I’ve said it often so you probably know I’m a pantser.
My process is messy but I’ve written ten books using it: four NYPD Detective Chiara Corelli Mysteries, four romances, an award winning general fiction, and Love Among the Ruins, a romance that will be published in June.
Now I’m writing my fifth Corelli and Parker mystery and my process isn’t working.
Usually the characters and the issue I want to explore in the book come to me while I’m writing and I write as much as I know and fill in the holes when I rewrite the first draft. This time, however, I had an idea about the issue and the murder victim so I started doing background research while I was writing the soon to be published romance.
I knew who I was going to kill
I started with a blank screen, as usual, and I wrote about seven thousand words introducing new readers to Detectives Corelli and Parker and bringing series readers up to date on them and their relationship. Then I wrote the murder scene, a bloody one. It didn’t feel right but I couldn’t figure out how to fix it. Nor could I figure out where to go next.
I was stuck
So I decided I needed to know more about this person and I began to, gasp, develop the character by doing the following things which, usually, I might or might not do later in the process.
- Drew a detailed map of the victim’s home.
- Developed the character of the victim.
- Wrote diary entries for the victim.
- Identified potential suspects and their secrets.
- Did more character research.
- Mapped out the contradictory aspects of the character personality. I’ve used this technique from Paula Munier’s book, Plot Perfect, before to strengthen a character but not before I already knew who the character was.
- Listed the important series characters, what’s happening for them now, and their potential subplots based on events in the previous books.
But
The more I learned about the character the more attached I became. And I finally understood. The character doesn’t want to die.
Now I’m thinking about a different victim.
What about you? Do your characters ever take charge?
Catherine Maiorisi
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In addition to publishing multiple mystery and romance short stories in various anthologies, Catherine has authored four romances novels. Her latest book, The Disappearance of Lindy James, was awarded a GOLDIE for Best General Fiction.
Best of luck finding a character who will cooperate with being killed off. 🙂
Hi Mark,
I haven’t run into this problem in my previous four NYPD Detective Chiara Corelli Mysteries so it was a surprise. And everything I did to get a handle on the character resulted in heels being dug in. A strange experience.
What a fascinating insider’s look into the workings of a pantser brain! Good luck in finding that new victim.
I’ve changed a murderer once in seven mysteries but never the victim! That’s where I start: with who is murdered and why. I’ll be interested in hearing who you decide to kill off, Catherine!