Becoming John Wick - The Power Of Strong Characters In Fiction
Becoming 'John Wick' - The Power Of Strong Characters In Fiction
A Convincing John
I am unashamedly an obsessive fan of the 'John Wick' films! There, I've said it. I make no apologies. But underneath my enjoyment of the constantly unravelling plot, the authenticity of the firearms and equipment, the incredible fights scenes, the depth and variety of supporting characters, the attention to detail, and the bad guys who are not just bad, but BAD, there is something far more I get from these films. The character of John wick is so convincing in terms of his traits, his credo, the code he lives by, and the fact that despite his occupation, all those supporting characters around him - Chron, the concierge, the specialist tailor, Julius the owner of the Continental in Rome, the Sommelier in the weapons room - they are always glad to see him, and have great respect from him. This says a lot about his character without the audience being 'told' - they are 'shown' - something I try to do in my writing as often as I can.
Strong Traits
As such, over the last year, I have adopted his three strongest traits - "a man of focus, commitment, sheer fu*king will". This might sound strange but it helps me every day. When I don't feel like training I think of those three traits and I get off my bum and do it. When I think I can't do the last sit up, and it's hurting and I'm exhausted, I think of those three traits - and I pull it out of the bag. When I don't feel like writing, those traits are in my head again, and suck it up and get to work! In so many aspects of my life, these three are helping me to become a stronger, better person, both physically and mentally. The John Wick approach has helped me get my life - a life that has been incredibly difficult at times over the last couple of years, Covid notwithstanding.
I'm an instructor black belt in Aikido, a former firearms officer in the police, with surveillance training and more - a lot of the skills that translate well into civilian life I have become rusty at as it was a long time ago that I left the police. So now I'm polishing them up and getting back to fitness as well. It is such a great feeling - good for body and mind, and indeed the spirit. And being in this state of mind enables me to write so much better.
Putting It Into Daily Life
And of course, I'm not John Wick and I'm not actually trying to be him. But I am trying to live those three traits the character lives by. I've heard of cases where this often happens with book characters too. So in the next two books, I'm going to make it a point of starting to develop characters that have an approach and traits that maybe some readers will adopt in a way that helps them in real life.
I do have one confession though - I just love that John Wick beard, and now I got me one too! Well, you gotta have a bit of indulgence, right?
A Convincing John
I am unashamedly an obsessive fan of the 'John Wick' films! There, I've said it. I make no apologies. But underneath my enjoyment of the constantly unravelling plot, the authenticity of the firearms and equipment, the incredible fights scenes, the depth and variety of supporting characters, the attention to detail, and the bad guys who are not just bad, but BAD, there is something far more I get from these films. The character of John wick is so convincing in terms of his traits, his credo, the code he lives by, and the fact that despite his occupation, all those supporting characters around him - Chron, the concierge, the specialist tailor, Julius the owner of the Continental in Rome, the Sommelier in the weapons room - they are always glad to see him, and have great respect from him. This says a lot about his character without the audience being 'told' - they are 'shown' - something I try to do in my writing as often as I can.
Strong Traits
As such, over the last year, I have adopted his three strongest traits - "a man of focus, commitment, sheer fu*king will". This might sound strange but it helps me every day. When I don't feel like training I think of those three traits and I get off my bum and do it. When I think I can't do the last sit up, and it's hurting and I'm exhausted, I think of those three traits - and I pull it out of the bag. When I don't feel like writing, those traits are in my head again, and suck it up and get to work! In so many aspects of my life, these three are helping me to become a stronger, better person, both physically and mentally. The John Wick approach has helped me get my life - a life that has been incredibly difficult at times over the last couple of years, Covid notwithstanding.
I'm an instructor black belt in Aikido, a former firearms officer in the police, with surveillance training and more - a lot of the skills that translate well into civilian life I have become rusty at as it was a long time ago that I left the police. So now I'm polishing them up and getting back to fitness as well. It is such a great feeling - good for body and mind, and indeed the spirit. And being in this state of mind enables me to write so much better.
Putting It Into Daily Life
And of course, I'm not John Wick and I'm not actually trying to be him. But I am trying to live those three traits the character lives by. I've heard of cases where this often happens with book characters too. So in the next two books, I'm going to make it a point of starting to develop characters that have an approach and traits that maybe some readers will adopt in a way that helps them in real life.
I do have one confession though - I just love that John Wick beard, and now I got me one too! Well, you gotta have a bit of indulgence, right?
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