The Character Trinity

I first recognized the character trinity and its power when I watched the original STAR TREK.  

Kirk, Spock, and McCoy were an ideal heart, mind, and action trinity.  When a problem needed to be solved, Spock was the logical mind, McCoy the emotional heart, and Kirk took both and created the ideal action.  

These characters can also be considered a thesis, antithesis, and synthesis.  Two opposite sides of a problem from Spock and McCoy, and Kirk pulling both together to find the solution.  

Harry Potter, Hermione, and Ron are also a character trinity.

Three major characters like this can be a very powerful means of telling a story because they are not only working together but working against each other.  They can also reflect the complex nature of the book’s world or the moral dilemma of the story.  

A love triangle in a romance is almost never a character trinity because the conflict is about the relationships themselves, not the way these characters react together in the real world.  

Instead, use the character trinity in more world-based stories like fantasy, science fiction, or adventure novels.  

If you decide to use a character trinity, your main character must always be the action taker or the synthesis.  The other two tend to be either passive or reactive which makes a very poor hero.

Links of Interest

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES FROM THE HERO’S JOURNEY:

http://mythcreants.com/blog/the-eight-character-archetypes-of-the-heros-journey/

EXAMPLES OF GREAT CHARACTER ARCS IN POPULAR MOVIES:

http://mythcreants.com/blog/ten-movies-with-strong-character-arcs/

THE TWELVE STEPS TO INTIMACY, PART 2:

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2014/03/the12-steps-to-intimacy-part-2.html

CREATING YOUR OWN PUBLISHING COMPANY AND WHY YOU SHOULD:

http://kriswrites.com/2014/03/19/the-business-rusch-when-the-old-ways-work-discoverability-part-13/

FINDING THE RIGHT EDITOR:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/03/finding-your-perfect-editor-and-editing.html

HOW TO KEEP YOUR READER HOOKED EVEN IF YOUR MAIN CHARACTER IS UNLIKABLE:

http://writershelpingwriters.net/2014/03/killed-2-unlikable-characters/

BRUSH UP YOUR GRAMMAR, WHEN IT’S A GOOD TIME TO USE A HYPHEN:

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/03/21/a-simple-hyphenation-rule-that-is-well-advised/

STRATEGIES FOR CREATING CHARACTER:

http://www.magicalwords.net/specialgueststars/stephen-leigh-on-seven-strategies-for-characterization-part-ii/

WAYS TO KEEP READERS READING:

http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2014/03/6-ways-to-keep-readers-up-past-their.html

CRAFTING AN ENDING THAT SINGS:

http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2014/03/24/crafting-an-ending-that-sings/

CRAFTING HIGH STAKES:

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/03/26/the-secret-to-crafting-high-stakes

Reality versus Fiction

"The way things happen in romance novels don't truly reflect the way things happen in our subjectively real universe. " -- Comment from reader on a list I read.

The truth of the matter is nothing reflects the "real world" of experience. Not fiction, not nonfiction, not bland news reports, not even media like film and TV. Reality is simply too complex.

A writer uses her own vision of the universe to create her fiction. That vision is ordered so that the complex chaos of reality makes sense and has a pattern. 

If readers find her vision of reality to be truthful for them, (they buy into her vision and understand it), the writer has been successful. Part of that "buying in" is seeing the complexity of human personality and the male/female romantic relationship reflected in that writing.

Since so many women read romance, romance must reflect emotional, if not physical, reality for women. 

In the same sense, most of us don't believe in vampires, but that doesn't prevent us from enjoying a good vampire romance. Those of us who analyze our responses to books see that the vampire romance reflects certain emotional needs and power issues for us so it is emotionally real although not "reality" real.

Links of Interest

13 WAYS TO SELL MORE BOOKS:

http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/2014/03/13-ways-to-sell-more-books.html

POPULAR TWITTER HASHTAGS FOR WRITERS:

http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/2014/03/popular-hashtags-and-how-to-use-them.html

THE BENEFITS OF REGISTERING YOUR COPYRIGHTS:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/copyright-registration-in-the-contract-beyond/

STRATEGIES FOR CREATING CHARACTERS:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/copyright-registration-in-the-contract-beyond/

WRITING A FIGHT SCENE:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/03/put-up-your-dukes-writing-fight-scene.html

STEPHEN KING ON THE EVIL ADVERB:

