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Fiction Corner

Alison Hawke

Warts and all

No-one's perfect and some of us are downright odd. The most interesting characters I've met are ones that are not 100% black or white but shades of grey, with some interesting quirks thrown in. When I'm designing characters I try to give them some depth and colour with strange habits, attitudes or obsessions. It makes writing them much more fun.

Rob Fleming, the main character from the novel "High Fidelity" by Nick Hornby, lives his life in Top Five lists, such as his top five worst break-ups, top five songs he wants played at his funeral, top five bands or musicians that will have to be shot come the musical revolution, and top five floor fillers at a nightclub where Rob used to be DJ. Periodically he reorders his vast record collection into alphabetical or chronological order, or purchase order.

Arthur Dent, hero of Douglas Adam's Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, ends up travelling through space in his dressing gown, looking for a decent cup of tea.

Superman had two weaknesses, kryptonite and Lois Lane. Without those, he would have been untouchable, he would have won every fight easily, and we would have been bored. Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in the 1984 film The Terminator didn't have any weaknesses or quirks. He was an unadulterated bad guy and everyone cheered when he got crushed at the end of the film, because there was nothing to like in the character.

In the film Gone in Sixty Seconds the main character is Randall "Memphis" Raines (played by Nicolas Cage), an expert car thief who gave up crime. To save his brother's life, he must steal fifty cars in one night. But before he starts planning the thefts, he goes to see his mother. Why? Because he promised her not to steal cars again. Raines has to get his mother's permission.

Take a look at one of your favourite characters and look for what makes them memorable. Is it clothing? Speech? The fact that they cook steak every Friday for their Rottweiler? Their quietly obsessive figurine-collecting habit? The black walls in their bedroom, festooned with chalk drawings? How about someone who has their funeral service planned out by their twenty-second birthday? Perhaps your character has a scar from the time he was attacked by a poodle when he was trying to deliver the newspaper.

When you create characters, try giving them some quirks and weaknesses. Next month's column will be an interview with Australian author Kate Orman. See you then.

For every problem there is one solution which is simple, neat, and wrong. H. L. Mencken

Drabble of the Month

Thanks to all who sent in drabbles about waiting. This month's winners are Ferna Mills and Darcy Love.

The Waiting Game by Ferna Mills Glancing at my watch again for the fourth time in the last thirty seconds, I felt my anger growing. He said he would be here by now. I believed he was coming. As usual, I was wrong. Every moment spent waiting seemed like a lifetime. Where is he? My mother warned me about guys like him. Full of empty promises. I finally decided he was one man I could live without. The waiting game is over. Reaching down behind the commode, I turned the valve. To my surprise, the water stopped! The services of the plumber are no longer required. Waiting For... by Darcy Love Erupting from the gate, like a wayward comet, an explosion of enraged bold energy. My knees are tight against the force, body tense, muscles taught like steel cable. Surge skyward and then wrench left. The earth comes crashing towards me. The roaring in my ears is my own heart screaming the beats. Again skyward, twisting right and down again. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Tension grips me harder as my head snaps back. My feet thrust forward, then back in rhythm with the force. It seems like an hour passes waiting for the eight-second buzzer. Who will win, the bull or me?

The theme for October is obscure (due September 10th), from Dawn Arkin. The theme for November is "when?" (due October 10th), suggested by Judy Skapik, and the theme for December is unpredictable (due November 10th), suggested by Judy Bagshaw. If you have any ideas for drabble themes, please email me.

PLEASE read the drabble submission guidelines and use the spell checker before sending in your entry. Also state which month the drabble is for. Only one entry per person per month.

Email your drabbles and themes to me at alison@4-writers.com.