That line is also preceded by one of the lines that always make me laugh: “Look, mister, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast.” (Read in an exaggerated 40s gangster voice.) It makes me giggle, because, apparently, if George Bailey had never been born, everyone he knows would have turned into an asshole and a caricature of a friendless loser. Everyone his life touched unravels without his friendship or the little acts of kindness he’s done over the years.
The quote popped into my head because I was going to write about what gives a place atmosphere, but I realized that this humorous, throwaway line has some crucial truth to it: Characters are needed to give a joint (or book) atmosphere.
It’s one thing my current WIP is lacking at the moment. I’ve been struggling through it, letting myself write some not-so-great words just so I can at least get words on the page. But so far, I’ve been unable to focus on anyone but the two main characters. There are no fleshed-out supporting characters yet—and there’s very little atmosphere.
Part of the problem with this story is that no one in it is what they seem to be—but no one is fully aware at the moment of their magically altered states. And since I’m a “pantser” who couldn’t write from an outline if one bit me in the ass, I’m kind of stuck fumbling along with my characters in their false identities and delusions, wondering what the truth is, until they figure it all out.
What I think the story needs in the meantime is the development of the characters surrounding the two principals—the friends, the family members, the people with whom they cross paths—and, of course, the villain. Because every story needs its Mr. Potter, after all. (And I’m just assuming you’ve all seen It’s a Wonderful Life a thousand times, like I have. If you haven’t, make sure you sit through it at least once this holiday season. You won’t be sorry. It delivers new things every time I watch it, and I’ve watched it every year for decades. It has layers, and lots of lovely details.) At any rate, my story does have a villain, but for the most part, he hasn’t been on the page. (There are Reasons. But still.)
Going back to George Bailey for a minute, the interesting thing about him is that he did affect so many lives for the better—but he’s not an extraordinary man or a man without flaws. He’s constantly longing for a life he can’t have, no matter how much he’s been blessed in his actual life, and he’s bitter (in my opinion, rightly so) that he’s had to sacrifice his own hopes and dreams to take care of everyone else in his life and give them what they want. And on the infamous Christmas Eve on which he ultimately attempts to take his own life, he’s terrorized his wife and his kids, been verbally abusive to his child’s teacher, and turned on his forgetful uncle, ready to let him go to prison for a stupid mistake—all because something has finally happened that George can’t fix with self-sacrifice.
Strangely, that moment of selfishness and ugliness is what I like about George Bailey. At a critical moment in his life, he’s not a nice person. If he was, there would be no conflict. I’ve been watching a light-paranormal romance series from the Hallmark Channel recently—The Good Witch—and while I’ve enjoyed it, after binging three seasons, I’ve noticed one thing that really bothers me: none of the main characters have any real flaws. They’re always thinking of other people, and they never do anything selfish or mean. They’re classic Mary Sues. My favorite character has turned out to be the “naughty cousin” (shades of Bewitched’s Serena?) who keeps doing things out of selfish motivation—the only character who really does—but even she ends up doing good despite herself. It’s kind of maddening.
So I’m pretty much rambling at this point (it is, of course, the middle of the night, because I can never manage to remember to write these posts until the last minute), but my own rambling has given me food for thought. Are my MCs Mary Sues? I hope not. But they’re going to need some personal conflict and flaws—along with those characters I need to sketch out to give the joint atmosphere. Time to get back to work. (And to stop daydreaming of the holidays. It’s only just Pumpkin Season. Mmmm…pumpkins.)
4 comments:
I think that being nice is merely a side-effect of the Mary Sue and not the actual MS. A Mary Sue is a character who personifies the author's idealistic view of themself.
And don't go to just anyone for that bartender's voice! That was the inimitable Sheldon Leonard, who had that mobster thing down pat!
I loved the references to Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart was the best looking man. I found you post very interesting BTW.
Your post gives me something more to think about for my wip. Like you, I'm a pantser and my wip is limping along. I'm going to have to rewatch Wonderful Life. I've always thought Jimmy Stewart was an unappreciated actor. Some judge wrote on one of my romantic suspenses that my MC was a Mary Sue. I was offended at first. The more I thought about it the more I realized I'd done a good job because she was. But she changed, which is a good character arc. Anyway, great post, Jane. Good luck with your story.
What a great post, Jane! And so TRUE! If I feel my story is lacking, the first place I look is to my villain. Is he (or she) BAD enough? I know - What is wrong with us? But conflict drives stories we want to read and there's no conflict like inner conflict.
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