Every intriguing mystery
story has a combination of Yin and Yang, the contrasting and harmonizing forces
in Chinese thought. These forces are represented within the story by a blend of
personalities, both the shaded and sunny sides; a satisfying mix of tight
action and palliative sequel to keep the tension level high and the story
moving forward at a well-balanced pace to retain the reader’s interest.
There is always an element of
good in the worst of people and a touch of evil in the best. Just as the
characteristics of Yin and Yang cannot exist without those of the other, a
strong character cannot maintain a realistic presence without flaws to balance
the personality. A character comprised of pure evil, on the other hand, will
quickly disappear against the black shadow of night.
Together, the main characters
of a story combine in various degrees to form a cohesive relationship that will
carry the plotline to a satisfying conclusion.
Contrast is necessary. A
whispered poem will be lost in the thunder of a hundred similarly whispered
poems. Even the subtlest of contrasts can make a difference.
Can the application of the
Yin and Yang concept heighten suspense in your story?
It is usually essential to give "evil" characters humanity--think of Tony Soprano's love for his family and wife in the TV series. I know he cheated on his wife, but he also (sometimes) felt guilty about it, and, in his own warped way, he loved his kids. An absolutely evil character: Shakespeare's Iago. Can anyone think of a moment in that play when he is not scheming?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with J.P.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! In my thriller/mysteries, I have trouble with the balance. Everything starts and ends very exciting, but then it all kinds of sags in the middle. I need to get better about balancing those frenzied and calm moments.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn, Have you read Beginnings, Middles and Ends?
ReplyDeleteI never thought of Yin/Yang in mystery stories. It gives me something to apply in my novel.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post.
I think it can. I always say hubby and I are Yin and Yang, we seem like opposites sometimes, but we complement each other.
ReplyDeleteUse of this in a storyline will up the tension, if only because the two characters will approach an event in two different ways.
This is an excellent way to illustrate the need for humanity in evil characters. I especially like J.P Hansen's example of Tony Soprano: You can't help loving the guy! I'll be sure to keep this in mind when going over my characters. Thanks, Gail!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of balance is such an important one when it comes to writing. I love this post.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice. I need to work on this for my current work in progress. I tend to write the extremes and forget to balance. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete