I love developing a character.
It begins with a fleeting image in my mind, asking questions: a figure standing in protest {of what?}... or walking, deep in thought {about what?}... or gazing nervously out a window {why?} in an unfamiliar realm {where?}...
Some of these figures will be courageous "good guys", some will be supporting characters that fulfill a certain purpose and/or symbol, some will be "baddies". But my favorite character to write tells a story of redemption.
Severus Snape has already been written and to me he was the quintessential {pun intended for HP-symbolism fans} redemptive character. Starting out as the victim of a troubled childhood, yet knowing what love and being loved felt like, he took a series of wrong turns and fell in with the worst of the worst. After his actions cost him the only thing he truly wanted, with catastrophic results, he devotes himself to making things right as best he can.
In this world there are many sources of inspiration for a story of redemption. With so much evil around us, I find it comforting to create characters who can find it in their heart to have a change of heart before it's too late.
photo: wikimedia / Dori
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