‘On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time.’ Quote from George Orwell.
This quote appeals to me. Perhaps it is my Australian temperament. Perfection can be boring; I’ve tried it, briefly! Where as the stress of being totally bad must be harrowing. I guess that most of you must enter the psyche of your characters and experience the emotions of their varying temperaments. Or can you write about them without taking their feelings on board?
I’d love to hear how it affects you when you write from different perspectives. From my point of view, I’m not good at writing the villains. Here I’m beginning to practise and see how wicked they can be with out upsetting myself. Reading murder mysteries is, probably, my favourite leisure time activity. But writing about a murderer is totally another matter. Blood and guts are not subjects that comes easily.
Would writing about murderers upset your dream life? How wicked do you like to make your main characters? I’d love to hear from any of you who delve into these depths.
Barbara Pyett 
Your last comment Maggie, I think I feel the same!
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Hi Barbara – no fiction/character advice from me – so far, I’m strictly non-fiction. But I have heard from people who play villains on stage, and they say that it is quite enjoyable to affect a dastardly demeanor. I don’t know if there is any cross over between acting and writing?
But I do imagine that if I tried to write an evil character, especially for his/her POV, or even from any POV, I’d be too troubled by the nastiness.
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Interesting thought! I expect there’s quite a similarity! Good to hear from you again Maggie!
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I have never read a novel, maybe I should at least try. 😛
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You don’t know what you’re missing till you try!! Love to hear what you think, am sure it won’t be just one book!!
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Love the quote – probably my Australian temperament as well. We’re an irreverent lot, loathe to let go of our convict beginnings!
Detective stories/psychological thrilllers are my favourites too, but I could never write one. Don’t have the plotting ability.
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I’m sure you do, but I know I don’t have the ability! I just read hundreds and get lost in them.
Yes, I have convicts on one side of the family, the irreverence is there…
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As a human being, I like to be cheeky and I like cheek too. There is too much pomposity in the world and I believe it’s our moral duty to prick it at every available opportunity.
When it comes to baddies in books. I like them bad, really bad, but pantomime bad and I especially enjoy seeing them get fried at the end. Although that said, I like complicated baddies or even baddies who turn into goodies like Darth Vader. I suppose when you’re writing them, they develop like any character so I never really know at the outset if they’re going to be wholly bad, pantomime bad or just a little bit bad.
Cheers
MTM
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Thank you MT, i like your thinking. Pricking pomposity appeals to me. I do feel like a beginner with this writing malarkey!
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😉
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Great quote 🙂 I have a hard time writing villains, even when I understand their motivations!
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That is good to hear that you find it difficult to write the baddies too. Thanks for your comment.
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Like you I enjoy reading murder mysteries but can never see myself wanting to write one (apart from the degree of difficulty. ) The Orwell quote is a rather splendid one.
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Simon, I don’t think I will ever write one either. Thank you for your comment, yes I like the quote a lot.
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All I can do is offer you a new author to follow, Ba m’love: the American writing team of mother and son, publishing as Charles Todd. The Ian Rutledge books, about a Scotland Yard detective just returned from WWII, are quite amazingly good ! But you must start at the beginning.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/t/charles-todd/
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Thank you M-R, I shall follow up your suggestion. I don’t think I will ever be a crime writer, but I certainly enjoy reading them.
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