Character Creation

One of the most fundamental elements of story writing is establishing compelling characters, It is paramount that readers can visualise and relate to them on some level. Otherwise, what is the point of even writing stories?

As authors, we want to give our audience something to aspire to or even offer a reflection of their lives, but providing solutions to similar problems they have encountered, So, what does make a compelling protagonist? Is there a particular formula or is it merely all inside the mind of the writer? Although I cannot speak for every author, I can nonetheless provide you with my own insight on the matter.

When I decided to write this particular narrative, there were three things I was certain of. Firstly, my main protagonist was going to be a detective. Secondly, he would be the target of a conspiracy. Thirdly, Gary Oldman would play him in the adaptation. (Okay. maybe #3 is a stretch too far ahead just ahead just yet, but that is my end game). It actually helped me design the character better with Gary in mind because I was able to dive deep into the qualities I know Gary would bring. So, let’s examine this now.

What do I want this character to represent? Well, he is a widowed father of eleven year old twin daughters; mentally tormented by memories of his wife’s murder and is burdened with guilt over his sister and brother -in -law’s disappearances. Consequently, he suffers from insomnia and is at logger heads with his eldest nephew who blames him for his parents’ peril.

Okay, so you may be thinking this is far too much pressure and anguish to place on one individual. Perhaps it is, but is he not a compelling character? Is this not someone you want to know more about and see if he can conquer his demons? Furthermore, could you visualise Gary delivering a stellar performance in this role? I certainly could. Therefore, I have zero regrets in creating this protagonist around Gary’s innate talents. Irrespective of whether this novel gets adapted for the screen, this method keeps me focused.

So, now that we know a little about him, the next step is to figure out his journey. How is he going to overcome his demons? Is he willing to do this? Is there something that could put him over the edge and prevent him from fulling this role? Of course, but that would be quite a bleak story. No, E.H. is a man of strong moral fibre who has been cruelly targeted by someone close to him for their own personal revenge. He can come through this, but like everyone he needs help in doing so. This is where supporting characters enter the mix (but that is another blog post).

Coming soon typography style vector

Choosing the Setting

One of the most important elements of writing a story is the setting. It is easy to fall into the trap of selecting an American location because let’s face it, most novels are based in cities like Boston or New York. I was tempted to do the same for my narrative until some one suggested that I look closer to home instead. Upon reflection I envisioned the magnitude of this idea. It would certainly be easier to base my novel in Ireland because as a home grown citizen, I know the cultural society and history quite well. Also, there is a lesser chance of being geographically inaccurate which could easily happen if I set the story abroad. So, where in Ireland should I choose?

The first step in this selection process was to decide whether the narrative would take place in a large city like Dublin or in more scenic region like West Cork. For me, it was always going to come down to what I knew. With that in mind, the location I felt happy about conveying a story  within was a small region in the south of Cork where I spent many summer evenings as a child.

In the early stages of planning this story, I decided a small town was the ideal location for a few reasons. Firstly, I enjoy reading narratives from this type of setting. It breeds a familiarity as I am essentially from one. Secondly, as this is my first would – be – published novel, it was important to begin small. It seemed more manageable to begin with a novel that had a set amount of characters. If this works out then I will dream bigger next time. Thirdly in drafting the story, I considered utilising places such as forest, beach/pier, and a few small businesses. Where else would we find these other than a small town?

Now that I have decided on the setting, the next step  was to start creating characters. So how did I do that? 

Watch out for that post coming to a blog near you soon!

Stop the Presses!

That is exactly how I felt after getting my laptop back from the repair shop.

A few weeks ago, my laptop suddenly came down with a case of covid! I had it for almost ten years which seems ridiculous to some people I know. However, a lot of stuff happens in ten years. It was my very first laptop so I will admit to feeling quite attached to it (perhaps that is more of a female emotion. No apologies though). Anyway, long story short, it needed a new hard drive. We were reunited after a week or so, but OMG it gave me such a fright!!! The company installed Windows 10 on to it which means everything and I mean EVERYTHING was wiped.

For anyone who has had a device for that long and not to have backed up some files (I know it was stupid but I did not foresee this happening) it is quite traumatic. I unashamedly admit to falling into a semi depressive state that evening. It felt like the last decade of my life had become null and void. Subsequently, looking through this new fancy system on my ten year old laptop was almost like talking to someone who had recently come out of a coma and they had no recollection of those memories.

