Everything I Ever Needed to Know about Writing,

I learned from The Mummy

Part II

Originally, I envisioned one seamless and succinct article all about The Mummy. Then I starting writing said aritcle and realized two things: I'm more long-winded than I thought, and our newsletter editor was going to kill me. So here's part two of three (I hope!): what I learned about characters from The Mummy.

Let me start by saying there's no shame in relying on the tried and true. In fiction, in character development in particular, the tried and true are character archetypes. For more information on character archetypes, see The Complete Writer's guide to Heroes & Heroines, by Cowden, La Fever, and Viders.

Using archetypes for character development works because it helps the reader know what to expect. Keep in mind, that reading fiction should be easy for the reader. They should be able to slide right into the story. The transition from their world to the fictional world you've created should be seamless. You do that by using characters archetypes, by letting the reader know what to expect. Making it easy on them, allows that seamless transition.

When using archetypes, it's important that your characters really be that archetype. Their archetype should be obvious from the moment they walk on scene. It should be obvious in the way they act and the things they say. Don't be wishy-washy with your characters either. If there's information the audience needs to know about your character, then let the audience know right away.

Remember Evelyn from The Mummy? She's a Librarian. That's her archetype as well as her profession and we know it from the minute we see her, perched on a ladder shelving books. We know it from the way she's dressed in prim Edwardian clothes, hair knotted tightly at the base of her neck. We know it from the ease with which she rattles off the names of ancient Egyptian pharaohs. And from the way she talks to the books, gently chiding them for being in the wrong place.

Within five minutes of screen time, we know everything we need to know about Evelyn. We know she's librarian. We know she often gets herself into trouble -- her single-minded focus on the task at hand (shelving books) causes her to knock down all the book shelves. Finally, from her interaction with her boss, we know she's under-appreciated. He tells her the only reason he puts up with her is because her parents were great Egyptologists. Our first impression of Evelyn is as complete as it is strong.

The same is true for Rick O'Connell, the movie's hero. He is a Warrior. We know he's a Warrior from the first moment we see him, rifle aimed at an unbeatable enemy. A moment later, when his commander runs away while O'Connell stays to lead the men under his command, we learn more about him. By the time that first scene ends, we know everything we need to know about Rick O'Connell. He's a warrior, a bit of a swashbuckler, but a man of honor. He'll stay and fight when other men turn and run.

"But," you may protest, "I want to write multi-dimensional, fully-layered characters." Of course you do. We all do. And the truth is, most characters, O'Connell included, are more complex than even a strong first impression allows. And make no mistake, the first time your characters appear they will make a first impression. You have plenty of time to layer your characters later in the story. Your job as an author is to make sure that first impression is the right one. If your hero is a Warrior, then the first time the reader meets him, he should not be doing research in the library.

Think about Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Indiana Jones is a Swashbuckler through and through. Ironically, he also happens to be a professor. But professor is his profession, not his archetype. Who can forget that image of Indiana Jones racing through the ruins of an ancient temple with a giant ball of stone rolling after him? That opening scene in the jungle has very little to do with the plot of the movie but everything to do with establishing expectations.

Imagine how differently the movie would play out if our first impression of Indiana had him standing in front of a classroom of students. Interestingly enough, the second time we see Indiana, he is in the lecture hall. Because we've already seen him racing through the jungle, we know there's more to him than meets the eye. We're in on the joke. Therefore, when the men from Army Intelligence come to ask him to find the lost ark, we're not shocked and confused -- or worse, skeptical. Because we already have that first impression of him in our mind, we know he's up to the challenge.

So remember, never be afraid to make a strong first impression. Furthermore, never be afraid to reinforce it whenever necessary. It's even a good idea to give your characters a talisman, some physical object they carry with them that represents who they are. (Remember Indiana's hat and whip?) After all, your characters exist in a physical world. They need objects to clutch when they're nervous or stroke when they're contemplative.

O'Connell's talisman is his guns. He uses them to defend himself not only from physical danger, but from emotional intimacy as well. Once he's cleaned-up and well-groomed, O'Connell feels nervous around Evelyn. After all, he's a man of action and doesn't quite know what to do with this intelligent, cultured, beautiful woman. Around her, his easy confidence slips. How do we know? By the way he handles his weapons. It's no coincidence that before he'll even sit down at the table with her, he rolls out his bundle of guns between them. Those weapons are his talisman; they make him feel safe, even when he's not using them. In fact for most of the movie, his guns are useless against an immortal enemy. The Mummy obviously is not suseptible to bullets. Nevertheless, O'Connell's always armed.

Evelyn's talisman is her books. Makes sense -- she is a Librarian. She's surrounded by books throughout the movie, from the books she's shelving when we first meet her, to the book she uses to save the world. Her books give her the same confidence that Rick's guns bring him. After her first intimate conversation with Rick (the same one that made him nervous) she feels so rattled when she goes back to her room, she tries to read, but can't. Like Rick, the way she interacts with her talisman shows us how she's feeling.

In the case of both Rick and Evelyn, their talismans are related not only to their archetypes but also to the lessons they have to learn.

None of this is an accident. It's just great fiction. Which is what we aspire to write.