30 Days of Demons, Day 12: Inner Demons Back to Blog
Update: My IOU winner is commenter #4, Marnie Colette! Congrats, Marnie! And thanks for all the comments!
Today, we’re not talking about the literal demons that can burn up the pages of a novel; instead, the focus is on the inner demons that drive characters.
For my upcoming romantic suspense series with Grand Central Publishing (due out in 2010), I deal with characters who carry a lot of inner demons. My heroine (in the first RS book) is a woman with a particularly dark past–the darkest I’ve ever written. She has fears that she keeps locked deep inside, fears that whisper to her late at night. But my heroine has to face her fears–face her demons–in order to do her job as an FBI agent and to get her happy ending.
When I read a book, I don’t expect to open the pages and find a perfect hero or perfect heroine. I want someone with flaws, and, yes, even demons. Because real people carry secrets, fears, worries–that’s what makes us human. If I see a character without these traits, I find that I have a hard time relating to her (or him!).
For the prize today, well, it’s an IOU. 🙂 Tell me your thoughts about the inner demons that plague characters, and I’ll pick one commenter to win an ARC of the first book in my romantic suspense series. Now, this ARC isn’t available now, and it won’t be available for quite some time. (I think we’re looking at tentative release dates for next summer.) But, as soon as I do get an ARC, I will send it to the commenter. So the prize is an IOU–one that will give you a sneak peek at the agents in my Serial Services Division–a division of the FBI that tracks and apprehends serials (killers, rapists, arsonists, kidnappers…)
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My characters are always damaged. I usually drop hints of the damage. I’m revising my wip, and I realize that beyond the hints, my hero and heroine never talk about what they’ve gone through before they met. I think they need to do that, need to strip away the emotional bandages to show the wounds are still bleeding when jabbed. And to show they’re ready to be healed.
Thanks for your blog. I just thought of it now!
I don’t connect with characters that are close to perfect. It’s the inner demons that makes a good read. How they overcome it, or their attempts to change or get over something is what makes the story interesting and engaging.
Congrats on the new series romantic suspense is one of my fav genres, so I will be anxiously awaiting more info on these.
I love a character that has a lot of problems that they have to work through, that’s what makes them interesting. I hate when the characters seem perfect because then they’re boring and I can’t get really interested in the book. Congratulations on the new series, can’t wait to try it.
I like characters that have inner demons we all share in some shape or form – Insecurities that I can relate too or might even share of course in a good book these are generally extreme cases.
Congrats on the new series!!!
Well, I agree with everyone else – when reading a book I want inner conflicts as well as the ‘outer’ one that is driving the suspense/action.
On the other hand I want ‘realistic’ angst – I don’t want trite ‘barriers’ between the H/H that seem to be there just to create some ‘will they/won’t they’ tension.
Now, if you are a wolfy in disguise . . that is something to angst about. But rest assured I will soothe your furrowed fur . . um brow for you 😉
Great post Cynthia and a fab prize . . . ;D
I like to see how the characters deal with their inner demons. Nobodys life is perfect everyone has things to deal with. Its all about how the characters resolve these conflicts.
I think perfection is not only highly overrated, it’s not actually obtainable at all. Everyone has inner demons or flaws of some kind; they just may not be evident to others. I can’t relate to the concept of perfect because I know I’m not, and I don’t want my heroes and heroines to be, either. I love stories where part of it is overcoming those “demons” to reach fulfillment.
You need your characters to have these “inner” demons. This is what makes the storyline, having a hero or heroine that are “perfect” makes for an extremely dull story. The characters overcoming their inner demons is the heart of the story.
Everyone has his or her own inner demons. It would be a very boring person if perfect in every way! Its the flaws that make the character worth developing and give the story a bite! :o)Tamsyn
I love charachters who have inner demons they struggle with~~it just makes them more human, easier to relate to. Everyone has them, to different degrees, and how they effect your life, your attitude always intrigues me. I have read books where the angst and inner demons look like they’re going to win over the hero/heroine, and it takes a huge plot twist to bring them back. But I like it, lol.
first: *squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee* me, want!