After a good night’s sleep, my mind snapped back to reality and refocused on what was important. Everything I really needed was still there: everyone I care about is healthy and happy. What could be more important than that?

Fortunately, most of my previously written chapters were also on the tablet and I also purchased a new laptop so we are ready to do this! The novel that has been sitting in my head and partly on devices for the past two years is finally going to be written an published within the next six months. It is so essential to self motivate at times like these.

Character Creation

One of the most fundamental elements of story writing is establishing compelling characters, It is paramount that readers can visualise and relate to them on some level. Otherwise, what is the point of even writing stories?

As authors, we want to give our audience something to aspire to or even offer a reflection of their lives, but providing solutions to similar problems they have encountered, So, what does make a compelling protagonist? Is there a particular formula or is it merely all inside the mind of the writer? Although I cannot speak for every author, I can nonetheless provide you with my own insight on the matter.

When I decided to write this particular narrative, there were three things I was certain of. Firstly, my main protagonist was going to be a detective. Secondly, he would be the target of a conspiracy. Thirdly, Gary Oldman would play him in the adaptation. (Okay. maybe #3 is a stretch too far ahead just ahead just yet, but that is my end game). It actually helped me design the character better with Gary in mind because I was able to dive deep into the qualities I know Gary would bring. So, let’s examine this now.

What do I want this character to represent? Well, he is a widowed father of eleven year old twin daughters; mentally tormented by memories of his wife’s murder and is burdened with guilt over his sister and brother -in -law’s disappearances. Consequently, he suffers from insomnia and is at logger heads with his eldest nephew who blames him for his parents’ peril.

Okay, so you may be thinking this is far too much pressure and anguish to place on one individual. Perhaps it is, but is he not a compelling character? Is this not someone you want to know more about and see if he can conquer his demons? Furthermore, could you visualise Gary delivering a stellar performance in this role? I certainly could. Therefore, I have zero regrets in creating this protagonist around Gary’s innate talents. Irrespective of whether this novel gets adapted for the screen, this method keeps me focused.

So, now that we know a little about him, the next step is to figure out his journey. How is he going to overcome his demons? Is he willing to do this? Is there something that could put him over the edge and prevent him from fulling this role? Of course, but that would be quite a bleak story. No, E.H. is a man of strong moral fibre who has been cruelly targeted by someone close to him for their own personal revenge. He can come through this, but like everyone he needs help in doing so. This is where supporting characters enter the mix (but that is another blog post).

Coming soon typography style vector

Character Creation

One of the most fundamental elements of story writing is establishing compelling characters, It is paramount that readers can visualise and relate to them on some level. Otherwise, what is the point of even writing stories?

As authors, we want to give our audience something to aspire to or even offer a reflection of their lives, but providing solutions to similar problems they have encountered, So, what does make a compelling protagonist? Is there a particular formula or is it merely all inside the mind of the writer? Although I cannot speak for every author, I can nonetheless provide you with my own insight on the matter.

When I decided to write this particular narrative, there were three things I was certain of. Firstly, my main protagonist was going to be a detective. Secondly, he would be the target of a conspiracy. Thirdly, Gary Oldman would play him in the adaptation. (Okay. maybe #3 is a stretch too far ahead just ahead just yet, but that is my end game). It actually helped me design the character better with Gary in mind because I was able to dive deep into the qualities I know Gary would bring. So, let’s examine this now.

What do I want this character to represent? Well, he is a widowed father of eleven year old twin daughters; mentally tormented by memories of his wife’s murder and is burdened with guilt over his sister and brother -in -law’s disappearances. Consequently, he suffers from insomnia and is at logger heads with his eldest nephew who blames him for his parents’ peril.

Okay, so you may be thinking this is far too much pressure and anguish to place on one individual. Perhaps it is, but is he not a compelling character? Is this not someone you want to know more about and see if he can conquer his demons? Furthermore, could you visualise Gary delivering a stellar performance in this role? I certainly could. Therefore, I have zero regrets in creating this protagonist around Gary’s innate talents. Irrespective of whether this novel gets adapted for the screen, this method keeps me focused.