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/03/13/stephen-king-on-adverbs/

VIDEO EXPLAINING THE OXFORD COMMA, YEAH OR NAY:

http://youtu.be/ptM7FzyjtRk

WHY AUTHORS ARE NO LONGER INTERESTED IN HARLEQUIN:

http://www.thepassivevoice.com/03/2014/lessons-publishers-can-learn-from-harlequins-annual-results/

THE INITIAL STEPS OF WORLDBUILDING:

http://fantasy-faction.com/2014/the-initial-steps-of-worldbuilding-architect-gardener-tourist

WHEN TO SHOW, WHEN TO TELL, AND WHEN TO DO BOTH:

http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2014/03/18/when-to-show-when-to-tell-and-when-to-do-a-bit-of-both/

SELF PUBS, WHERE YOU NEED TO SPEND YOUR MONEY:

http://labelleseditorialservices.com/blog/indie-authors-spend-money/

JUMP STARTING A STALLED STORY:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/03/five-ways-to-jump-start-stalled-story.html

CONFLICT SHOULD HAVE A PURPOSE:

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/03/19/creating-conflict-with-a-purpose

Fantasy and Reality

In my dream, I walked into the snack bar of the student union of my alma mater. Daniel, the hero of my first novel, sat at one of the tables. He melted me with a sexy megawatt smile and purred, "Hello, Penn."

The awake part of me cringed--Penn was the heroine's name--and muttered, "You're going over the edge, Byerly. Writing IS a form of schizophrenia." 

"Uh..., hello, Daniel." I sat down beside him and decided, to heck with mental illness, I was going to enjoy myself. 

Even after many years, that dream remains vivid. It was my first encounter with the gray shadings between fantasy and reality in a writer's life. I know the difference between the two, every writer must. I've also learned their interplay enriches my characters and my life.

Parts of me litter my novels like confetti at a party--Tony Chaucer wears the ratty man's bathrobe I refused to stop wearing, Ariel at five snuggles with my teddy bear, and David has my vermouth dry sense of humor. Those parts help my characters live.

But each character is more than just chucks of me. They have thoughts and wisdom I've never had. 

I've borrowed Daniel's genius for quick puns and dear Nelson's serene wisdom and faith when my own was sadly lacking. In this manner, my characters have given back as much as I've given them. Almost like real friends. 

Are you wondering what happened in that dream about sexy Daniel? We sat and discussed his own college days. You see, fantasy like reality doesn't always have the expected ending.

Links of Interest

FORENSICS, DO TWINS HAVE THE SAME DNA?

http://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/do-identical-twins-have-different-dna/

WHEN DISASTER HAPPENS, HOW WILL IT AFFECT A CHARACTER?

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/03/are-your-characters-living-in-moment-or.html

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR WRITING REALLY DOES STINK:

http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-to-know-if-your-writing-really-does.html

HOW TO FIX 1ST PERSON POINT OF VIEW PROBLEMS:

http://marcykennedy.com/2014/03/3-common-problems-first-person-pov-fix

WRITING TENSION:

http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2014/03/07/walking-the-high-wire-the-art-of-writing-tension/

10 TIPS ABOUT WRITING ABOUT COPS:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/03/10-tips-for-writing-about-law.html

HOW TO USE A CREATED FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN YOUR STORY:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/03/how-to-use-foreign-languages-real-or.html

HOW TO REACH READERS:

http://writershelpingwriters.net/2014/03/tips-reaching-readers/

CREATING CHARACTERS READERS CARE ABOUT:

http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2014/03/10/creating-characters-readers-care-about/

THE PROS AND CONS OF USING TWITTER FOR PROMO:

http://writerunboxed.com/2014/03/08/should-you-be-on-twitter/

AVOIDING THE CLICHES OF CHARACTER EXPRESSION:

http://writershelpingwriters.net/2014/03/emotion-hero-shrug-smile-frown-much/

WRITING VIOLENCE:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2010/09/getting-violently-epic.html

THE PASSIONATE CHARACTER AND THE BOOK’S GOAL:

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/03/12/the-sensitive-passionate-character

DIALOGUE TAGS:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2010/04/re-write-wednesday-hey-who-said-that.html

PITCHING YOUR BOOK AT A CONFERENCE:

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2014/03/getting-ready-to-pitch.html

“REAL” SHOULD MAKE SENSE:

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2014/03/are-your-plots-and-characters-real.html

CUTTING THE WORDS “START” AND “BEGIN” TO MAKE YOUR WRITING STRONGER:

https://awritersgallery.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/writing-craft-tone-your-writing-style-cut-begin-and-start-by-rayne-hall/

TYING UP LOOSE ENDS, SHOULD YOU TIE ALL OF THEM UP?

