Tragic Monsters

My favorite kind of monster is a tragic one. 


We already know about the villain who doesn't see himself as evil. This character feels justified in his actions, whether from a skewed sense of right and wrong or because he's been wronged by others. There are many wonderful examples, including Valentine, President Snow, and Lord Voldemort. "There is no good and evil. There is only power and those too weak to seek it." - Voldemort


But one of my favorite characters is the almost villain. The one who believes he is evil and fights his nature, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. Typically, this is a paranormal being (vampire, werewolf, etc.) Often the character manifests as a "bad boy", but these traits certainly aren't necessary. 


But why? Why am I such a sucker for the monster? Because if it's well written, I will root for the underdog. I will see his inner struggle and feel that much more horror when he gives in to it and that much more relief when he doesn't. 


So who are some of these characters? Patch from Hush Hush might have been one of the best as I really didn't know until the very end whether he was "good" or "bad". But I can tell you that I was invested and hoping the good would win out. Other good examples? Cole from Linger, Ridley from Beautiful Creatures, and (yeah you knew I'd bring him in here somewhere) Damon. 


Have you ever tried writing one of these sympathetic monsters? Was it difficult or easier than others? Who is your favorite? I'd love to know your thoughts. 
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Writing Can Turn You Into a Monster

We go through so many phases when writing a book. I like to think we turn into several different creatures along the way. Let me illustrate...

1. The Superhero. Yes we start out with soaring aspirations. We're sure this is it! This is the idea that's going to save the world! So many possibilities are laid out in front of us, it's like we can see a million different roads leading out from the core idea that sparked our interest in the first place. In this beginning stage (whether it be planning or just diving in) we feel invincible. 
2. The Willow the Wisp. The willow the wisp (for those that don't know) is responsible for leading wary travelers astray, sometimes ending in drowning them. In this case, it means the murky middle. We've gotten into the story, we have an idea of where it should end up, but we feel like we're trudging through the swamp trying to get there. Have we led the story astray? We hope not.
3. The Zombie. We can't see straight. We can't think straight either. We're so engrossed in the book that we put our pants on backwards. Hopefully this is an exaggeration. Maybe not.
4. The Pixie. We've done it! We've made it through the first draft! Now we're full of energy, feeling like celebrating. Do pixie's eat chocolate? If they're writer pixies - you bet they do!
5. The Werewolf. Revision. For the most part you are ready. You feel you can handle it. But then you have those moments - perhaps when the moon is full? - where you turn into an irrational beast. You want to tear the manuscript apart (so it's a good thing we mostly use computers now). The best thing to do is understand that you will get through this, and get rid of some of that negative energy in a positive way, like running/exercise. Preferably not by biting anyone.
6. The Unicorn. Critiquers and beta readers have their say. We feel like a hunted beast - a dying breed. Well, hopefully not. Hopefully we ignore that sense of vulnerability enough to take the bullet. After all, bullets can't really kill unicorns. In the case of this metaphor they only make them stronger. 
7. The Vampire. We've finished! We're ready to query or submit. We are hungry for positive responses, but know we will face much rejection, so we have to be tough. So tough that we keep our eye on the prize, and remain strong, clever, and stealthy. Okay, I just like that word. Stealthy. But you get the idea.

So how'd I do? Did I miss a monster? 

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