For all its emphasis on the religious, the South is a very superstitious place. When I was pregnant with my son (living in Alabama at the time) I had people dangling strings over my stomach to tell the gender of my child, and received dire warnings that I should give my cats away because, “They’ll suck the life right outta that baby!”
I didn’t dare laugh at them.
But some superstitious have gotten ingrained in me. You should see my behavior when salt is spilled. Don’t make me walk under a ladder. I shuddered recently when my son broke his hand mirror he uses to put his contacts in. I make the sign of a cross when a black cat crosses my path (and I’m Presbyterian.) I’ll back into a car and get sopping wet to keep from having an umbrella open indoors.
This makes no sense. It’s completely irrational. But it’s become second nature to me. I won’t mess around with getting hexed!
So, in a small way, the superstitions are controlling my behavior in rather ridiculous ways (throwing salt over my left shoulder, crossing myself, avoiding construction areas.)
I’ve been playing around for a while with having a superstitious person in my books. They’re vulnerable to manipulation, I think. And they behave in unpredictable ways, which can be interesting.
I started thinking about all the irrational things that people do. When I write, I think I focus only on the believable. In fact, sometimes I’ll hear stories on the news and think, “Well, there’s no way I can write that as part of my book. My editor would say it’s completely unrealistic. Truth is stranger than fiction.”
But what about the odd things that people do? The phobias they have that prevent them from flying or from having a pet, or from being around people?
What about even eccentric habits that have gotten ingrained in people and which they’re loath to stray from? The person who always eats his supper while watching Wheel of Fortune. Comfortable habit? Or something more?
What about their past experiences that make them behave in an irrational, but understandable way—their reluctance to become intimate with anyone—taken to the extreme.
Or… their superstitions.
I think it would be interesting to play around with pushing characters in directions they don’t want to travel in. Make them take that plane ride. Tip them over the edge into pyromania from their little candle-burning habit. Turn their clutter into hoarding. Make their superstitions affect their daily behavior…or make them completely wrapped up in their daily horoscope. What kind of conflict could this cause, both internal and external?
What an interesting post, Elizabeth! We all have superstitions, irrational behaviors and thoughts, and phobias. I think it’s deeply rooted in our instinct to survive. If characters are going to be believable, then they, too, should have superstitions, irrational behaviors and phobias. I’m certainly going to think about that for my own writing.
Incidentally, Agatha Christie brings up superstitions sometimes. For instance, in Death in the Clouds (AKA Death in the Air), she mentions a superstition that two spoons in a coffee cup or saucer means a wedding. I didn’t know about that one until I read that book for the first time…
I like the idea of stretching our characters to do things that they might not normally do. Maass says to put our characters into a situation where they’re forced to do the opposite of what they normally would. I’m going to have to try that!
I agree with Helen, that a little goes a long way. I think it might be very interesting to find an “unusual” quirk, one that most people might not even notice, but that has some special meaning for the person doing it.
If you incorporate even a quarter of those things into a character, your books is going to quite something!!!
And for a normally rational person, I do have a whole bunch of things I am superstitious about.
I think pushing them over the edge is a good idea!
I probably don’t give my characters enough odd like habits. They do have internal issues, but it’s more in connection with emotions, self-esteem, past issues, etc.
I’m certainly not superstitious. Goodness, I’d be really busy crossing myself if that were true, as I have two black indoor cats!
Superstitions make life interesting. Thanks for pointing out the idea of giving them to our characters. What a fun idea :) And I know just who to pick on…
Happy Friday,
Jen
Picking an eccentricity, superstition or phobia and building a character around it sounds like a new habit I should get into. Lord knows I have enough examples around me…
This is a very interesting subject. Adding superstitions,phobias, eccentric behaviors, etc., to a character can add so much color and interest. My Grandma was super superstitious – AND religious, lol – they DO seem to go hand in hand. One thing in our family was you NEVER laid anything on top of a BIBLE! HUGE sinful no-no that would let Satan have his way with you that day.
The Old Silly
I’ve been wondering about quirks and conflict with my characters here lately. This gives me ideas to think about. Thanks.
Superstitions are great indicators of a character’s history. What a marvelous way of demonstrating it. Thanks, Elizabeth!
Elspeth
I think quirks and superstitions can really make multi-dimensional and fun characters.
I’ve also had the same feeling about some news stories, knowing if I wrote about them in a fictional way, people would say impossible, it could never happen.
Showing your characters’ quirks and phobias would certainly make them interesting and memorable. Even if the character turns out to be the bad guy, you’d need to not make him/her a caricature, though. I think a little would go a long way, as the old saying goes.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Irrational thinking is a great area of exploration. I have some minor OCD issues that crack my husband up. Sometimes he pushes me over the edge (and soon regrets it). By the way, I passed you the Honest Scrap award.
Rayna–A very messed-up character! Maybe I should make them a murder victim so we don’t have to put up with them for a whole book. :)
Diane–It’s always fun to push the characters a little, isn’t it?
Marvin–I can only imagine how careful everyone was to know where the Bible was at all times so they wouldn’t screw up!
Margot–I’d forgotten about “Death in the Clouds!” Good example, thanks.
Jody–It’s always fun to torture our characters a little bit!
Jane–It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Too unbelievable for fiction!
Helen–You’re right. It can be the entire focus of a story (like the “Monk” series.)
Alan–I think so, too. It could be frustrating for the reader if used to the extreme.
Jen–Always more fun when there are real people to base oddities on. :)
Julia–Me too. I hear them all the time and usually just keep my mouth shut! But I’d love to write about them.
Carol–Hope it helps!
Elspeth–Good point. We can tell a little more about their background and probably even their education level, depending on how far they take their beliefs.
Tara–Cool! Thanks so much…I appreciate it. :)
My sister is kind of OCD, too. You should see her handwashing habit!
I’m not superstitious, but if I did believe in things like that I’d say I’ve had some weird omens lately. In fact, today I ran into a high school classmate and her triplets. Then I returned home and spotted triplet fawns in my backyard a couple hours later. I don’t want to even think what that could mean. It’s just a coincidence. It’s just a coincidence…
Great idea, Elizabeth. I never thought about using superstition to highlight character quirks and add depth. I like it. May I steal this, please?
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Galen–But of course! :) Have fun with it.
Janel—If I were you, I’d be doing some kind of anti-triplet ceremony at midnight with candles and incense! :)
My character introduce their crazy selves to me and I watch in amazement. I don’t try to stop them from doing what they have to do.
My grandparents on both sides had some big-time superstitions, if your left ear rings, someone is talking about you, in a bad way. The right–they’re saying something good. If a bird gets into the house and flies around the kitchen table a family member will die soon. If you kill a ladybug you’ll bring bad luck. Never bring a your old broom to a new house, but a new one. I could go on and on.
;-)
Great post, Elizabeth! Gives me lots to think about as I’m plotting my next novel. You’re very generous to share such good ideas.
Julie Lomoe’s Musings Mysterioso
http://julielomoe.wordpress.com
Elizabeth–We have some of those here…but slightly different. I make sure the kids capture any crickets that find their way into our garage–killing them is bad luck. :)
Julie–You know, I think we could all use the same ideas and write 50 different books!