M. B. Weston’s Writing Diary: Batman Begins & Character Development 03/06/15

Posted on March 7, 2015 by M. B. Weston

Awesome happened last night, but it didn’t happen while I worked on edits for chapter two. It happened while I was watching Batman Begins. I realize this first Batman movie by Christopher Nolan wasn’t as big a hit as The Dark Knight. I believe it really shows Nolan’s genius, however, and part of this movie reminded me about some of the important parts of developing character.

Picture the scene. Young Bruce Wayne, sitting in the police station. His parents have just been killed in an alley. The police and detectives are talking around him instead of to him. He is alone in a room full of people. Suddenly, a policeman with the last name of Gordon walks up to little Bruce, puts his jacket around the boy’s shoulders, and talks with him.

Everything we need to know about the character of Commissioner Gordon we get in that scene. Thirty seconds. That’s it. And we all know who Gordon is on the inside.

That’s what I need to remember to do when I’m writing this novella (and any other story as well). It’s the little things. Those tiny, quick, two sentence things that can totally bring a character to life.

How about you? Have you ever seen a movie or read a book and gone, “That’s how to write”?

Toodles!

About M. B. Weston

M. B. Weston is an award-winning fantasy, pulp, young adult, steampunk, and paranormal author. Her attention to procedure and detail gives her works an authentic gritty, military feel that takes an adventure tale to the level of a true page-turner. Weston’s writing attracts both fantasy and non-fantasy readers, and her audience ranges from upper-elementary students to adults. A gifted orator, Weston has been invited as a guest speaker to numerous writing and science fiction/fantasy panels at conventions across the US, including DragonCon, BabelCon, NecronomiCon, and Alabama Phoenix Festival. She has served on panels with such authors as Sherrilyn Kenyon, J. F. Lewis, Todd McCaffrey, and Jonathan Maberry. Weston has spoken to thousands of students and adults about the craft of writing and has been invited as the keynote speaker at youth camps and at several schools throughout the US.
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6 Responses to M. B. Weston’s Writing Diary: Batman Begins & Character Development 03/06/15

  1. rhunsinger says:
    March 7, 2015 at 10:18 AM

    Reblogged this on rrhunsinger and commented:
    Good example of how to do more character by simple action that defines them.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. rhunsinger says:
    March 7, 2015 at 10:23 AM

    So many! Love the example above. That moment hit me the same way from a writer’s point og view. Unfortunately I go the other way too. Try hard not to disect a movie or a book so I can enjoy it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. LeonardHilleyII says:
    March 8, 2015 at 8:23 AM

    Exactly. Dialogue is also an effective tool for showing a character’s heart and motive. How they rationalize often determines the character. Movies are great, but I tend to get more inspiration while reading. Even though I might be reading something totally outside my genre, one word sparks a thought toward my WIP, and BAM! I cannot read any further. I need to get back to my writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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