So, now that we know a little about him, the next step is to figure out his journey. How is he going to overcome his demons? Is he willing to do this? Is there something that could put him over the edge and prevent him from fulling this role? Of course, but that would be quite a bleak story. No, E.H. is a man of strong moral fibre who has been cruelly targeted by someone close to him for their own personal revenge. He can come through this, but like everyone he needs help in doing so. This is where supporting characters enter the mix (but that is another blog post).

Coming soon typography style vector

The Darkest Hour: Review

As an avid history scholar and a fan of Gary Oldman, I was very interested to see the combination of both. As expected, this film was a masterpiece which will endure as a pivotal representation of contemporary  history.

Directed by Joe Wright, the film opens with a high angle shot as the camera directs the audience to the centre of the action: a parliamentary dispute over Neville Chamberlain’s role as Prime Minister and the subsequent decision to appoint Winston Churchill instead.

Before meeting the primary character, additional protagonists prepare his new secretary Elizabeth Layton (played brilliantly by Lily James) for her introduction to Churchill.

These warnings also establish the tone for the audience on our first meeting with him. One of these cautions is to ensure she types single rather than double spaced which incidentally becomes the reason Elizabeth flees from the room in tears leading his wife (Kristen Scott Thomas) to inform us that: “You are not as kind as you used to be.” This sentiment provokes a shock reaction from her husband and leads the audience to believe that there is a tenderness to his character which is seldom portrayed or acknowledged.

 

Darkest Hour  commences at the beginning of Winston Churchill’s career as British Prime Minister in May 10 1940, during a tumultuous period of European history. The threat of Hitler invading increases daily, but Churchill’s appointment proves wise as he stands firm and withholds such a threat.

 

One significant aspect of Wright’s narrative is the attention given to Churchill’s contentious relationship with members of his political party. He is not their first choice of leader but Gary Oldman’s remarkable performance demonstrates why he really was the only man for the job. Not only did he stand up to Hitler, but he also weathered the storm of his colleagues who tried to undermine his authority at every opportunity presented. There is one scene that illustrates this idea perfectly.

During a cabinet meeting concerning the rescue of soldiers trapped on Dunkirk, Halifax and others tried to reason with Churchill that formulating a peace agreement with Hitler was their only hope. After listening to their views quietly for several moments, Gary, as Winston Churchill, finally erupts in the most powerfully, passionate way: “When will the lesson be learned? When? You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth!” This is the moment I believe when others started to take Churchill seriously as leader of Britain. Following, one of the most significant moments of the narrative occurs in the subway.

Churchill is late getting to a cabinet conference,so he takes the train which leads him to meet many of the ‘Common Folk’. Initially, people are un-nerved upon seeing the Prime Minister on board the train that many of them probably take regularly.

However, once Churchill begins speaking to them in a kind and gentle way, they begin to relax leading to a discussion of the tumultuous state of Europe. When asked if Britain should enter into a peace pact with Hitler, everyone fervently rejects such an idea. From a historical point of view, this scene conveys the respect that ordinary people evidently had for Churchill and they trusted him as leader of their county to do the right thing by them. Then from a cinematic point of view, this scene depicts Churchill’s humane side. He deliberately went out if his way to be kind to the people on board. This correlates to what his wife conveyed to him earlier and it shows that not only did he listen to her but he acted on it too.

By the end of the film, we see that Churchill has won over many of the dubious subjects within his party. The rescuing of British soldiers from Dunkirk his way, certainly alleviated many doubts in people’s minds of Churchill’s competency as leader.  That includes King George VI who sided with Halifax for the first 2/3 of the diegesis in believing Neville Chamberlain was a better leader despite many others considering him too weak to lead and challenge Hitler.

Having seen this film twice (and hoping to go a third time), there are two significant points to take away from it. The first is that Churchill was the leader that Britain needed at this time. He brought strength, resilience and kindness in the face of adversity and stood up to the challenges he faced outside and within his party. Never once did he waiver from his responsibilities to the people that needed him most.

The second point is that Gary Oldman is the ultimate chameleon of this cinematic generation. Only he could portray Winston Churchill with such precision, vigor  and charisma. Not only did he physically, emotionally and vocally transform into this ‘larger than life’ character; Gary also introduced Winston Churchill to a whole new generation of people who would only know this man from text books. Because of Gary’s flawless portrayal, we are now in a position to understand the pressures and challenges faced to someone that was responsible for an entire nation during the most tumultuous period of contemporary European history. It is without a doubt the best film of 2018 and absolutely the finest representation of Winston Churchill. If you have not seen it then I strongly suggest you do.

