Heroes & Villains
Isobelle Carmody is a popular and in-demand fixture of our annual program of creative workshops, and it felt wonderful to gather together at Harry Hartog Booksellers ANU for our first in-person workshop of the year on Saturday 22 May.
Isobelle guided 13 focused participants through a nuanced exploration of writing heroes and villains, and provided a liberal sprinkling of writerly wisdom throughout the day.
On heroes and villains
A baddy rarely does what they do wringing their hands and laughing evilly. They are not bad for the sake of badness. We tend to exaggerate when writing villains, but it’s important they have a reason behind what they do …
Heroes tend to be of two types: displaying one-time acts of bravery, or demonstrating life-long heroism. There is a moral code. There may be sacrifice; risk, as they act for those in need.
Isobelle’s inspiring reads for heroes and villains:
William Shakespeare’s Richard III
Phillip Pullman’s Book of Dust
George Orwell’s Animal Farm
Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian
John Ajvide Lindqvist‘s Let The Right One In
Isobelle’s collected wisdom:
Be open and porous as you write - the world should flow through you
Stop in cafes. Sit and be. Make space for improvised writing each week - write what you see; hear; think.
Honour the ‘bread making’ time; the procrastination. It’s time when your writing is still on your mind, but it lets your subconscious work to draw out all the threads. You can find the story’s meaning in those threads.
The questions an author is asking in their works is the source of their originality. Underneath all my work is the question: why do people do the things that they do?
Philip Pullman says story is the path through the forest. Build the forest, but know that your character will walk a narrow narrative path. Then ask as you write - is this forest, or is this path?
The balance of ‘action’ is always less that the balance of thinking and speaking in a story
Find out more about ACT Writers programs.
ACT Writers is situated on Ngunnawal Country. We pay tribute to the unique role that First Nation communities have played – and continue to play – in the life of what is also known as the Australian Capital Territory. We acknowledge all elders, past, present and emerging, and honour those who continue to share their wisdom and learning.
