Peg Herring's Blog – April 2009 Archive (22)

Launching an Investigation

I tried watching LIE TO ME last night and found it disappointing on a number of levels. One that sticks in my mind this morning is the protag's lack of any real reason to begin an investigation. I know, TV shows have to get into the action quickly, and we're supposed to believe that this man has an instinct for such things. I will let it go.

In my own work, however, I try for a higher standard. I ask myself, "Are my protags justified?" in each step of the mystery. In the first place,… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 2, 2009 at 9:54pm — 6 Comments

Those Who Ask Too Much

It occurs to me that really intriguing secondary characters are often those who want more from the protag than he/she wants to give. Sometimes it's "for his own good," sometimes he'd be better off without them. The situation creates opportunities for all sorts of things: depth of character for the protag, humor, pathos, and even tragedy. We all know the pressure such relationships create. The device is used so often it can be stereotypical, but when done well, it strikes a chord in the… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 1, 2009 at 11:12pm — 2 Comments