His name is Todd Stashwick and he's an actor. I'm talking about him today because I love to watch crime shows of any kind, from the grim Criminal Minds to the quirky Monk. I see Todd a lot on some of these shows, and I know he's going to be a bad guy each time. In Law & Order: Criminal Intent, he was a zoo veterinarian AND a sociopath. On Psych, he was Gus' boss AND a jerk. His physicality fits the definition of "dangerous" – add his deep voice and it's hard to envision him as the wimpy accountant, or the pleasant neighbor.
He's not the only one. These days, there are a small number of actors I recognize across the screen, and as soon as I see them, I begin to suspect them of the murderer du jour. I don't know their names (I had to search IMDB for awhile to find Todd), but I know their faces. It's a pity, really, because I still enjoy the plots of the shows. The mysteries are good, but the familiar faces telegraph the solution, which kind of ruins it for me.
I think this applies to books as well. There are characters I know will rise above their stations (the hooker with the heart of gold), characters who are too good to be true, and characters I've just seen too much. The plot of the novel may be intriguing, but I often know whodunit before I should, because isn't it always the supportive friend who is the secret psycho, and not the bad witch?
I'm not trying to pick on any author; I think we all do it. To my shame, I created a large, overweight police officer in Freezer Burn. I didn't mean to make Officer Tony Monroe a stereotype but he popped into my head as an ex-football player, so what was I to do? Put him on a diet?
When you're reading, what character type are you tired of seeing?
I think this applies to books as well. There are characters I know will rise above their stations (the hooker with the heart of gold), characters who are too good to be true, and characters I've just seen too much. The plot of the novel may be intriguing, but I often know whodunit before I should, because isn't it always the supportive friend who is the secret psycho, and not the bad witch?
I'm not trying to pick on any author; I think we all do it. To my shame, I created a large, overweight police officer in Freezer Burn. I didn't mean to make Officer Tony Monroe a stereotype but he popped into my head as an ex-football player, so what was I to do? Put him on a diet?
When you're reading, what character type are you tired of seeing?