On a final note: Gary Oldman has been waiting thirty years to win an Oscar for any of his outstanding performances. He disgracefully missed out for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in 2012. I certainly hope that the Academy will do their job this time and give this incredibly talented, diligent and kind man some Sirius recognition for his magnificent work in Darkest Hour. #theyearofpadfoot 

A Dog’s Purpose: Review

There are many stories that teach us valuable lessons; takes us on journeys to distant lands and often engages us in an emotional capacity. A Dog’s Purpose is one of the few that accomplishes all the above successfully. It conveys the story of a dog who through four reincarnations attempts to find his purpose in life. This is something we all have questioned from time to time but to understand and observe it from a dog’s perspective is quite compelling . As an animal lover, I did find it a lot more emotional than originally anticipated. However, if you are someone who does not understand the inimitable value and bond that dogs and humans share then this film is not for you.

   Bailey and Ethan

This beautiful story begins when Bailey, a Golden Retriever(voiced by Josh Gad), is rescued from suffocation in a hot car by Ethan (Bryce Gheisar) and his mom (Juliet Rylance). It is this relationship that frames the entire narrative – something others have evidently overlooked. Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan often says that: “We get the dog we need, not the dog we want”. I agree whole heartedly with this sentiment and Lasse Hallström conveys this message beautifully.  Set in America during the 1960’s, Bailey and Ethan’s bond is immediate.

Growing up in a tumultuous household has evidently left its mark on Ethan. As a result, Bailey finds his purpose: to guide and support Ethan through a difficult period in his life and to be his one true friend.

During Ethan’s adolescence (K.J. Apa), Bailey is instrumental in protecting him against bullies; supporting him at his football games (in the absence of his father – Luke Kirby); saving his life; building his confidence sufficiently to challenge his alcoholic father and aligning him with his true love, Hannah (Britt Robertson)

Perhaps the saddest moment at this point in the film is the sight of Bailey chasing after Ethan’s car as he leaves for college. With the use of close ups and wide angle shots respectively, we get a sense of despondent awareness that Bailey will not be there when Ethan returns. There is a similar moment in Hatchi: A Dog’s Tail when Richard Gere’s character tries to play fetch with Hatchi but he never seems interested until the morning his master dies. It is at that moment that he tries to prevent him from going to work and we know by Hatchi’s behaviour they won’t see one another again.  A Dog’s Purpose severs the connection between Bailey and Ethan with incredible warmth and sensitivity. One would need to have a heart of stone to not be affected by this. As we dry our eyes and mourn the loss of Bailey, we are quickly parachuted into the next phase of his life.

In the second act, Bailey returns as a female German Shepherd called Ellie who works as a police dog. This sequence is considerably shorter than the others. Nonetheless, Ellie still finds her purpose: to protect her owner in the line of duty and to mend his broken heart. It is never articulated why her owner, Carlos (John Ortiz),is so guarded but we can tell from the photograph in his room that he has evidently lost someone close. Dogs by nature are instinctively aware when something is wrong. This is why Ellie returns to Carlos’s room every night in the hope that she can ease his pain. Finally he relents to allow her to sleep beside him but their time together is cut short. Ellie risks her life for Carlos and the sight of this once toughly guarded police officer crying at the side of his best friend dying is gut wrenching. Although their time was brief, Ellie still fulfilled her purpose.

Third time around, Bailey reincarnates as a Corgi named Tino. In a similar capacity to his former lives, Tino is assigned to an owner,Maya (Kirby Howell – Baptiste), who needs him to combat her loneliness.  

With his assistance, she eventually marries and has a family of our own. Similiar to Marley and Me, we see Tino grow up within a family and observe the organic process of his existence. In this life, he brings joy to a growing family; falls in love and is a treasured member of his pack. In contrast to his previous lives, Tino’s passing is not dealt with the same emotional turmoil. Instead, his time ends naturally and before we have time to grieve him, he is once again reborn.

