Achlys

Before Chaos, in Greek Mythology, there was Achlys. She was everlasting night, the personification of grief and human misery. And she is a metaphor for Billie Quinn, in one of my books.

It's no accident that Billie has a new ally in Trace of Doubt, in the person of Ben Sato. A Japanese detective, Ben spouts Greek mythology, and he tells her about Achlys. The whole book is about Billie leaving the place of eternal night and misery. She needs to leave it for the light, for morning.

And that's the thing when you write a novel. Chances are you are trying to make the realm of human emotions that much sharper. The grief is deeper and more visceral; love is that much more intense and passionate; anger and fury are enough to propel a character to an act of revenge or to avenge a wrong.

While some authors write books about the ordinary, chances are they are still trying to depict those emotions with a razor-sharp fineness. Otherwise, we'd just be reading about you and me.

Don't get me wrong. People are interesting. Everyone has a story. My life has definitely had its Greek tragedy moments. I have definitely fought some hard-won battles and done some things I think are remarkable given the circumstances. But . . . all in all . . . it's a life. A beautiful life. A life I wouldn't trade. But not terribly interesting except for the people who love me. (Or hate me in the case of my mother-in-law.)

In a novel, you pick 300 pages--you shine the light on a set time, a series of events, a moment. And in that moment, in the interest of propelling the book forward, chances are you're not going to write about your character doing the laundry, going to the bathroom, sleeping. Instead, you shine your light on the deepest moments.

People didn't go to the theater throughout time--Greece, Rome, Japan, London--to watch characters bore them to tears. They went to the theater or the colliseum to see the most intense moments of life--tragedy, comedy, triumph--acted out.

Same with books. Aim deeper, darker, or brighter and more passionate. Take your characters to the place where Achlys resides.

Anyone? What are the most intense emotions of your wip? Or of a favorite book or movie? What MADE it so intense?