THE CRAFT OF WRITING — AUGUST 2024
This year the CRAFT OF WRITING blog is focusing on Aspects of the Novel, such as Plot, Dialogue, Characterization, etc. We’ve had some great discussions so far, including James Scott Bell on Voice, DiAnn Mills on Plotting, Debbie Burke on Antagonists, Randy Ingermanson on Scenes, Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi on Emotion, Larry Leech on Dialogue, and Terry Odell on Deep Point of View. If you missed any of these, go to kaydibianca.com/blog and choose the post you want to revisit.
This month, I’m excited to welcome back Sue Coletta, award-winning novelist and fellow Kill Zone Blog contributor. Sue has chosen the fascinating subject of the Anti-hero as her subject matter.
So watch your step. We’re going to get close to anti-heroes.
Anti-heroes with Sue Coletta Share on X
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We ran out of our gorgeous propeller pens, but this month the name of each person who enters a comment will be put into the drawing for a $10 Amazon Gift Card. (Not nearly so pretty as the pen, but still a useful gift!)
So join the conversation and earn a chance to win. I’ll post the name of the winner after 9 PM Central Time tomorrow night, so be sure to check back to see if you won. (Previous 2024 winners are not eligible to win.)
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Welcome back to the Craft of Writing blog, Sue, and thank you for joining us!
Thank you for inviting me, Kay. Pleasure to be here.
How do you define an anti-hero?
An anti-hero is the protagonist of the story, who straddles the law. Good people doing bad things for the right reason. Nothing is black and white. Anti-heroes thrive in shades in gray.
What are some of the things that differentiate an anti-hero from a hero?
A hero is a law-abiding citizen and basically a decent person. An anti-hero also comes from good stock, but they’re willing to do what it takes to protect and/or save others.
Is the anti-hero always the protagonist in a novel?
Yes. At the very least, they’re co-protagonists with another character.
Does the anti-hero have a character arc in the story?
Absolutely. All main characters should, including the villain.
Can you give us examples of famous anti-heroes?
Dexter Morgan is the obvious choice. Sure, he’s a serial killer, but he only murders other killers. In his mind, and the mind of (most) readers, he’s protecting the community by ridding the world of dangerous individuals.
Have you used anti-heroes in your books?
Absolutely. They’re my favorite characters to write.
In my Mayhem Series, Mr. Mayhem appeared like an average serial killer when he first stepped on stage in Blessed Mayhem. And, in fact, he played the villain in Silent Mayhem and I Am Mayhem as well. In the background, however, I peeled layer after layer to reveal his true character and motivation. Readers fell in love with him. So, in Unnatural Mayhem, I turned him into an anti-hero who fights to protect wildlife from poachers, trophy hunters, and animal traffickers.
Also in that series, Shawnee Daniels played anti-hero from book one, Wings of Mayhem. During the day, she ran the Cybercrimes Division at the local PD. At night, she was a cat burglar who righted wrongs by stealing from white collar criminals who ripped off their employees and escaped justice. In Unnatural Mayhem, her love of animals (and other reasons I can’t divulge without spoilers) caused her to join forces with Mayhem to save the Natural World and all its inhabitants. That’s where they are today, fighting the good fight. There’s nothing they won’t do to protect the voiceless. Even murder.
Where can we find out more about you and your writing?
You can find out more about me and my work on my website: https://suecoletta.com
For a compact list of all my books, check out my LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/suecoletta
Thank you, Sue, for being with us today.
Thanks for having me, Kay!
Anti-heroes with Sue Coletta Share on X
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Meet Sue Coletta
Sue Coletta is an award-winning crime writer and an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as “Best 100 Crime Blogs on the Net.” She also blogs at the Kill Zone (Writer’s Digest “101 Best Websites for Writers”) and is a Resident Writing Coach at Writers Helping Writers.
Sue lives with her husband in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Her backlist includes psychological thrillers, the Mayhem Series books 1-3, psychological thriller/mysteries, Grafton County Series, and true crime/narrative nonfiction, Pretty Evil New England. Now, she exclusively writes eco-thrillers, the Mayhem Series books 4-7 and continuing.
