Notes on Character strength

Hi Folks,
I received an email from a fellow author the other day and he lamented the fact that he could not achieve the strength of my character creation and voice distinction.
I sent him the following advice:
on the matter of character voices, the only advice I can give you is to speak as your characters would, not as you would in the same circumstances. To do this, you have to think as the character; to make yourself the character. That's why I write at night, without disturbance, as the task takes considerable concentration. My greatest challenge, in this respect, was to write in the voice of Marie-Jeanne,("The Journey of Marie-Jeanne"). It was very difficult for me to maintain the voice of an uneducated woman. But a number of women have asked me to give their regards to Marie-Jeanne; proving the fact that I created a believable character.
With respect to this point, there is a brilliant example in "Who Has Seen the Wind?", by Canadian author, Bill Mitchell.
A young boy, Brian, is met by an adult on the street and asked how his younger brother,(who has pneumonia), is doing.
Brian responds: "He's had his Christmus."
Quite clearly, Brian has heard a word he doesn't know and has transposed it for a word he does know. He also, instinctively, connects the two words with a happy state. (The word he has heard is "crisis"; the point at which a fever breaks.)
The adult questioner, a school teacher, nods and continues on his way. Again, in the study of character, the adult's attitude shows the understanding of small children that teachers can have.
Bill Mitchell and I had some great times together. I berated him once for his lack of planning for the town in "Who has Seen the Wind?"; some of the streets do not connect properly. I had taught the novel for years, using a project for my students to map out the town. It was an impossible task and I only learned how impossible when I met and spoke with Bill.
Bill was a great guy and he will be missed by those who appreciate his remarkable talent.
Good luck with your writing,
Roger W. Harrington.

The Olympics

Generally speaking, I do not involve myself in National concerns or politics.
Yes, given my past municipal experience in politics you can challenge me. However, I want to make it clear that my past involvement with politics, although I did win some valuable gains for the local people, was a frightening experience with opponents who had no human concern beyond their personal achievement of power. Given that situation, I retired from politics.
Really,what I want to talk about, is our Canadian Olympic representatives.
Yes, each of them was under severe pressure, but they came through with their best effort. Unfortunately, many of them have come under criticism for poor performance or questionable behaviour.
Bottom line, our Olympic players have exceeded all hopes! They have surpassed all previous achievements.
More particularly, the women athletes, especially the hockey team, have been subject to extreme criticism. They are too good! Is that something that should be considered?
In oppositon to this idea, I could cite the record of the Canadian men's team in the history of Olympic hockey. Yes, in the past, the men's team have destroyed all opposition. However, their opponents improved over time. In the forseeable future,it is clear that the international opposition to the women's team will also improve. But to denegrate the achievement of our women is, basically, sexist.
We should celebrate the simple fact that the Canadian women have gained more medals in this Olympic venue than their male counterparts.
Roger W. Harrington.

For all writers

One wonders, at times, where the truth lies for the successful writer. Is it in the money, or is it in the sheer joy of writing?
For most writers, the journey towards a given truth is a torturous path. For others, the needed common phrases trip off the tongue and a novel is born.
Yes,there are genre writers. These writers are content not to produce a significant literary work, but to continue to reel out novels that sell in a particular genre. Some of them, very successful, have stooped to repeating a large section of a former novel to fill up their latest work.
The public does not complain. Truth has no value here.
As a writer, I ask you where is your truth?
Yes, in these difficult days for writers, you may never find a standard publisher. But I urge you to stay true to your vision.
Be well,
Roger W. Harrington

More thoughts on Art

I discussed, the other day, the question of the purpose of art with a prominent world artist.
Most writers and artists have a vision to bring to their audience. This ideal can be as broad as a panoramic view of nature and as narrow as a particular social image; a view of the world around us or something as simple as a look at ourselves.
In this present world of limited leadership, I posed to my friend that art might be the director of our future. Perhaps I was too caught up in my idea. My thesis was rejected.
However, there is a place for art in our lives. Art may not be the full designator of our purpose, but, in small bits and pieces, it can give us hope, clarity and an understanding of our lives. We can learn from the artist and the writer. Perhaps we can learn only small things, but each thing we learn can build on the character we protray to others.
In a limited way, the artists we admire give us a clear window to certain truths.
That is the purpose of art.
Good luck in your work,
Roger W. Harrington.

Thoughts from my book of philosophies.

The following are excerpts from my book of philosophical musings:
Science is a limited pursuit. It moves from stage to stage; waiting for a new idea to be accepted. The world stops when science takes a breath.
If there are two sides to a dispute, both have fault.
Life is a passing breath. In a hundred years, no one will remember your name. Do what you can for others while your breath lasts.
If a man will value his horse, his house or his wife beyond his dreams he will not achieve greatness. True greatness comes from absolute dedication to a vision.
You will fail many times. Each failure is a lesson towards achievement.
Any promise is a bond of honor. It must be redeemed.
If a man takes one step forward he is judged as progressive; if he takes two steps, he is looked upon with suspicion; if he takes three steps, he is seen as an enemy.
Treat a friend with caution; treat an enemy with praise.
There is no modern democracy. Those governments which claim to be democracies are, in fact, corpocracies. They are controlled by their financial supporters.
No democratic government has a lobby of the people.
People do not fear the known; they fear the unknown. If your ideas are new, prepare to be feared and despised.
Good luck in your work,
Roger W. Harrington.

Some more writing tips.

I believe the bottom line for good writers is observation; of life and of nature.
That woman on the bench over there; what do you see in her face and the way she moves her hands? Do you see fear, concern, preoccupation? Her behaviour could trigger a scene or a story for you.
Do you know that no two people recall events alike? Test your friends. In some cases they cannot remember an event that was significant to you. This situation was the focal point of one of my short stories. It calls into question the very heart of historical record.
There is a point! What truths does a writer address, if any?
In general, most artists have a purpose, beyond their work, in putting their art forward. This purpose ranges from a simple observation of truth or truths to an arrant didactic view. Sorry, I used long words! The didactic artists, like George Bernard Shaw, use their work to preach certain beliefs to an audience; beliefs they wish their audience to adopt.
We are back to the artist as visionary and prophet. I have no doubt that most artists want their audience to see a different world; a world that they see as the truth.
Let us keep in mind that truth is a relative quality. One person's truth is not the truth of another. Under such conditions, truth is an ambivalent quality and never absolute. We hold truth in reverence in our modern society, but it has so many guises, many of them false.
Essentially, you should work with your truth to bring it forward. For you to do so, your truth should be honest and without any stain of personal obsession or gain.
Good luck in your work,
Roger W. Harrington.

Some More Thoughts

In his perfect world, Plato excluded the poets and artists. Perhaps he felt that the philosophers would provide imaginative leadership for the population. The world has changed since his time. One wonders, today, who provides that leadership? We are beset, daily, by rapid advances in scientific discovery and cultural changes. If we cannot find and recognize the fundamental truth in nature provided by our artists who will lead us forward?

Good luck with your work.

Roger W. Harrington.