Oh, the work you put into developing your sleuth, your investigator, your detective! Whether old or young, tall, or short, male or female, attractive or plain, rich, or poor—much thought goes into crafting this character.
At first blush, you can imagine yourself having a long happy partnership with this unique individual who will ultimately be the smartest person in the room when it comes to solving a crime. Your goal is always getting the readers to love this entity as much as you do, to join you for the long haul of seeing your star succeed.
But then, one day. You don’t like your person anymore! You didn’t think about that when you started your series and now, you’re in a pickle. That’s what happened to Conan Doyle. Most of us would die to create a character as noteworthy as Sherlock Holmes, but Doyle was bored, and he killed him off in the aptly titled “The Final Problem”. The public wasn’t tired of him, but the author was.
A mindset problem
This phenomenon can happen to any writer—when we play the brain game. The mind starts to throw out the thoughts such as “this is boring” and “it’s not good.” It comes from being behind the scenes and understanding how the sausage is made. The reader, however, isn’t having that same experience. Rather, they are not caught in the same web that has engulfed the writer’s mindset. It’s a snare that captures any writer, especially the perfectionist. The writer begins to devalue the very things that brought their work to light and are still appreciated.
Meanwhile, the reader continues to enjoy the story and feels uplifted, escapes day-to-day life, and is entertained—something they are not willing to give up because an author is yawning. You are no longer alone own in the universe you’ve created.
So, let’s get back to you as you are creating a series sleuth or detective.
Since we are in the era of ongoing series, here are some helpful questions as you begin to prevent pulling a Conan “oops.” Think ahead to stay in sync with your protagonist.
Tips for keeping your sleuth interesting
▪ Pick a character with potential. This should include personal and professional foibles. Readers want to love the person. Know their fears, interests, needs, and desires intimately so you have places to go.
▪ Your character must want to solve crimes above all. Have you put them in a position to be able to continually pursue crime? Are they a detective, police officer, or an amateur with crime solving resources? Do they have access to resources that allow them to stay in the game and possibly travel to new locations if you want to change things up?
▪ Visualize the age of your character. Can moving through stages of life help bring something new to every story? Don’t paint yourself in a corner with time.
▪ Give them some traits the reader can count on while continuing to reveal nuggets of their personality that are intriguing in every new novel.
The moral of the story? At some point, your readers become your partners in the stories you invent. Make sure you make room for loving your characters for years to come, because that’s how long you may be in business together!
Michele Olson writes stories set on Mackinac Island in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan filled with suspense, romance, friendship, faith, and quirky characters. A top seller in Mackinac Island Fiction to the million people who make a trip to the island every year to experience life with no cars, amazing scenery, and the glorious Grand Hotel, she enjoys opening up this incredible island to even more visitors. Incorporating her work as an artist and a voice professional into her writing whenever she can, she enjoys creative endeavors of all genres and Fueling Faith with Fiction™.
Michele lives in the shadow of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI with her husband and thoroughly enjoys being a wife, mom, and “Gee Gee” to two adorable grandsons.
Visit her:
- Website: www.LakeGirlPublishing.com
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2 Comments
Thanks for the great tips!
Well done. I didn’t know Sherlock was killed at the end of the series. How did I not know that?? Perhaps since I read a few while I younger and never finished them? Excellent article.