Jennifer Eifrig, Author
Find me on
  • Home
  • About Me
  • The Novels
  • The Characters
  • Blog
  • Interviews
  • Contact

On Darkness

4/26/2012

0 Comments

 
So, my Dearest Darling finally read my WIP (Sequel #1, as yet untitled), and commented, "Well. That's dark."

On the face, not exactly a ringing endorsement.

In fact, that's the sort of comment that could make one's heart sink deeper than the Titanic (sorry, folks, but in honor of the anniversary I had to make the analogy...). And this remark came on top of a recent struggle to craft a query letter, some less-than-helpful criticism, and general angst about the publish-ability of my novels that I'm sure every writer experiences at some point. All of the above added up to a fit of blue-devils, followed by a personal examination of the nature of darkness.

"Dark" is one of those terms that everybody in publishing, film, and TV uses without really having a solid definition. To some, "dark" means "magic" (read, "satanism"); to others, it means "humorous in a tragic or morbid way;" and to still others it means "violent" or in some cases actually dark as in "dimly lit." I've used the term to describe my books, and at other times I've left it out as unhelpful or simply confusing (or worse, trendy).

At first I was disappointed in my Dearest Darling's reaction, but as I questioned him further he said, "I just don't like evil characters." My Dearest Darling found himself unsettled by the darkness of the human soul. He doesn't like the antagonist in my WIP, and I think by extension he doesn't like that part of me that enabled me to create a narcissistic, merciless, sadistic killer whose only real motivation is anger. 

So, in other words what I've done is to create a character that feels disturbingly real. He's a nightmare from the deepest recesses of our imagination come to life on the page, a waking horror. He's frightening, the more so because a living breathing person assembled him word by word.


But, dare I mention that we're not supposed to like evil? That we're supposed to be frightened of it, and look for some way or someone to combat it? Because there's evil in the world and on the page, we need heroes. And, lest anyone think I've succumbed to my own darkness, I'm also the creator of the protagonist who ultimately defeats the villain. And my hero's light is mine, too.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Jen Eifrig

    is a Christian urban fantasy author by night and a mother and non-profit consultant by day.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    October 2011
    April 2011

    Categories

    All
    All
    Bad Grammar
    Book Signing
    Deb E Howell
    Free
    Getting It Right
    Greg Mitchell
    H.G. Ferugson
    Indie Authors
    Interviews
    Irrationality Of God
    Laura Popp
    Morgan L. Busse
    Nathan Hale
    Next Big Thing
    Rl Copple
    Sequel
    Steampunk
    Trailers
    Twitterature
    Witches & Witchcraft
    Writing The Novels

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly