Tips on Torture
I'm not sure how to say this without sounding real creepy, but...I like torture. Of course, I know that in real life, torturing is a very awful, cowardly act, but in fiction...I have no excuses. It's just awesome.
Why?
Part of the reason tortures are so great (in any way shape or form--some sort of extremely challenging conflict) is because they test all the good qualities in a character.
Strength, passion, morals, you name it.
When the character goes through some sort of torture, all of this is put to the test. Their grit and all they care for. Hitting rock bottom and breaching the breaking point just proves how far a hero is willing to go or how much they are willing to sacrifice.
SO LET'S BEGIN!
(do not's: 1-4, do's: 1-5)
Do Not:
1. PROLONGED: I enjoy suffering as much as the next...author. But what gets annoying is when the torture scene is too long or the description is too extensive. And likewise, I also get irked when a character gets tortured too many times in one story. It lets off a kind of :
"Oh yes, Steve is getting tortured...AGAIN. How inspiring" feel to it.
For a torture scene to be impactful, you gotta get the right amount of everything. Anything over is just too much and it becomes bland and the reader starts to fall out of the scene. (Same thing with action, by the way *AHEM* The Bourne Ultimatum. Yup. Looking at you)
2. OVER-EXAGGERATION : This one is just annoying, honestly. Nothing feels more fake than a small thing being exaggerated where someone feels SO MUCH pain from a not-so-bad situation.
If Steve gets slapped across the face, he's probably not going to get a black eye or whatever. If Steve gets beat across the face with a metal gauntlet, that's different.
THE INJURY AND THE PAIN NEED TO BE PROPORTIONATE TO EACH OTHER. An over exaggeration of pain to an average amount of injury makes the character feel like they're either a wimp or have some easy-bleeding condition.
3. HEALING TOO QUICKLY. Torture is usually an excess amount of pain or suffering. That's kinda the point of torture right? Something so painful you'd do anything to make it stop. Likewise, if someone's undergone torture, they're proll'y not gonna be on their feet a week later. Healing takes a lot of time. Months. Sometimes years if the damage is bad enough. Time correlation within the story is important.
What will the characters to be required to do within a certain time of them being tortured? How will the previous torture effect their ability to deal with conflict?
If Steve was tortured by flogging, the healing isn't done when he stops bleeding. He's not gonna be doing normal stuff for a few days and he's definitely not going to be fighting bad guys at his normal potential.
Take time and healing into consideration.
4. NO CHANGE AFTERWARD. Usually when someone goes through torture, either psychological or physical, they're not likely to stay exactly the same.
Obviously we don't want our characters to get too erratic in personality/action (I actually do struggle with this) or they just feel like a conglomeration of random traits/types etc.
HOWEVER, torture is a very dramatic occurrence. They're probably going to be mentally changed at the very least.
Perhaps they are more patient now? Perhaps they have a flinching reflex now? Or perhaps they're light sensitive? Maybe the change isn't negative. Perhaps they're more resilient now, or perhaps they become a pacifist. (Though I do still love the reckless hothead..)
Maybe Steve has recognized what really matters to him most and now values things more?
If Steve isn't changed WHATSOEVER by this event, then Steve is a frickin' man of stone (teachmeyourways.)
Do
1. DETERMINE THE ROLE AND REASON. Because torture is supposed to be excruciating, it also has to have some type of important role in the story. It should not be just filler. So, determine the role of torture in your story.
Plot device? Climax? Testing point? Does the torture of Character A drive Character B to accomplish something extraordinary? Character growth? Villain development?
Torture should not be used just to fill in a blank space because then it gets a somewhat meaningless feel.
But, you say, what if the villain results to torture because he wants too? Ah well, some villains are evil that way. You still need some sort of role.
And reason. What is the driving purpose behind torture? Hatred? Coercion or manipulation? Fear? Maybe the opposing force derives some sort of dirty pleasure out of it. But the reason is still present.
2. DECIDE WHETHER THE TORTURES ARE MEANT TO PAIN OR KILL. This should be a given as it will very much influence the type of torture you use. All tortures are meant to be horrific. Horrific enough that lots of people would chose death over it. So decide:
Am I going to assign Steve a death by torture? Heroic, yes.
-or-
Do I want to make Steve suffer for a certain amount of time in order to accomplish some short term goal?
3. NEW TYPES OF TORTURES. Villains never run out of ideas for new ways to inflict pain. And since you'll have to be writing the villains, then neither can you. Do some research. Everyone knows about flogging, quartering, the electric chair. Lots of authors just have repetitive hitting or beating without a a precise form of torture or torture machines, which is fun too.
For new ideas on tortures, look into different cultures' ideas of torture. The Romans came up with all sorts of things including (but not limited too)
boiling in oil and/or hot water
mauling/goring by wild beasts, preferably boars
Being chained up naked on the ice to freeze to death
A screw-like device that spun really fast and drilled into the victim's forehead (meant to kill)
Amputation of limbs
blinding
And this is just the Romans.
4. CULTURAL STANDARDS. Different cultures will often consider different things more torturous/humiliating. For example, in some cultures tattooing would be a torture or a most disgraceful thing. In other cultures, tattooing would be extremely honorable and a symbol of bravery or something. This is something that requires world building and cultural development.
4. RESEARCH SCARRING. I've read a lot of new writers' content on torture, where stuff was good, but the scarring was just...SO...OFF. It really only takes a few simple clicks to see what sort of thing would cause a scar.
If Steve gets shoved roughly into a cell and cuts his leg on the ground, there's a good chance he will NOT get a scar from that.
If Steve got a dagger dragged under his eye or something, you can proll'y guarantee a scar there.
5. REMEMBER THAT STRENGTH IS RELATIVE. Not everyone can take the same amount, and people react VERY differently under such a strenuous situation.
So you'll have to consider.
Does Steve tolerate pain pretty well? Is Steve a grind-your-teeth-and-take-it-dude or not?
Also, in what stage of life is this person? Some rich guy with little pain exposure would be broken down a lot quicker.
Is this person still young? A teenager may not be able to take as much pain as a twenty-eight-year-old man or something.
Well, that's all I've got for you today, folks!
Lemme know if you want to see a post that is literally just a LIST OF TORTURES. If I get some interest I might put one up. This post was more of a writing guide.
I do have a fun post coming out next week on character appearances.
I know this blog has not been around for very long, but I kind of want to expand it. Push it beyond just and advice forum. Although I will still be making posts like this. However, I'll proll'y get a separate post out about that sometime next week.
I hope this helped you in some minuscule amount or at least inspired you a bit. :)
Have a nice day!
Let's Chat!
1. Do you torture your characters?
2. Favorite type of torture? Mental/Physical/Device/etc?
3. Do you have any tips on torture?
 |
| Photo by Bryson Hammer on Unsplash |
Why?
Part of the reason tortures are so great (in any way shape or form--some sort of extremely challenging conflict) is because they test all the good qualities in a character.
Strength, passion, morals, you name it.
When the character goes through some sort of torture, all of this is put to the test. Their grit and all they care for. Hitting rock bottom and breaching the breaking point just proves how far a hero is willing to go or how much they are willing to sacrifice.
SO LET'S BEGIN!
(do not's: 1-4, do's: 1-5)
Do Not:
1. PROLONGED: I enjoy suffering as much as the next...author. But what gets annoying is when the torture scene is too long or the description is too extensive. And likewise, I also get irked when a character gets tortured too many times in one story. It lets off a kind of :
"Oh yes, Steve is getting tortured...AGAIN. How inspiring" feel to it.
For a torture scene to be impactful, you gotta get the right amount of everything. Anything over is just too much and it becomes bland and the reader starts to fall out of the scene. (Same thing with action, by the way *AHEM* The Bourne Ultimatum. Yup. Looking at you)
2. OVER-EXAGGERATION : This one is just annoying, honestly. Nothing feels more fake than a small thing being exaggerated where someone feels SO MUCH pain from a not-so-bad situation.
If Steve gets slapped across the face, he's probably not going to get a black eye or whatever. If Steve gets beat across the face with a metal gauntlet, that's different.
THE INJURY AND THE PAIN NEED TO BE PROPORTIONATE TO EACH OTHER. An over exaggeration of pain to an average amount of injury makes the character feel like they're either a wimp or have some easy-bleeding condition.
3. HEALING TOO QUICKLY. Torture is usually an excess amount of pain or suffering. That's kinda the point of torture right? Something so painful you'd do anything to make it stop. Likewise, if someone's undergone torture, they're proll'y not gonna be on their feet a week later. Healing takes a lot of time. Months. Sometimes years if the damage is bad enough. Time correlation within the story is important.
What will the characters to be required to do within a certain time of them being tortured? How will the previous torture effect their ability to deal with conflict?
If Steve was tortured by flogging, the healing isn't done when he stops bleeding. He's not gonna be doing normal stuff for a few days and he's definitely not going to be fighting bad guys at his normal potential.
Take time and healing into consideration.
4. NO CHANGE AFTERWARD. Usually when someone goes through torture, either psychological or physical, they're not likely to stay exactly the same.
Obviously we don't want our characters to get too erratic in personality/action (I actually do struggle with this) or they just feel like a conglomeration of random traits/types etc.
HOWEVER, torture is a very dramatic occurrence. They're probably going to be mentally changed at the very least.
