Thursday, April 30, 2015

Z is for Zealot

After much hand wringing and hair-pulling, I managed to find the way into the book I'm trying to write.

Of course it was through writing in the POV of the character I least wanted to write because she's about as far away from me as any character I've ever written before.

She's a religious zealot.

I'm not religious at all.

So to make this story work, I'm going to need to think like someone who believes wholly that the path her religion is taking her down is the right one.  She has to argue against ideas and beliefs I personally believe strongly in.

It's going to be an interesting ride…

But because I've tried several other POVs and failed to get where I wanted to, I know this zealot's voice is the one the story is demanding to be told in.  Her's is the only one that felt natural and easy for me.

So if I act a little erratically or out of character the next few weeks, it's just because I'm living with a zealot in my head…

Do you ever find that you have to write characters who oppose everything you stand for?

2 comments:

  1. I couldn't do it, at least not as the protagonist.

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  2. You're a very committed writer. I'm not sure if I'd be able to do it. I've had some characters with different views than mine, but I think there are some things I couldn't write.

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