CHARACTER SWITCH

by Deborah Elliott-Upton

In workshops, I often instruct writers to become a reporter and interview their characters. I stress they should ask pressing questions to expose underlying thoughts to develop the characterization. Mainly, I wanted them to dig into what makes them who they really are beneath the façade.

Recently, I added another dimension to this exercise: What if characters were interviewed by a yellow journalist instead? What would make today’s front page? The accusations are often not true, but this doesn’t stop them from seeking hidden “facts” about the characters and print them as if they were. We’re talking tabloid here, not critical reviews.

How would our favorite authors redeem their heroes if tabloids printed :

• Mike Hammer’s headline read HAMMERED AGAIN with a photo of an open desk drawer revealing a half-empty whiskey bottle
• Photos of Perry Mason and Della Street looking a bit too cozy in a nightclub
• Dalliances with a housemaid and Nick Charles while Nora accompanied Asta to the vet
• Nero Wolfe and his secret rose garden
• Dr. Watson caught gossiping about Sherlock behind his back
• Sam Spade attending a gun control rally.

While none of these newspaper scenarios would be true, any of them could lead to a dramatic departure in the storyline and headaches for the author – or maybe not. It could spring an entire new plot line for the writer to explore.

• Hammer could be admitted to a rehab facility to help him discover the celebrity in residence responsible for distributing stolen diamonds to the highest bidder.
• Mason forces Della’s jealous stalker to stop harassing his secretary by pretending to be her suitor.
• Nick thwarts a blackmailing ring of the maid and her accomplice, the veterinarian.
• Archie Goodwin finds his boss’ secret obsession concerning the lost lover who adored roses as much as he does orchids.
• Of course the good doctor is sharing the heroic adventures of his best friend; that’s what he does.
• Sam Spade would never support gun control. He’d have to sue the paper. It’d be just another instance of tabloids printing falsehoods to sell more papers. Knowing this, the public still read and sometimes believe the headlines anyway – and keeps them from repeating actions that are working for them.

The idea of the exercise is to look beyond the expected. Perhaps the good guy is supposed to be found innocent, but it doesn’t always happen in real life, in books or on the screen. The episode of Judd for the Defense I most recall was when Judd lost the case. The prosecutor smiled at him and said something to the effect of, “Well, you can’t win them all.”
Judd pressed his lips together hard, then said, “Yes, but when you lose, nobody dies.”

When a writer takes a stereotypical character and shakes it, turns it on its side and allows it to land where it will, interesting characters evolve. From that point, everything they say and do become less predictable and more interesting.

If the tabloid were hounding you, what likely falsehood would result in the best scandal? What truth would you hope would be kept hidden from prying eyes? What could switch the public’s perception of you?