room. I also have a blender handy in case I have a sudden desire for a smoothie. Once you get into a comfortable routine, the writing comes easily. It’s sort of like developing “muscle memory” at the gym when your regular workout becomes easier and easier until you can do it with rote skill.

That’s usually a sign that it’s time to shake things up, but I wouldn’t advocate this if you’re right in the middle of a project. Remain in your comfort zone until you finish it, then if you want to mix it up for the next one, go ahead. Sometimes a bit of variance can add new zest to your writing. Get into your new, established routine and stick to it. But the main thing is to find out what works best for you and write. The place, the techniques, the shadowboxing all are meaningless if you don’t get those words down on paper.

News! and... Garret or Coffeehouse?

NEWS FLASH!

• Ann Parker's SILVER LIES, the first in her Silver Rush historical mystery series, is now 99 cents in e-book formats! You can find it in Kindle and in Mobi and other formats.

Favorite Places

Writers like to lurk here and there as they ply their trade: the library, the coffeehouse, the kitchen, the "office" (which may double as a laundryroom or a guest room or...??). We'll be talking about our favorite lurking places this coming week with the topic GARRET OR COFFEEHOUSE?

 

My Source of Inspiration

Staci here, thinking about character inspiration.

Potential characters are all around us, from the heavily-tattooed Starbucks barista to the lady who walks her dog five or six times a day to the neighbor who always hides inside his house. And, of course, literature provides an endless supply of characters to study and be inspired by. Who wouldn’t want to be as smart and observant as Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple? Or as plucky and resourceful as Nancy Drew?

While books have presented fascinating characters for centuries, I’ve found that my largest source of character inspiration is television. Perhaps that’s because I watch quite a bit of TV (something that was never more obvious than this week after my cable box died and the new one took several days to arrive), but more likely it’s because I’m a fan of serialized programs.  I see the same people week after week in these shows and become familiar with their mannerisms until one day, I realize that a single character has risen above the others. That’s when I stop and try to figure out exactly why I like that character more than the others. It usually boils down to some unusual personality trait that creates unexpected humor.

Take Detective Cho, a regular on The Mentalist. He’s a no-nonsense straight shooter, not one to be trifled with. But at least once an episode, he delivers a deadpan observation that makes me laugh. Fill an entire hour with these statements, and the effect would immediately disappear, but offer up the occasional one-liner, and the impact is always spot-on.

Another favorite character is Walter on Fringe. He’s a brilliant scientist with a childlike naiveté. It’s a wonderful combination that keeps his actions and statements fresh and surprising. He livens up every scene he’s in with his random requests for favorite foods or certain music, even while staring at a dismembered body or unidentifiable creature. For all his quirks, his scientific acumen is never in question.

What do these two characters have in common? They both represent stereotypical roles (serious cop, genius scientist) that could easily go unnoticed in the rest of the cast. However, writers from both shows have given them each a unique twist that lifts them above the crowd of sameness and makes them note-worthy.

I try to keep this in mind when I’m creating new characters for my own books. First, I figure out what role they’re filling, such as a nosy neighbor, a disapproving boss, or a stern police officer, and then I try to figure out what unexpected characteristics I can give them that will break that mold and help them stand out. If I get stuck, I put away the manuscript and go watch a little TV, curious to see which character will inspire me next.

Which TV characters inspire you?

The People in My Head

by Margaret Lucke

A few years ago I took a short road trip with my good friend Penny, whom I've known since our college days. As we drove we chatted, the way old friends do, about our dreams, our daily lives, and the ways we would fix the world if only someone had the good sense to put us in charge. I mentioned the book I was writing, and she asked me this:

"What’s it like to have people running around inside your head all the time?"

The question startled me. "What? You mean you don’t have them?"

"Not at all. I can’t imagine it. Is it like hearing voices?"

Now Penny is someone with a direct line to the creative process. She's a brilliant cook who serves the most amazing dishes. A talented seamstress who tossed together fantastic costumes out of nothing for our college theater. A devoted lover of art, music and literature. And she didn't have people occupying her head? How did her brain work then? How could she possibly think?

Since then, I've discovered that it's actually rare to have a head filled with people. I’ve met other fiction writers who share this trait, but usually when I mention it to someone I get a strange look, as if the person is assessing whether I need to the services of my friendly neighborhood mental institution.

Perhaps I do. But I have a hard time understanding how anyone's mental processes could possibly function in a different way.

I've had people wandering around in my brain ever since I can remember. They're my equivalent of imaginary playmates. They tell me stories, ask me questions, give me answers, and help me clarify my thinking. I've heard that writing is a lonely profession, and in lots of ways that's true. But even when I'm at my desk by myself, I'm never really alone.

Some of the people in my head turn into characters in my novels and short stories. Often what sparks a story is a snatch of conversation that comes drifting through my brain. That sets me on a journey to discover who's talking, and how they're connected to each other, and what they're discussing and why. Gradually the story emerges.

My first novel, A Relative Stranger, began this way. Walking to a bus stop, my mind let me overhear a late-night phone conversation. The woman who answered the phone clearly found the call unwelcome. She turned out to be a private investigator named Jess Randolph; the caller was her estranged father, turning up after many years to ask for her help because he was the prime suspect in a murder. Was he guilty? Would she help him? What would they do next?

I may be making the process sound easier than it is. The people in my head don't always want to be promoted from random guest to Story Character. Once they have me intrigued, they all too often ignore me. They fight me off or hide behind the curtains. They take a vow of silence. Sometimes they disappear. And sometimes, gradually, after I beg and plead and cajole, they start to reveal their secrets. At last the story is underway.

 

Mix and Match for Characters...

Ann Parker here, LadyKiller on alternate Thursdays, pondering what inspires the creation of various characters. Well, like most folks, I take bits here and there. The eyes from a friend, the smile from a stranger, the clueless evil behavior of a boss-gone-bad ... Characteristics and physical traits from the past and the present, the well-known and the unknown. Throw them in a blender, and there you have it! (My clumsy explanation: Think of Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head of yore, with the various noses, ears and lips and extend that to not just physical characteristics but character traits as well.... And I remember when we used *real* potatoes, not these plastic fakey ones that come in a kit...)

I've noted that it's not just writers that do this mix and match. One of my kids is artistically inclined, and I'm always coming across sheets of "memes" for hairstyles, noses, eyes, chins, shoes, etc. etc. ... In fact, I found one just now, for hairstyles, so captured it with my trusty iPhone.

I suppose one could use sheets/prompts like this in a kind of artistic "mix and match" way to develop a character for a drawing. It's fascinating to me to see this process in a different venue from my usual keyboard and screen!

If you're curious about some of the inspiration behind the characters in my Silver Rush series, I wrote a couple of blog posts in recent months talking about the *real* Inez Stannert (here on Gayle Gresham's blog) and some of the real-life people behind Mercury's Rise (on my own, somewhat neglected Silver Rush Mysteries blog right here).

It's Not What You Know . . .

 It's my pleasure to welcome LOIS WINSTON to LadyKillers. I love this new twist on an old topic.

Full disclosure: Besides being a wonderful writer, Lois is my also my extraordinary agent. Lucky me!

It’s not what you know…
by Lois Winston

First, I want to thank Camille Minichino for inviting me to guest blog today at LadyKillers as part of my month-long blog tour to promote the release of Death By Killer Mop Doll, the second book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. And no, this isn’t another blog about writing what you know. We writers have talked that topic to death, haven’t we? This is a blog about whom you know.

The other day I overheard someone grumbling about someone else’s good fortune. “It’s not what you know,” she said. “It’s who you know.” This was in regard to a job she lost out on, not to a more qualified candidate, according to this woman, but due to nepotism. As I eavesdropped, I wondered if it had more to do with a better command of grammar on the part of the woman who’d scored the position, but that’s not the point here.

The conversation got me thinking. Had I ever benefiting, not by my talents, but by knowing the right person? I could only come up with one instance. When I was in college, I was hired over Christmas break as a gift wrapper at a privately owned women’s department store. I stood in the store’s drafty display window for eight hours at a stretch, wrapping gifts, as shoppers hurried by on the street outside.

After working in the window for a week, I was introduced to the store’s owner. On hearing my last name, he asked if I was related to a friend of his. “Yes,” I said. “He’s my father’s cousin.” I was immediately promoted from gift wrapper to sales clerk. No more drafty window. I now had to deal with obnoxious, wealthy customers who treated me like pond scum. But hey, I got a 25 cent an hour raise, and for a college student putting herself through school on scholarships and student loans, every additional quarter counted.

Now the funny thing about this story is that I’d never met my father’s cousin, although we lived not too far from him. My grandfather was one of 13 children. My father had scores of first cousins, most of whom had little or nothing to do with my father. That’s another story for another time, though. For now, let’s just say I’ve used my father as fodder for several antagonists in my books.

“It’s not what you know but whom you know” is the hook that propels the action in Death By Killer Mop Doll. In Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, Anastasia initially learns of her husband’s gambling addiction when he drops dead at a casino in Las Vegas, and she’s confronted with the massive debt he’s secretly accrued.

In Death By Killer Mop Doll, Anastasia’s well-meaning, but oft-misguided mother, hooks up (in the Gen X sense) with the producer of a morning TV show. Mama convinces him that his faltering ratings will turn around if he revamps the show and hires Anastasia and her fellow editors as “experts.” Mama is very pleased with herself for having found another stream of income for Anastasia until the editors discover there’s a clause in their contracts that forces them to work on the show (which is owned by the same conglomerate that owns their magazine) without additional pay.

So in this case, “It’s not what you know but whom you know” totally backfires. A disgruntled member of the production team trashes the set and leaves one of Anastasia’s mop dolls behind as a calling card. Vandalism escalates into blackmail, then murder, and Anastasia finds herself in a killer’s crosshairs. Talk about best laid plans!

Have you ever benefited from knowing the right person or had a connection backfire on you?

As part of my blog tour, I’m giving away five signed copies of Death By Killer Mop Doll. To enter to win a copy, post a comment to this blog post or any of the blogs on the tour. The full tour schedule can be found at my website, http://www.loiswinston.com and the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog, http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com. In addition, I’m also giving away 3 copies of Death By Killer Mop Doll on Goodreads, http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/15173-death-by-killer-mop-doll


 

Lois Winston is the author of the critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries published by Midnight Ink. Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist and was recently nominated for a Readers Choice Award by the Salt Lake City Library System. The new year brings with it the release of Death By Killer Mop Doll, the second book in the series. Read an excerpt at http://www.loiswinston.com/excerptap2.html. Visit Lois at her website: http://www.loiswinston.com and Anastasia at the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com. You can also follow Lois and Anastasia on Twitter @anasleuth.

 

 

Character Inspiration

Characters are odd creatures. Some arrive fully formed like the proverbial Athena from the head of Zeus. Others slip out of a fog, growing clearer as they come closer. My two were from the fog ilk.

Prioress Eleanor began simply as a small nun, quite young, hands folded and very serious. For some reason, she soon let me know that she had had a suitor in her teens and once solved a problem for him, proving she was rather a clever clogs (to quote the more modern Inspector Lewis). As she emerged from the fog, I saw a sparkle in her eyes, suggesting she was no grump. The hints about the former suitor suggested she might even have a tiny issue with those sins of the flesh. “But you have to have a genuine vocation,” I said. She nodded agreeably, and we became friendlier, especially after I discovered she had a cat instead of all the other usual pets known to prioresses. A little independent, I decided. Liked that.

At first, Brother Thomas was just obligatory. My prioress needed a side-kick to go places she couldn’t and talk to people she oughtn’t. He always was a handsome sort, tall and with auburn hair, but he quickly let me know he would not be secondary to anyone. We actually had a fight over whether he or his prioress would own the first chapter in Tyrant of the Mind. I couldn’t write the book until he won. “If you aren’t a wimp, Prioress Eleanor might fall in love with you,” I snapped, “and you with her.” He grinned. “No problem,” he said, “I’m gay.” Oh, goody, I thought. Does he have any idea how difficult that research is going to be? In short, he won again: he’s a medieval gay man, and he is a full sleuth to Prioress Eleanor. And he continues to give me angst in each book because he refuses to be anything but surprising. Although I would never tell him this, I find his obstinacy rather fun.

Characters are always some reflection of us. Prioress Eleanor and Brother Thomas have a scribe who ignores almost all books on the New York Times Best-Seller list, longs for good biographies of little discussed historical people like James Buchanan or the Welsh medieval princes, and loves to find facts about an era that shatter popular assumptions including my own. So, like it or not, my two belong to an Order that was controversial, lesser known but popular in the Middle Ages. And they manage to point up little discussed or unexpected elements of medieval life during the course of their adventures.

Like most good characters, Prioress Eleanor and Brother Thomas fight with me over their continuing evolution. As they started out, she tends to be more agreeable and he less so. Part of character inspiration is the ongoing surprise, but isn’t that part of the joy of writing?

Math and Life

I thought  math quotes would be an appropriate placeholder for Mary Anna:

If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is.  -- von Neumann

Also from  von Neumann, who was quite a CHARACTER: In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them.

NEWS and Character Inspiration

NEWS FLASHES!!

• Priscilla Royal's Medieval mystery series featuring Prioress Eleanor and Brother Thomas have been picked up by Head of Zeus publishing for print and e-reader distribution to the Commonwealth, excluding Canada.

"... They just walked into my mind" (Uh-huh, sure they did)

Just where do those characters all come from? Are they all cleverly disguised bits of the author or people from the author's past? Is the villian a thinly-disguised ex-boss, the love interest a mirror image of a lost love from high school?

It's "tell-all" time at the LadyKillers, so grab your favorite cuppa and join us for the last week of January as we delve into Character Inspiration!

"To imagine yourself inside another person...is what a story writer does in every piece of work; it is his first step, and his last too, I suppose." —Eudora Welty

 

The Artist in the Character of Design Listening to the Inspiration of Poetry, by Angelica Kauffmann (1741-1807)