*ahem*
second: yes, I need characters who have flaws and weaknesses in order to care about them. I mean, if they are so perfect and wholesome already, then why should I care whether they find happiness or not?
I know that there are readers who feel that Roarke (Nora Roberts’ In Death books) or Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy L. Sayers mysteries) are a bit too good to be true, but they both have demons they have to fight; memories that can cripple them if they let them. That is what makes a character stay with me–how they deal with these internal obstacles on their way to their happiness.
Who likes a story that is bland and predictable. We all have inner demons, that is what makes stories so interesting.
A book is so boring if the characters don’t have inner demons. That is what makes the champion these characters and want to read more to see them conquer these inner demons.
Congrats on the new series.
The more problems the main characters have, make the story more believable. We all have problems. However with a book, they get resolved which doesn’t always happen in real life even though we want it to. Have a great day.
I have to agree with Amy. It would be boring if the characters don’t have any inner demons.
I think characters that have inner demons make them more real and interesting to read about. It creates a depth to the characters and allows them to have more feeling.
I think characters that have problems are much easier to relate to. You sympathize with them much easier and it is interesting to see how they overcome their inner demons.
Heros and heroines that have issues make a book so much more believable. Makes you the reader get emotionally involved and want to see how they overcome their issues and have a happy ending. Ultimately we all want that 😀
I find that I connect more with characters that are flawed. Near-perfect characters bore the living heck out of me.. and anymore, when I create characters for my role playing purposes with friends, I always give my characters flaws. It gives them more character I believe.
It’s those inner demons that we all have that makes for a more interesting character and is why I enjoy edgier storylines so much. Conquering those demons, using that darkness to fight the big bad, finding a balance to those demons in the person that you come to love, it makes for some very compelling stories.
I love reading about characters with inner demons. Especially if they get help to fight them from the hero/heroine.
I think characters that have internal conflicts and are battling demons are more multifaceted and interesting. It’s easier to sympathize with a character who has struggles than a perfect one.
I really like reading characters with inner demons and seeing how the character works around or faces those demons.
~Waving. Day job has had me running, oh I love my new last name btw ;p
I’d rather have a character with inner demons than one that is perfect in every way. Having inner demons makes any character more 3D and can really allow you to see what kind of person they are.
I agree; if a character doesn’t have some sort of flaw, I can’t really relate to them. No one is perfect, so why should a fictional character be so?
As much as “perfect” characters can be fun, I really do like the “damaged” ones. I like seeing them develop and grow. I like that it isn’t easy. I like that it rips my heart how.
wow
can you tell I just went into vacation mode?
that should say “I like that it rips my heart OUT!” lol
I like to think of them as personality quirks rather than inner demons but since it is demon week….
I like escapism as much as the next girl but with the required HEA, the characters cannot be cardboard cutouts. Differences make for interest!
If a character doesn’t have flaws, then they don’t have depth and are one dimensional. Who wants that? It’s really interesting to see how an author will deal with a hero and heroine who have what seems like insurmountable flaws and reach the happy ending.
I can’t wait to read that book, Cynthia! I’ll buy it no matter what!
LindaC
I like balance here. Characters that have inner demons make the best ones; but they don’t have to be extremely heavy. Maybe someone who has always lived a sedate life, and wants to branch out. Should s/he start robbing banks and/or skanking it up? No. Subtlety is still important.
But, maybe that- or regrets for not going for something – a job, a person, a purchase. Maybe keeping a secret that wasn’t so big, but had major repercussions.
However, I hate the inner demons that haunt a person and make them maudlin and whiny. Yes, X happened and makes the character feel bad- but I don’t want to read about moping through 200 pages.
No real person is perfect, so I definitely wouldn’t want a character I’m reading to act that way, either. Our personal demons/flaws are what make us individuals. They are what drive us to either be better or what keep us fearful and scared to live our lives. Secrets/Fears/Flaws they are what form us to be the people we are, whether we are able to overcome them? Well, that’s what helps make a great story.
