Drama: May 29, 2013 Issue [#5668]
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Drama


 This week: Creating the Ruthless Character
  Edited by: Joy Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

"That was true everywhere in the world, but it was especially true in Packingtown; there seemed to be something about the work of slaughtering that tended to ruthlessness and ferocity--it was literally the fact that in the methods of the packers a hundred human lives did not balance a penny of profit."
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

"I may safely say that Falk is absolutely true to my experience of certain straightforward characters combining a perfectly natural ruthlessness with a certain amount of moral delicacy."
Typhoon by Joseph Conrad

“He'd been given an assignment to write about teen beauty pageants..., which he'd accepted because he enjoyed blood sports as much as the next person.”
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

Hello, I am Joy Author Icon, this week's drama editor. This issue is on creating strong ruthless characters.

Your Drama Newsletter Editors: zwisis NickiD89 Author Icon kittiara Joy Author Icon
Thank you for reading our newsletters and for supplying the editors with feedback and encouragement.

Note: In the editorial, I refer to third person singular as he, to also mean the female gender, because I don't like to use they or he/she.


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

A gift to me

Welcome to the Drama newsletter


          Character matters greatly to the reader and even more so to the writer. One rule of thumb in creating fiction is the change a character goes through by the end of the story.

          Yet, not all characters undergo a crucial change. Sometimes the unchangeability of a character makes the story. Rumpelstiltskin of the fairy tales realm is a good example for that.

          A characteristic that is the least likely to change is ruthlessness. As such, one of the most dramatic characters a writer may choose to create is the ruthless character. This character can be a protagonist, an antagonist, a catalyst, or a secondary character.

          There are, however, ruthless characters that may change by the end of the plot such as Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens’s Christmas Carol, but this takes a very strong or almost supernatural reason to enable such a change.

          Change or not, inside the ruthless character’s essence lies the willingness to overcome any or all obstacles in his way to achieve his goal. He may show blind determination to succeed in his career or reach any goal he aims at, and he is willing to risk the suffering of other people or himself. This is his tragic flaw, and his ruthlessness makes the conflict or adds to it, creating the drama in the story.

          Ruthless characters usually find an unpleasant end. Macbeth's ruthless character leads himself to positions of power, but he can go only so far when his downfall nears. Macbeth does not only bring himself down, but he also brings his wife down with him. Yet, this too is not etched in stone. It is up to the writer and the character he creates to endow ruthlessness with a happy or a sad ending.

          A ruthless character isn’t necessarily a bad person or a villain, although he may usually be written as one whenever the plot allows it.

          A ruthless character can be:

          *Bullet*very passionate with emotions such as love, jealousy, greed, and hate

          *Bullet* wise or not, he thinks he is always right.

          *Bullet*conceited or overly dignified

          *Bullet* unaware of his shortcomings

          *Bullet* demanding of accuracy from others even if he is in the wrong himself

          *Bullet* desperate, cornered, and trapped, but he won't turn back

          *Bullet* extremely ambitious

          *Bullet* relentlessly determined

          *Bullet* fearful of failing

          *Bullet* revengeful, vindictive

          *Bullet* self-centered and fixated on an idea or a goal with a one-track mind

          *Bullet* acting like an opportunist

          *Bullet* a liar without blinking an eye if it serves his purpose or can be truthful to the degree of being militant

          As nonverbal emotion is as important as the words uttered, the author can give the ruthless one a few physical signals to show his inner workings. These may be:
          tight muscles
          alert gaze
          strong eye contact
          using articulate sentences that are usually very short
          asking pointed questions
          offering firm handshakes
          being the first to speak
          moving into another person’s personal space
          when under fire or in stress, laughing and making jokes to ease the situation
          not hesitating to take any kind of physical action to reach his goal

          Above all, it is necessary to remember that, in fiction, a strong character, ruthless or not, is not the one to conform but is the one that sticks out.

          Until next time… *Smile*


Editor's Picks

          *Gold*   Enjoy!   *Gold*

*Reading**Moon**Music1**Music1**Music1* *Butterflyb**Moon**Coffeep**Reading**Moon**Butterflyb**Coffeep**Moon**Reading**Moon**Coffeep**Butterflyb**Moon**Reading**Moon**Butterflyb**Coffeep**Music1**Music1**Music1* *Moon**Reading*



 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
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#1896792 by Not Available.

 Ten Down, You're Next. Open in new Window. (13+)
After six victims Molly is determined she won't be next, but it's out of her control.
#1872508 by KallyF Author IconMail Icon

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Amelia is unwell and Scott is determined to make all her dreams and wishes come true.
#1893600 by MjFarrell Author IconMail Icon

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Items submitted to this newsletter:
 
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The Visitors Open in new Window. (E)
A Storm can change our lives
#1925251 by Quick-Quill Author IconMail Icon

 Redwall Interactive Open in new Window. (13+)
After an accident, you find yourself in the land of Mossflower. What now? 3,860+views.
#1802654 by BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author IconMail Icon


 
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ASIN: B07K6Z2ZBF
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Ask & Answer

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*Bullet* This Issue's Tip:
If any piece of dialogue starts to feel aimless or mundane, have your characters start expressing their core motivations, such as greed, lust, love, revenge, etc. This will help develop the character and move the story forward.


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*Bullet* *Reading* Reading Recommendation: A book with drama *Reading*

If you have a recommendation, a few words on a book or a product review, send it to me or to this newsletter. I'll highlight it here. *Smile*

By Unwritten Insanity Author Icon
Struck   (Rated: 13+)
ASIN: 0374372837
ID #111425
Product Type: Book
Reviewer: Unwritten Insanity Author Icon
Review Rated: E
  Setting:
  Story Plot:
  Overall Quality:
Amazon's Price: $ 13.85


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Feedback for "Using the Loss Card for DramaOpen in new Window.


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Fyn Author Icon
Thanking you Joy for an awesome newsletter and for featuring one of my pieces!! Nothing quite like the thrill and excitement of seeing a piece featured...never gets old, always makes my day!


Thanks for the input, Fyn. I love your stories. *Smile*

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BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author Icon
Sometimes, the End of your Life is just the Beginning of your Life.


Yes, there seems to be an abundance of afterlife books out there to attest to that idea, as well as your story I highlighted in the above section. *Smile*

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Mark Allen Mc Lemore Author Icon
I've never lost anything in my life, never ever; not me. Well, maybe my sanity. But that's alright, I am a better writer because of it.
Great newsletter! Thanks.


Oh, wow! I never met anyone, until now, who didn't lose anything. Hope you keep on never losing.
Thanks for the feedback. *Smile*

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*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
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