HOW I CREATE MY CHARACTERS
I write in one hour or two hour increments during the day and evening.
This allows me to be able to complete other things such as household chores,
promotion, exercise, and errands. One of my favorite things is when I begin one
of my new thriller projects, I love creating the bad guys. I work out my Big
Three: Physical, Background, and Psychological.
When I outline the bad guys for my novels, it often reads like a police
rap sheet and a psychological profile. I cannot overstate the effectiveness for
research and outlining in fiction writing. There are those little pieces of
nuggets that you can weave into the story that gives it the added realism and
authenticity. These nuggets are like pieces of gold for me, and I love hunting
for them.
Research into creating new characters works well for me because I love
learning new things that I didn’t know yesterday, but it can be a daunting task
if you don’t enjoy the process. I’ve managed to streamline my development a
bit, so that I don’t get overwhelmed with too much information and avoid a
major time void sucking the life out of me.
PHYSICAL
This is where I create the actual physical qualities of the character,
what he/she looks like, mannerisms, specific characteristics, how he/she
dresses, and even habits. I begin to get a real picture in my mind how this
person looks, walks, and talks. It’s a writer’s character rap sheet with an
added dimension.
BACKGROUND
Now it’s getting to be fun. This is where I begin to develop who they
are with a history, life experiences, family, work environment, criminal
activity, relationships, living conditions, education, and anything that wasn’t
addressed with the physical area.
PSYCHOLOGICAL
Now, I have an actual image of the character and some background
information. It’s endless in creating the mind of a bad guy, and you can
have so much fun with this area of writing. This is no doubt my favorite step
to creating a bad guy. I like to have these characters answer a few questions
for me, like what they would do if confronted with certain situations. This
also includes their internal and external conflicts. Many of my bad guys are
serial killers, so they are skewed with distorted perceptions, beliefs, and
lack of impulse control. How fun is that?
About the Author
Jennifer Chase is a multi
award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting
criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor
degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology & criminal
justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the
criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath,
providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In
addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal
profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic
Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.
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About the Book:
A calculating cold-blooded predator closes in…When a community has barely recovered from a ruthless serial killer six months earlier; now two more horrifying murders hit the radar again. It leaves police burdened with two of the most shockingly contaminated crime scenes ever documented in California’s law enforcement history. The Slayer works behind the scenes as a sinister puppet master, precisely pulling the strings, taunting the
The sheriff and district attorney bring in the best investigators. Reunited again, Dr. Chip Palmer, a reclusive forensic expert, joins DA Inspector Kate Rawlins to sort through the crime scene aftermath in search of the truth—all without a probable suspect or a solid motive. Complicating the investigation—sparks reignite between the two.
Ratcheting up the suspense, Chip suffers a nasty fall hitting his head, impairing his perception and giving him a mind-blowing ability for specific detailed recall. Palmer and Rawlins assemble an unusual team including a rookie detective, a forensic supervisor, and an ex-military operative turned bodyguard. After one of their own is kidnapped and the investigation is taken over by the FBI, the now rogue team must pull together their own resources—alone—with a killer waiting to take each one of them out. Scene of the Crime takes no prisoners and leaves everyone fighting to stay alive.
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