Reasons & Realities 17

Emotional Attachments

     

Beware of the character who takes on a life bigger than their role for they mean to have all.

Like most writers, I have falling into that singular (and on some occasions multiple) character(s) who have a very minor supporting role in a given story and yet draws all attention to them. There’s an old saying for actors that sums this up perfectly. There are no small parts, only small actors.  On more than one occasion while I was going through the process of putting together a manuscript that I’ve been confronted by (not only my editor, but) by my test readers. The word I want you to pay attention to is confronted boys and girls. Being confronted is much different than wanting to talk, asking questions to get clarification, and is definitely not giving encouragement. I’ve had people storm up to me as soon as I had walked into a room, were waiting for me at a door, call me up and destroy the phone’s speaker, drag a chair over to where I sat  so they could sit directly in front of me to insure they have my full attention. You may not need for me to say the reason for suffering the slings and arrows, but I’m going to say it anyway. Somehow a minor character had formed an emotional attachment with your readers (including editors) that is so strong that they will confront you with hostile intention when anything happens that they fanatically believe is unacceptable back away slowly. This is a warning to prepare yourself for the squeaky wheel, the wish for a spinoff, and protect yourself whenever the word dead in any form or fashion is written. Let’s take a look at those three, and keep a good sense of humor. You’re going to need it.

The Squeaky Wheel
     If it is at all possible, try to keep your discussion with your readers to a list of prewritten questions. Try to stay away from allowing them to talk about a secondary character. Ask direct questions about other characters if every point about your story leads back to the same secondary character. End your discussion whenever your reader says one word about any given secondary character has similarities to them or they always wished to be like your secondary character, or find the secondary character more interesting than the main characters or the story itself. Why?

    All productivity ends. Any hope to improve on your story is over. Most of all, nothing will satisfy the squeaky wheel is the word spinoff. If not, they will bug you constantly about your work will suffer unless their secondary characters that have their attention aren’t given a more prominent placement in your story. Sometime even doing a spin off isn’t a choice.

Spinoff
     If you are going to do a spinoff with a secondary character, do so only after careful consideration. If you have readers placing pressure on you, look at the numbers. If you are receiving peer-pressure from other writers, seriously consider it. However, you might wish to consider selecting only reader who was squeaky wheels. You might think that picking those who have an emotional connection to the spinoff character would be a no brainer. They would be excited, attention, and… Try fanatical! You would never get a chance to breathe or get anything helpful other than them snapping at your butt for more. Oh, but if you wish to see true madness, make the mistake to place a secondary character on the dead list.

 
Dead is Dead
     Just the impression that a favorite secondary character was being written out of the story, is taking your own health in your hands. How do I know this? I’ve had a very good and close friend and a sibling attack me, verbally of course. Just the thought (in their minds) of a secondary character that had gained their attention had caused them to act out of character. In other words, they had lost their minds and wanted to inform me that I they were far from happy. Those are far from their exact words, but even the raunchiest comedian couldn’t come close to both those confutations. Needless to say when they were able to calm down from their homicidal tendencies, all was right with the world, but all was far from forgiven. However, that spark did carry over to a feeling of anticipation for more. Do I smell sequel! Overall, try to be flexible, remember it’s not how you had gained the reader’s attention, but you have gained their attention, and most of all, be prepared for your first experience character groupies. They may be infarct your family and friends. Just write from your heart and be thankful for the attention. SD

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