My last blog was spent mostly criticizing a book I had recently read, where the “good guy” wasn’t such a good guy after all. Today, I thought I would do that again with a different book. This one was amazing.
The first person the author introduced you to was the “bad guy”. However, as the story unfolded, I sympathized with him, I totally understood why he was going to do what he did, and part of me wanted him to get away with it. He was a true badass, but I loved him.
As I read more, the author wisely started gradually changing the persona of my bad guy. As I became more and more aware of his deep dark thoughts I found my feelings changing. By the end of the book, I was pulling for the good guys to nail this crook, which, of course, they did.
As I contemplated what I had read, it made me more aware of how easily we are swayed by things we read or hear. Have you ever disliked someone intensely before you even meet them, just because of things you had heard about that person from friends? I had that happen, disliked a person for over a year, then when I actually met them, we immediately bonded and became good friends.
Don’t ever let anyone else sway you by their feelings. Only you can decide what’s best for you, be it religion, politics or just every day life. Be true to yourself.
In my writing, I do deliberately try to sway you. I lead you down many false paths, steering you away from the reality of where my stories may end. My goal is for you to read the final page, sigh, and say, “Darn it, she got me again.”
Elsie Varn Harrell Official Site 