Writing: Use of mirror characters - 12/19/03 10:09 PM
I saw this information on a writing message board and it made a lot of sense to me. Thought I'd share.
Quote
...many books include a "mirror character" whose main purpose is to act as a sounding board for H or h (H refers to the hero and h to the heroine). Best friend, sibling, whatever. The idea is that you take the interior monologue and shift it into a dialogue scene between the mirror character and the H or h.
It's more active than straight interior monologue, but more static than an action scene. They're just talking their way to a decision, after all. Not really doing anything, like chasing the bad guy or excavating a mummy -- not being active, but being reflective out loud.
I try to limit my interior monologue as much as possible because it slows down the pace. If it can't be done, a mirror character is a good way to make it pacier. Give them something plot-related to do while they are having their talk, and it picks up even more.
OTOH, romance readers have come to expect a certain amount of introspection, because of the genre focus on internal conflict.
All of which is just to say, a small amount of interior monologue is a good thing. Larger bits might be better placed in a scene with a mirror character -- or find some other active way to communicate the character's evolving frame of mind (heart?).
It's more active than straight interior monologue, but more static than an action scene. They're just talking their way to a decision, after all. Not really doing anything, like chasing the bad guy or excavating a mummy -- not being active, but being reflective out loud.
I try to limit my interior monologue as much as possible because it slows down the pace. If it can't be done, a mirror character is a good way to make it pacier. Give them something plot-related to do while they are having their talk, and it picks up even more.
OTOH, romance readers have come to expect a certain amount of introspection, because of the genre focus on internal conflict.
All of which is just to say, a small amount of interior monologue is a good thing. Larger bits might be better placed in a scene with a mirror character -- or find some other active way to communicate the character's evolving frame of mind (heart?).