Can’t wait to read your new series Cynthia!
I’m so damaged and have inner demon a book with a perfect character would probably burn in my hands. I would definitely lose interest in it. Bring on the tormented souls any day.
All of us struggle daily with our inner selves from little white lies to feelings of failure or of never being enough. When you read a book you connect with the characters when they are realistic even with all their flaws or fears. That’s what I like to read!
Most people have either some insecurity or trauma, sometimes both, so it does make it more believable to have those inner demons to struggle with; for me, more so in romantic suspense, to have that personal conflict along with the storyline suspense makes the story more interesting.
A lot of people have already said this but I like a character that has inner demons basically because it makes them seem more human. Everyone has something that they struggle with privately in their life. I also really love it when character has their inner demons that they work out with the help of someone who loves them, inner demons and all.
tortured characters make for great reads. this sounds like a departure for you from paranomals. Looking forward to reading this. I love romantic suspense too.
I hate to say this, But I kind of like a tortured hero or heroine. Someone who has scars from the past to overcome. Bad of me to say it like that but you have to admit that it makes for a great story. If a hero or heroine always had perfection as a background, it wouldn’t be as interesting a read. And I agree with other comments above about inner troubles make a character more real. I mean we all have things in our past not very pleasent to dwell on and those differences make up who we are. Those troubles shape who we become later on in life or farther into the pages of a book.
Sometimes, I like to read one that has no unresolved issues, tension, bad childhood, etc.
Neat to hear about this upcoming series Cynthia! I do love to see how the hero or heroine with those demons within them, grow through the book to get through those as well as grow to love the heroine too. I know that to love another you must love yourself and I think that’s a huge part to get through those things that are torturing you inside. So I love to see this growth. The empathy with feeling their pain makes me ache along with them and I love to see them get them out!!
I love characters with inner demons. It’s always great drama and conflict. But there is a fine line between the tortured soul and simply being whiny and rehashing the same argument over and over again as a reason why the character will not get together with their romantic partner or some equivalent issue.
Inner demons make the character more real to me what with the background motivation for actions and good explanation for viewpoints and fears. It is particularly satisfying to see the inner demon dealt with and perhaps even laid to rest.
inner demons r s o much better then outer deams i relate dbetter to characters who r more damaged not less then m-normal pplits the damaged ppl i can relate to so those are the characters who i love more then most
Characters have to have some flaws because if too perfect there is no interest. However, angst has to be balanced between not enough or made up just to create conflict and too much which becomes why should I care.
As you say we all have our inner demons.
I think I have managed to conquer most of mine except for one that I still have and probably always will.
I am terrified of suspension bridges !
My husband has tried everything to help me but still, put one foot on a suspension bridge and I freeze up solid.
I have conquered fear of heights, enclosed space and many other but not this one.
Carol
I think that a characters inner demons are what makes the character so rich and strong and pulls me to them. I enjoy characters that have stuff to work through opposed to those who are practically perfect.
Characters who have their flaws or inner demons displayed make a story seem more believable as we all have our imperfections to deal with. A perfect hero/heroine would be very dull and hard to accept as far as I am concerned. We have read of those that “think” they are perfect, but we all know how those characters have turned out…usually as the villians or not accepted by those around them.
I think inner demons help create and strengthen the character… otherwise you would have a pretty blase or boring person. It enhances the story to watch a hero or heroine struggle with those inner demons to, hopefully, grow and become a better person.
I’m with LadyVampire2U…I really love the tortured heroes the best. Most h/h would be bland without inner turmoil. There’s no room for character development if they are perfect from the start.
I want my characters to be damaged or have flaws. Lets face it no one in life is perfect. Life is not perfect, we are all flawed in some ways and books should be the same.
its nice some times to know, EVERYONE has inner demons. even heroines from books, who used to have the perfect life,now is more like us but get the hunk guy