One of my favorite components of writing is introducing characters.
This is your opportunity to share details with the audience about your players.
You can tease the information out in dribs and drabs, or make it read like an
FBI profile. It’s entirely up to you.
When facilitating a writer’s workshop or meeting with a high
school English class, I’ve often used this quick video from the first “Pirates
of the Caribbean” movie. It’s a great example of sharing details with the
audience. While it’s not the first glimpse you catch of Captain Jack Sparrow,
it’s definitely a memorable one.
Just like my characters, it’s important for me to mix up the
introductions. In some novels, I’ve
started with just a taste. Others it’s
been a more formal introduction. At times I’ll write one of each, then go back
and forth until I decide which one works best. Usually I’ll defer to the way my
players interact. Jamie may shake her head in dismay, impatient with little
information, demanding more. Hey, she’s a stubborn redhead. What more can I
say?
Often I’ll look at it from the
narrator’s perspective. After all, they’re the ones telling the story. I’m just
running alongside, writing it down.
Here’s an example from “Fleeing Beauty”. In this scene, Jamie and Linda are meeting
Harrison Mundy for the first time. Jamie hopes that Mundy may have information
about the robbery from her father’s studio.
We arrived at the
Townsend Hotel five minutes early. Something told me that Harrison Mundy was
not the type of man who would like to be kept waiting. At the hostess stand, an
attractive young woman wearing way too much makeup and perfume gave us a vague
smile.
“Are one of you Miss
Jamie Richmond?” she asked in a breathy voice, as if she’d just run up two
flights of stairs wearing stiletto heels.
“That’s me. We’re
supposed to be meeting someone.”
She nodded twice. I
noticed that her hair didn’t move when she did that. “Your party has already
arrived. Right this way.”
We followed her across
the room to a private corner table. I noticed there was no one else within
twenty feet of it. A distinguished looking man with a full head of silver hair
was already seated. As we drew closer he rose smoothly and extended his hand.
“You must be Miss Richmond.”
“Please, just call me
Jamie,” I said, lightly taking his hand.
“Thank you, Jamie.” He
turned smoothly to Linda. “May I presume that you are Miss Davis?”
She took a step back
in surprise before taking his hand. “I prefer Linda.”
He flashed a charming
smile at both of us. “I would be pleased if you will call me Harry. Let us sit
down.”
I noticed the place
setting that was to the right of his chair was disturbed. Linda took the seat on
his left and I took the one opposite him. Before we were settled, an exotic
looking beauty with silky black hair came over from the bar and took the empty
seat.
“This is Jocelyn.”
She smiled and nodded.
A waiter appeared with a tray of food.
“Perhaps a drink would
be in order?” Mundy said.
I ordered tonic water
and lime. Linda asked for a glass of chardonnay.
“How did you know who
I would bring along?”
Mundy flashed a smile
at me that was almost blinding in its brightness. “I prefer to know as much as
I can about the people I am meeting. Even though I am retired, I like to keep
my senses sharp.”
“So you’ve retired
from a life of crime?” I asked.
“Really, Jamie, you
know I am not a criminal. I was never convicted or even accused of an illegal
act. I have many interests that have been cultivated over the years. Is there a
particular area of my expertise that appeals to you?”
I took a moment to
study him while phrasing my response. He was very handsome, with the dazzling
smile, smooth complexion, and thick silver hair. He was fit and trim, perhaps a
little taller than me, which would put him about five-foot eight-inches
tall. I had no doubt the suit he was
wearing was tailor made for his frame. He spoke with an educated tone. His
nails were manicured.
“I would like to know
about art thefts, particularly the best way to do it. Did you always have a
buyer in mind?”
He chuckled dryly.
“Jamie, what makes you think I know anything about thievery?”
“Perhaps in your
studies of the subject, you learned how thieves work.”
“That is a very good
answer,” he said. “May I presume your interest stems from the recent discovery
of your father’s work?”
“He really did do his
research,” Linda said quietly.
“You may,” I replied
somewhat sullenly. It dawned on me that I was mimicking his precise way of
speaking. This wasn’t like me at all. And it was obvious that Mundy was in
complete control of the conversation and the situation. Disgusted with myself,
I speared a prawn with my fork and focused on sawing it into bite sized pieces.
“Miss Davis is quite
correct. Before I accepted your inquiry, I researched your background. It is
somewhat unsettling to discover how much information can be so readily
available on the Internet. Shall we dispense with the
formalities and the subterfuge?”
“What the hell. I’d
appreciate that.”
“Then tell me what it
is you are really interested in?”
“If you were going to
steal some of Peter’s artwork, how would you do it?”
Mundy leaned back in
his chair. “Suppose I give you a hypothetical example of the theft of some
artwork. Would that be helpful to your situation?”
“So if you were hypothetically going to steal
some of Peter’s artwork, how would you go about it?”
“There are many ways
to execute a perfect crime. But each one takes a great deal of careful planning
and preparation. Contingencies must be calculated as well.” Mundy raised a
hand. "Pardon me, Jamie, but
I do not want to know what is missing. You are asking me to postulate a
hypothetical robbery. I will need some time to consider various options. I must
ask your indulgence.”
Puzzled, I glanced
across the table at Jocelyn. She smiled and rose smoothly from her chair. I
realized Mundy was now on his feet as well.
“You’re leaving?”
Harrison Mundy dropped
his linen napkin on the table. I noticed his glass was empty and the appetizers
were gone. He shot his cuffs.
“Jocelyn and I have
another commitment.” He turned slightly toward Linda and lifted her hand.
Smoothly he bent forward and grazed his lips across her knuckles. “It has been
a delightful pleasure to meet you both.”
Linda’s cheeks flared
red. “Thank you,” she stammered.
Mundy turned to me. I
was standing now, trying to figure out how to prolong the conversation. His eyes were twinkling as he looked at me.
“Your reputation is
well deserved, Jamie. I must admit to be intrigued by your—situation. When the time is right, I will be in
touch.” With that he gently, but firmly,
took my hand and did the knuckle grazing kiss.
I felt a flush run through me. Who was this guy?
This week's musical selection is from Stevie Wonder. Hope you enjoy it.
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