On a personal level, the final reincarnation is without a doubt the most emotional. Bailey returns as Buddy, a Bernese Mountain Dog whose appearance is as close to a Golden Retriever’s as possible. Could this be a coincidence or is the director trying to convey something to the audience? Observing this sequence, I started to wonder if it were actually possible that the dog from your childhood or even at any point in your life, could or would come back to you in a different form. My heart skipped at the thought of it.

Similar to the beginning of the film, Bailey begins his life with an abusive owner who eventually abandons him. In my opinion, this was an act of unintended kindness because now Bailey can find someone who will truly love and appreciate him. Incidentally, Bailey finds his way back to Ethan (Dennis Quaid), who happens to be still living in the same house. Of course it takes the former a while to realise that his best friend has returned home. I found myself sitting in the theatre quietly hoping and willing Ethan to make the connection. Admittedly, the lengths that Bailey went to were both comical and touching. Living as a bachelor, we wonder what happened to Hannah. That question is quickly resolved as Bailey accidentally locates her and orchastrates a reconciliation.

Having successfully reunited Ethan and Hannah (Peggy Lipton), Bailey must now find a way to convey his true idenity. As Ethan tidies up after the wedding, Bailey finds the deflated football that he and Ethan used to play with.

Although Ethan is surprised to see it after all these years, he naturally does not make the connection. It takes a few throws and a signature ‘Bailey trick’ before he stops and asks if Buddy is Bailey. Is it really possible that “Boss Dog” has returned?

 “Boss Dog?”

Bailey and crazy members of the audience (most notably me) confirm that he is. With joyous elation, Ethan  welcomes his best friend home. As the camera slowly zooms out, we know that Bailey and Ethan will enjoy a fulfilled life together.

 Bailey and Ethan – reunited.

The Writer Within

My aspirations to become an author started when I was a child. At the age of ten, my family and I moved temporarily while our home was being renovated. Incidentally, I started having problems at school that year. It was not a psychological reaction to the move as we were only living around the corner from our home. Rather, it was a coincidence that the teacher was hostile and temperamental and made many of our lives so miserable that we often missed days and weeks as a result. Subsequently, I did not have many friends at this time so I started writing.

Initially, I wrote poems about a neighbour’s dog called Lucky whose friendship helped me through this difficult time. In fact, she cured my fear of dogs. During my teenage years, I started reading all the Harry Potter stories and it got me thinking about alternative narratives for some characters. As a result, I published them online and to my surprise many people loved my ideas and suggested I consider publishing my own novel. After writing other stories based on characters from books and  T.V. shows, I started to give it some serious consideration.

My first approach was to figure out what stories I would want to write and who I would be my target audience? I do enjoy a wide range of narratives especially those that transport me to places that I have never been. Hogwarts is the obvious in that regard. Like many authors that I admire,several stories are born within us. We all have experiences to share and a lot of them become great stories that readers take to heart. I want to convey narratives that do exactly that but first I had to find a place to begin. After reflecting back on my own experiences, I believe that my life changed for the better during the ‘renovation period’.

Although it started tumultuous, by the end of those two years I was happier than I can remember. I had made friends with neighbourhood kids; been cured of my irrational fear of dogs  (both  greatly helped my confidence); and I started secondary school (high school) where my writing and creativity blossomed. I believe that the story in mind is  worth telling and I hope readers will feel the same.

About Me

I qualified with a joint honors Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History from University College Cork in 2015. Subsequently, I graduated with a Masters in Irish Literature and Film in 2016. One compulsory element of this M.A. was the composition of a 15,000 -17,000 word thesis over the course of six months. After some deliberation I decided to work on the following: ‘The Representation of Female Empowerment in John Ford’s Cinema’. By taking this approach, I validated that Ford as a director of an inherently masculine genre (Westerns) empowered his female characters to challenge their patriarchal environments. I supported this claim by positioning our greatest Irish actress, Maureen O’ Hara, at the core of my thesis.Currently, I am researching the psychological trauma of Gothic Cinema for my P.H.D.

As an avid reader all my life, it is my desire to publish my own works of fiction. Authors who have inspired me are: Harper Lee, J.K. Rowling, Jane Austen, John Le Carre and Stephen King. I enjoy reading books from a wide range of genres, but the area that I am interesting in creating within is Crime Mystery/Thriller. When written well, the characters and the narrative are suspenseful, intriguing and and a joy to journey with. I aspire that my novels will do all the above and so much more.