Perhaps they are more patient now? Perhaps they have a flinching reflex now? Or perhaps they're light sensitive? Maybe the change isn't negative. Perhaps they're more resilient now, or perhaps they become a pacifist. (Though I do still love the reckless hothead..)
Maybe Steve has recognized what really matters to him most and now values things more?
If Steve isn't changed WHATSOEVER by this event, then Steve is a frickin' man of stone (teachmeyourways.)
1. DETERMINE THE ROLE AND REASON. Because torture is supposed to be excruciating, it also has to have some type of important role in the story. It should not be just filler. So, determine the role of torture in your story.
Plot device? Climax? Testing point? Does the torture of Character A drive Character B to accomplish something extraordinary? Character growth? Villain development?
Torture should not be used just to fill in a blank space because then it gets a somewhat meaningless feel.
But, you say, what if the villain results to torture because he wants too? Ah well, some villains are evil that way. You still need some sort of role.
And reason. What is the driving purpose behind torture? Hatred? Coercion or manipulation? Fear? Maybe the opposing force derives some sort of dirty pleasure out of it. But the reason is still present.
2. DECIDE WHETHER THE TORTURES ARE MEANT TO PAIN OR KILL. This should be a given as it will very much influence the type of torture you use. All tortures are meant to be horrific. Horrific enough that lots of people would chose death over it. So decide:
Am I going to assign Steve a death by torture? Heroic, yes.
-or-
Do I want to make Steve suffer for a certain amount of time in order to accomplish some short term goal?
3. NEW TYPES OF TORTURES. Villains never run out of ideas for new ways to inflict pain. And since you'll have to be writing the villains, then neither can you. Do some research. Everyone knows about flogging, quartering, the electric chair. Lots of authors just have repetitive hitting or beating without a a precise form of torture or torture machines, which is fun too.
For new ideas on tortures, look into different cultures' ideas of torture. The Romans came up with all sorts of things including (but not limited too)
boiling in oil and/or hot water
mauling/goring by wild beasts, preferably boars
Being chained up naked on the ice to freeze to death
A screw-like device that spun really fast and drilled into the victim's forehead (meant to kill)
Amputation of limbs
blinding
And this is just the Romans.
4. CULTURAL STANDARDS. Different cultures will often consider different things more torturous/humiliating. For example, in some cultures tattooing would be a torture or a most disgraceful thing. In other cultures, tattooing would be extremely honorable and a symbol of bravery or something. This is something that requires world building and cultural development.
4. RESEARCH SCARRING. I've read a lot of new writers' content on torture, where stuff was good, but the scarring was just...SO...OFF. It really only takes a few simple clicks to see what sort of thing would cause a scar.
If Steve gets shoved roughly into a cell and cuts his leg on the ground, there's a good chance he will NOT get a scar from that.
If Steve got a dagger dragged under his eye or something, you can proll'y guarantee a scar there.
5. REMEMBER THAT STRENGTH IS RELATIVE. Not everyone can take the same amount, and people react VERY differently under such a strenuous situation.
So you'll have to consider.
Does Steve tolerate pain pretty well? Is Steve a grind-your-teeth-and-take-it-dude or not?
Also, in what stage of life is this person? Some rich guy with little pain exposure would be broken down a lot quicker.
Is this person still young? A teenager may not be able to take as much pain as a twenty-eight-year-old man or something.
Well, that's all I've got for you today, folks!
Lemme know if you want to see a post that is literally just a LIST OF TORTURES. If I get some interest I might put one up. This post was more of a writing guide.
I do have a fun post coming out next week on character appearances.
I know this blog has not been around for very long, but I kind of want to expand it. Push it beyond just and advice forum. Although I will still be making posts like this. However, I'll proll'y get a separate post out about that sometime next week.
I hope this helped you in some minuscule amount or at least inspired you a bit. :)
Have a nice day!
Let's Chat!
1. Do you torture your characters?
2. Favorite type of torture? Mental/Physical/Device/etc?
3. Do you have any tips on torture?
YAY! You updated :D
ReplyDelete1. Do you torture your characters?
I don't actually torture my characters. Mostly because I really can't do it. That's alright though, I love to read about other authors torturing their characters and I usually find other creative ways to test my characters limits in my novels.
2. Favorite type of torture? Mental/Physical/Device/etc?
OHHHHHHHHHHHHH BOY. I LOVE mental and physical torture together. Its the best.
3. Do you have any tips on torture?
Uh, I don't really write torture well, so not really. Just generally, make me cheer for the character while I drown in pity.
Hehe. I'm glad to see some enthusiasm for an update! Yeah, I don't ALWAYS torture my characters, but when I do, I like to make sure it's important. The mental and physical put together is AMAZING if it flows well. SO. GOOD. (Ah. Ew. That sounded creepy. Hehehe................................................)
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