Give them more than those Baby Blues

The series finale of Breaking Bad was greeted with a mixture of sadness and satisfaction from the viewing public. They were sad to see such a fine series come to an end, but satisfied with the way the writers closed all the loopholes before the final credits ran. Generally, reviews were positive.

I liked it for another reason.

I have not watched the show with any regularity. I checked out a few episodes during the first season and only tuned in for snippets throughout the past four years. I tuned in Sunday night in part because I wanted to be able to keep up with the conversation this week and because I was curious, but also because I was intrigued by a line that was continually replayed prior to the final act:

"Chemistry is all about transformations."

So is good fiction. It is not necessarily about what happens to a character, but making that character so believable, so real, so likeable or fascinating, that the reader cares what happens to him or her. It is something I struggle with continually. I have to remind myself: anyone can come up with a plot or anyone can tell a story. It takes talent to create someone.

Without watching the show between the first season and the final episode, I didn't know much about Walter White other than he was a smart guy with what began as honorable intentions--and that he had shaved his head somewhere along the way. During the final scene, however, when he was walking around the lab and the song kicked in—Baby Blue, by Badfinger—it seemed such a natural touch that I found myself nodding along. It was seamless (and it reminded me of how much I like that song.)

Physical descriptions of characters are important, but not essential. Most readers will supply their own as they read—all you have to do is provide enough hints to prod them along. Items like a bald head, piercing eyes, a bristling goatee will help readers picture characters, but details like a theme song will help them be remembered.

It also helps readers identify with characters. Music is everywhere. Everyone has their own soundtrack, whether they'd admit it or not. Your characters should, too—even if you never have cause to mention it.

I've always thought the theme song for one of my characters, Keegan, is Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill. Keegan will never know that—he's a fantasy character and music in his time/world would be along a more medieval vein. It still plays in my head (and occasionally on my MP3 player) while I'm writing him. Another character is fond of cheesy 70s music and tends to get very nostalgic when listening to the Little River Band's 'Cool Change.'

Even if your characters don't know what's on their play list, you should. It'll help you bring them to life—more than a description of their 'baby blues' will.