Sue’s appeared on the Emmy award-winning true crime series, Storm of Suspicion, and three episodes of A Time to Kill on Investigation Discovery. Learn more about Sue and her books at https://suecoletta.com.
I think what makes anti-heroes fascinating is that they’re truer to life than the cardboard characters representing “good” vs “evil.” Huck Finn was an anti-hero. Defying the law and even his own religious beliefs, he helped Jim escape. The reader must decide whether Huck was justified.
Precisely, Mike. If memory serves, Huck Finn was one of the first anti-heroes in literature.
Great observation, Mike. Huck Finn is a good example of human complexity, and I love that scene where he decides he’s not going to turn Jim in to the authorities.
Sue, thanks for this great understandable definition of anti-hero. Mr. Mayhem and Shawnee are a winning team.
Thanks, Debbie! They’re a blast to write.
Thanks for stopping in, Debbie. If I remember correctly, Tillman in your Tawny series is a very complex guy. Don’t know if he fits the anti-hero category, but the many facets to his personality make him interesting.
A “complex guy” might translate to PITA 😉 He’s fun to write and he always comes through when it matters.
Thanks again for invitation, Kay!
Really enjoyed the interview, Sue! What a great topic: anti-heroes.
Loved the explanation of antihero
Thank you, Jackie. Glad it resonated with you.
Thanks for stopping by, Jackie.
Anti-heroes are fun characters to read AND write!
They sure are, Priscilla!
Good observation, Priscilla.
I think all of us have a little anti-hero in us…good post!
Me too, Patricia! Glad you enjoyed it.
So true, Patricia. Isn’t it interesting how many of us run into the anti on the way to being a hero. 😊
Thanks for the explanation. I’d never given much thought to what makes an anti-hero (which is kinda wierd considering how many stories I plow through).
LOL My pleasure, Janet.
Glad you stopped by, Janet. Lots of good info about the antis.
This is very intriguing. I loved it.
I’m so glad. Thanks, Debby.
Thanks for being here, Debbie!
My MC, Tenirax, is a picaresque disbeliever in post-Moorish Spain. His personal ethic is rather loose, but he’s helpful to others: He supports his local lady of the evening, and, when his rival poet misremembers famous poems while reciting them in the evening at La Golondrina, Tenirax steps in and reminds him of the right words. He writes a poem about Bishop Filippo, gratis, and shoves it under the palace door in the drunk of night, that the Bishop may learn ways to improve. Anti-hero? Or nuisance? The jury is still out, but Bungorolo and his Moorish implements of instruction await Tenirax in the basement of Filippo’s palace.
Hi JG. I’m so glad you stopped in. You always drop a word or two that I have to look up. This time it was “picaresque.” So now I know Tenirax is a bit of a rogue. Which of your books are you describing?
Tenirax may be found in “The Perils of Tenirax: Mad Poet of Zaragoza.” The latter may be found only in my archives, a brief episode (50 emails) of querying having availed me naught. Don Quixote is another example of a picaro, but whose tale is quite long, compared to TPoT:MPoZ at a mere 109,000 words.
JG, from your description I wouldn’t classify Tenirax as a true anti-hero. He sounds more like a troublesome hero, and an intriguing character. Best of luck with quierying! Remember, it only takes one yes. 😊
JG, A mere 50 emails hardly counts at all. 😊I believe you have to print enough rejection emails to fill a large lawn bag before you can say you’ve gone the distance.
Why not self-publish?
Many thanks to Sue Coletta for being my interview guest this month. Also, thanks to everyone who stopped by and left a comment on the post.
Six people were eligible to win the gift card, and I listed them in the order they commented:
1 Mike
2 Jackie
3 Priscilla Bettis
4 Janet
5 debby236
6 JGuenther5
Then I ran a random integer generator to pick a number between 1 and 6. The number that came up was 2, so Jackie is the winner of the gift card. Congratulations, Jackie!
Congratulations, Jackie!
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