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2014/03/loose-ends-in-your-story.html

THE IDEA ISN’T ALL YOUR STORY:

http://fantasy-faction.com/2014/writing-multi-layered-narratives-by-adam-christopher

Ice, Ice, Baby!

My apologies for missing my Monday post.  

My city was hit by a major ice storm, and I was without power and Internet for five days, and I've just gotten both back.

Since I'm so far behind on collecting my "Links of Interest," it will be posted a day late, Thursday.  

I will return to my regular schedule on Monday.

Links of Interest

PERFECT BOOK TITLES:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/02/titles-first-impression-novel-makes.html

EMOTIONAL WOUNDS AND CHARACTERS:

http://writershelpingwriters.net/2014/02/help-character-wounds-list-common-themes/

SECONDARY CHARACTERS, WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/who-needs-secondary-characters/

BRUSH UP YOUR GRAMMAR, WHEN TO USE HYPENS WITH NUMBERS AND COLORS:

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/02/28/hyphenating-numbers-and-colors/

WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR MAIN CHARACTER MODERATELY LIKABLE:

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/02/26/make-me-like-your-protagonist-or-ill-stop-reading/

SOCIAL MEDIA FOR PROMO, PART 2:

http://kriswrites.com/2014/02/26/the-business-rusch-social-media-part-2-or-discoverability-part-10-continued/

THE CUTE MEET IN A ROMANCE:

http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-cute-is-your-meet-cute.html

DIALOGUE TIPS:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/ten-dialogue-tips/

FIVE WAYS TO HOOK YOUR READER:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/03/5-ways-to-hook-your-readers.html

NOVEL TIME:

http://bstaveley.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/nebraska-stumps-newton-three-types-of-literary-time/

WHAT HAUNTS YOUR CHARACTER?

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2014/03/character-arcs-4.html

POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN DEVELOPING A CHARACTER:

http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2014/03/6-key-things-to-consider-when.html

TIPS FOR CREATING UNLIKEABLE CHARACTERS A READER WILL RELATE TO:

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/03/05/resonating-with-both-classic-heroes-and-dark-protagonists/

Choosing the Traits of Traditional Monsters

When you write a story about monsters, legends, and myths, you have to decide whether you’ll use the traditional information or not.

Part of your decision will be determined by the choice of magic or reality.  Are your creatures real in the sense they make scientific sense and follow the rules of the real world, or are they magic based so they can break all the laws of science and the real world?

Another part of your decision is whether you embrace all the “facts” about your creature or not.

Take vampires.  Some of the common folklore traits are

• They are undead humans.
• Bright sunlight kills them.
• A stake made of a specific wood will kill them if it goes through their heart.
• They prey on humans by drinking their blood.
• They have fangs.
• They turn into bats or some other creature.
• Their reflection can’t be seen in a mirror because they have no soul.

In a reality-based story, some of these facts can be worked with.  Vampirism could be a type of blood virus, for example.

Other facts like shape changing won’t work without some serious fudging of science, and the matter of changing mass must be considered.  If a vampire can change into a bat, the bat must weigh the same as the vampire so the bat would need wings as big as a small plane’s to get off the ground.  

And then there are facts that make no sense whatsoever in the real world or a world with magic.  

If a vampire can’t be seen in a mirror because it doesn’t have a soul, does that mean that your clothes, toothbrush, and the wall behind you in the bathroom mirror have souls?  

I don’t think so, either.  

In defense of those who came up with this silly vampire notion, until the last two centuries, most people didn’t have a mirror, and the mirrors that were around were tiny and blurry.  

If you decide to change any of the important facts about your vampire or other creature, you need to give the reader some reason for your decision.  Your vampire can tell his new ladylove that he’s perfectly capable of walking in the sunlight, and the belief that he can’t has been a standard misinformation campaign by vampires for thousands of years so they can walk among humans without discover and can take prey during the day without the prey being aware of the danger.

Whether you use the traditional traits or not, be sure to think very carefully about them so they make sense within the world you have created for your creatures.