June 19, 2017:  Motive

Why do we want what we want when we want it? What makes people lust after what others have? Greed? Power? Jealousy? I’m doing an exercise in motive--trying to get inside my villain’s head in my current WIP (sequel to BLOOD MONEY, tentatively titled BLOOD MOON {another shout-out to my highly-talented critique partner, Nancy Allen for the excellent suggestion of a title.})

But back to motive. Monica wants everything Alex has: her money, her possessions, her life, it seems. Is Monica jealous because Alex inherited Aunt Ria’s wealth, while Monica had to work for everything she has? Raise your hand if you learned from your mother that you appreciate everything more if you have to work for it.

In order to better understand Monica, I came up with a plan. I “fleshed” out profiles for all my MCs (main characters). Profiles that will never make it into the story. Character sketches that guide me as a writer to know how the character thinks, acts, sits, dresses. Those keys are critical to form personalities--personalities that help the reader know when that person is speaking without even using their name.

 Below is an example of a character sketch for the often referred to, but already deceased (in books 1 and 2) Aunt Ria:  The oldest daughter of the Bakers of Boston, MA; Ria, (as she was known) grew up in splendor and wealth in the late 1930’s. She was a tall lady, of slender build and once dark auburn hair, (and later in life, slightly graying), which she wore up in a bun on the top of her head (wispy tendrils escaped around her face and back of her neck--curls that refused to be tamed). At the tender age of twenty-one, Ria’s beloved fiancé was killed in WWI. Ria never married. Well educated, well-traveled, and well-versed in finance, Ria Baker established trust funds for community service, historical landmarks and continuing education for deserving students. She wore trousers most of her adult life -- long before it was accepted. She felt equally comfortable working alongside her horse trainers, as she did the well-cultured members of the Ladies’ Guild. Other people’s opinions were of no matter and she surrounded herself with good books, good food and good wine.

Dang! Aunt Ria was actually Katherine Hepburn!!! Who knew????