How much should we tell?

[whitehawke]

In my novel, there is a bad guy, right. How much should I tell about why he is the way he is? How much info is too much? And how soon to tell, is too soon?

[Gumpngreen]

What effect are you going for? Answer that question and you can probably answer your own.

[dublinheart]

I think it depends on whether he's the central character or not. If he is one of the central characters, I think the reader needs some background but leave some mystery about him also. That will keep the reader looking for more about him. Yet, what do I know? I started a novel two years ago, and I'm still on the first chapter. :D

[dbrianshafer]

I think it depends on where you are in the story. How far along are you? Is he a character that readers will recognize as Dr. No super villain or is he an unknown? Does he have an organization around him or does he work alone? These sorts of questions and many more would tell me how to bring him on board.

Unless he is a villain in process--that is--he is still developing in his evil--you can be pretty blatant. He can be outrageous immediately. Have him commit some unnecessarily over the top behavior to show us how nasty this guy is.

But I like a slower developing character unless he is already defined. So maybe have people talking about him/to him --i.e. hearing his voice give a few orders/make a few comments out of the shadows as you develop him. Or maybe get into his head a bit and let the reader in on how he thinks, etc.

Main thing--don't give away the show too early. The bad guy makes or breaks a plot (at least for me). Give him some cold charm and personality and start writing and see where he goes. Follow his trail--writer your book as you think he might react and plan. You';ll find yourself on all sorts of trails and subplots that you haven't even though about yet. God Bless and keep writing!

brian

[Gumpngreen]

Also, don't make the bad guy completely "bad". Even a bad guy probably has a family he/she loves and cares for (probably at the expense of others). Sometimes I read novels where the bady guy is fairly one-dimensional and I think "cue evil laugh at this point". A lot of times the bad guy became bad for some absurd and sudden reason (see Shadowmancer for an example of this). Then there is always the possibility of having the bad guy's actions based upon what he/she thinks is a "good thing".

Again, it depends on what effect you're going for.

[whitehawke]

I have reached the end of the book, but I am still editing. When I started writing it, I had no idea that there would be a bad guy and that he would bring in his own subplot. The book was just meant to reveal the meaning of a dream I'd had. Brad, the bad guy, was just meant to be one of the farm workers, but he seemed to have other ideas about his role. :) As I worked through the story, it became evident that Brad was seeking revenge for something that the main character's grandfather had done. Matt, the main character, is unsuspecting and likes to see the good in people. Matt's parents are strong Christians, but Matt is running from God because of something that happened in his childhood.
Tully, the other worker, blames Brad for a near fatal accident, but has no proof.
As the story progresses, Brad's thought life becomes more and more agressive towards Matt, until finally, he is unable to contain it.
I, as author, knew what had made Brad the way he was, but hadn't shown the readers. Now I am faced with having to reveal these things.
One friend said I should say up front, why Brad hates Matt, but I would rather feed it through slowly.

[Gumpngreen]

My vote is for "feed it through slowly".

[whitehawke]

Thank you all so much. :) you've been a great help and encouragement to me.
It's harder to trickle things through after finishing the book, than if I'd filled in the gaps as I went along. Oh well, that's all part of the learning. We'll get there.
THANK'S AGAIN. !thumbsup!
Rulan

[cjm1790]

I'd love to read your book when it's done whitehawke. I can never seem to get a book started, I mean, I've got a plethora of ideas, but its just a matter of starting the book, and figuring out how to fit those ideas in. I am only 14 years old, so I'm a novice. I've written a few poems, but thats really it. I do do well on my essays for classes because I am creative in that way, but a book is the next hurdle I plan to jump. If you'd like to help me create a novel as kind of a tag team project, email or pm me and we can do it. Thanks for your time guys....


~Chris (cjm) :cool: