Keeping things interesting

[John Dean]

One of the challenges with writing a series of novels is the need to keep them fresh so that the readers do not become bored.

There are various ways to do that, including developing facets of the recurring main characters and continually coming up with inventive storylines, but also important is the creation of new characters, either to appear regularly or as one-offs.

I am always interested in what triggers a new character for a writer. When and how do they burst into life? I am thinking of this because I am working on the latest DCI Jack Harris novel for the Book Folks and although some of my regulars appear I need some new ones as well.

For me, characters start out with the jobs I need them to do within the story – to agitate, keep secrets, antagonise the police, terrorise the community, make the reader think - and I let them grow into the role.

That willingness to let them develop is crucial and can often surprise and intrigue the writer, and by logical extension, the reader.

With my latest Harris novel, the result was a character who assumed the ‘keeper of secrets’ role, which is helping me to develop a plot out of what started out life as the kernel of an idea. That’s important as I never start out on a novel knowing all the answers. They come to me through the storytelling process.

The character will evolve through the storytelling as well and, hopefully, keep me interested in the novel – just have to write the thing now!