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5 Tips for Writing a Believable (and Creepy) Serial Killer
Let's start with a story:
So one day a man--we'll call him John--goes to a funeral. He happens to see a pretty girl that catches his eye. That night, after leaving the funeral, John murders someone who was at that funeral, and shows up at his victim's funeral a few days later. Eventually, the police catch John. They determine that he didn't murder the person at the first funeral he attended, but he did murder the person being buried at the second. So why did John do it? Any guesses?
Criminal justice students would probably guess things similar to the following:
1. John had a grievance with the second man. Perhaps he went to the first funeral specifically to stalk him? Nope. Actually he never met or knew anything about his victim until he attended the first funeral.
2. So maybe something happened after the funeral that made him zero in on the man? Not really. Nothing about that man in particular stood out to him.
3. Maybe he's just a psycho and needed to kill someone? Well, John is, in fact, a serial killer. So, by nature, he's a bit of a psycho, but that's not why he killed this particular victim. He did have a reason.
The motive behind John's crime is one that pretty much any normal, sane person would never guess. The answer is that he wanted to see that pretty girl again.
Confused? Understandable. That makes absolutely no logical sense. But then, serial killers are far from logical. If they were, they wouldn't being killing people.
You see, for John, killing is the norm. It's what makes him feel better, what gives him emotional release, how he gets things done. So, when he wanted to see that pretty girl again, it was only natural for him to pick someone in her circle of acquaintances and kill them because he knew she'd show up at the funeral.
Chilling, isn't it?
If you are a crime writer who needs to write a great killer, check out these tips. (Of course, they can be adapted to write just about any villain in any genre.)
1. Give them a system of logic. Like magic systems, anti-heroes, and just about any other character you write, they have to have a code they live by. The less sense it makes to the reader, the better, but make sure your killer believes in his own lifestyle. Have him state it and live it.
Example: One type of serial killer is the type that goes after prostitutes, drug addicts, etc. because they believe they are bettering society by getting these kinds of people off the streets. Is that logical? Can you make society better by murdering people? Obviously not. But these killers truly believe that. Give them a back story that illustrates why they believe it and/or what brought that belief about.
2. Give them contradictions. Many people have the misconception that serial killers are weird and will stand out in a crowd. In reality, most seem terribly normal. But to have them be psychotic in one situation and normal in another is exactly what will make your readers feel the creep factor.
Example: This was well done on The Walking Dead this past season. Warning: Spoilers for The Walking Dead season 4 ahead. If you don't want to know, skip this example. There was a mentally disturbed little girl named Lizzie. (Fans will remember quite vividly.) The thing that made her so disturbing is that one moment she would do something psychotic--like stab her little sister to death and contemplate killing a baby--and the next moment she would break down and cry because she feared one of the adults was angry with her, over something relatively mundane. She was suddenly the innocent, vulnerable little girl again. It was downright freaky. Do this with your killers. It will make your readers shiver.
3. Make them relentless. The truth is, contrary to popular belief, most serial killers, especially if not caught, will stop killing at some point in their lives, for any number of reasons. But, in service of your story, give the killer an objective and make sure that they will go after it, no matter what, even if it's obvious they've been beaten. Keep in mind, their objective doesn't necessarily need to be murder. Maybe it's to beat a cop at the cat and mouse game, reach a particular number or goal with their victims, feel something specific that they haven't achieved yet. The possibilities are endless. And the more specific you are with these objectives, the more memorable your killer will be.
4. Give them creepy quirks. Come up with one or two little, quirky things any character might do. Then turn them on their heads and make them psychotic. It will give your readers something to latch onto. In truth, a killer might be the most difficult character for your readers to identify with, because most readers aren't killers. So give them something to grasp, even if it's grotesque.
Example: A character might cook when they need to unwind, but Hannibal Lector ate his victims. Others might sew, but Ed Gein made dresses of human skin. A character might be meticulous in their appearance and grooming, but Darken Rahl (of the Sword of Truth series) always licked his fingers and smoothed down his eyebrows before doing something particularly evil. Memorable? Definitely.
Hope this helps all you amazing crime fiction writers out there deepen your killers and/or bad guys. After all, the more you can make your readers shiver, the more they'll cheer when the hero succeeds at he final showdown. Happy crime writing!
Information above taken from a blog found here: http://lkhill.blogspot.com/2014/07/5-tips-for-writing-believable-and.html
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10 Most Common Traits of Potential Serial Killers
This list aims to look at the common traits of serial killers. What makes them tick? Why are they compelled to do what they do? Are they made by what surrounds them in their infancy, or are they born with certain traits that predispose them to violence? The ten characteristics below may not be present in every serial murderer – but they’ll give you an idea of some of the warning signs.
10 - Alcohol and substance abuse
Children who are exposed to alcohol and substance abuse in the womb may suffer from serious birth defects. Small eye openings, retardation, a small head and brain and central nervous system issues are just some of the problems they could face, if they survive.
Growing up in a home where substances are abused can be even worse. ADHD, attachment disorders, doubt and feelings of inadequacy, depression and behavioral problems will be evident from a very young age. According to the FBI’s statistics, the childhood homes of more than 70% of serial killers experienced problems related to substance abuse. Be that as it may, there have actually been very few serial killers (relatively speaking) addicted to alcohol and substances – but many of them are known to have encountered such things in their youth.
9 - Psychological abuse during childhood
It almost goes without saying that most serial killers were abused as children. According to the interviews and discussions that have been held with known serial killers, emotional abuse and neglect has been the form of abuse most of them (50%) suffered.
They were humiliated often – and when parents meted out discipline, it was unfair, unpredictable, destructive and wicked. Even when a child is merely neglected, huge developmental failures can occur. The child will become desensitized; he will begin to believe that this emotionally barren world that surrounds it is something normal – and so he will grow up devoid of empathy for others.
Emotional abuse impairs a child’s self-esteem, and interferes with his ability to function adequately in society, succeed academically, and form healthy, intimate relationships. This is why we see that serial killers often fail to keep their jobs for any period of time and only rarely have successful relationships.
8 - Sexually stressful events during childhood
Accessible research material tells us violent sexual events during childhood have serious adverse affects on an individual’s development. More than one known serial killer was forced to dress up as a girl as a form of punishment. The witnessing of violent sexual acts between family members and/or parents had some of the most damaging effects.
Furthermore, some contracted venereal diseases as teenagers; were punished for masturbating as children; or were sexually abused, most often by parents or family members. Such experiences in childhood will often create violent fantasies that continue into adulthood.
Childhood abuse leads to social isolation, learning difficulties (46% of serial killers never finish high-school), self-control issues and seizures. This research into child abuse serves as compelling confirmation that serial killers are made – not born.
7 - Bed-wetting
Even though bed-wetting in itself has been discredited as a predictor of later violent tendencies, it is speculated that it might be related to arson and animal cruelty in some way. Researches argue that persistent bed-wetting past the age of five is demeaning for a child, especially if parents or other figures of authority tease or belittle them about it. The child may then act out against animals or use arson to channel their anger and frustration. Over 57% of serial killers were bed-wetters until an unusually advanced age.
6 - Growing up lonely and isolated
Family members of future serial killers are usually out of step and at odds with each other. Their relationships are malfunctional and debilitating. These families also have a tendency to move around a lot, and the children are normally removed into shelters before they can turn 18.
It all boils down to the idea that such children have no meaningful relationship as they grow up, and therefore end up lacking the capacity to forge such relationship; they end up as “loners”. Serial killers are rarely remembered by classmates, as they rarely had any close friends. As they are frequently bullied by other kids, anti-social tendencies will also develop at an early age. A careful observer will see that this child starts dabbling in arson and theft, the use of dangerous weapons, hostility and aggression, and a complete disregard for others’ rights.
5 - Fantasies
Serial killers’ fantasies are often about control and violation. In fact, during research, it became evident that serial killers could remember NO positive fantasies they had as children. Some would fantasize about mutilating themselves or their genitals. They will even fantasize about their own traumas, over and over again – the difference being that in these fantasies they are the assailant.
Serial killers in the making will never discuss these horrid fantasies with anyone, but thoughts of fulfilling them will recur more and more frequently. Before the serial killer kills for the first time, the fantasies normally focus on committing the murder. Afterwards, the fantasies will focus on committing each murder more successfully, and with greater efficiency.
4 - Preferring auto-erotic activities
Most serial killers admitted that during their teenage years they avoided parties and other social events. They definitely never experimented as normal teenagers do with sexual activities among their peers, rather preferring masturbation and other auto-erotic activities such as pornography. In some cases there would be obsessive masturbation – as in the case of Andrei Chikatilo, who had awful scarring on his penis due to the aggression that accompanied his masturbation.
Without any substantial social structure in his life, the killer is unable to embark on a normal sexual relationship, and thus is forced into solo sexual activities. Certain forms of media, such as detective magazines, often have lurid tales of sex and murder that can also serve as an extra form of arousal – linking sex and murder together.
3 - Developing voyeurism and fetishism in adulthood
From an early age, many serial killers are intensely interested in voyeurism and fetishism as well as other paraphilias. Many will start their deviancy as relatively harmless peeping-toms, before moving on to house-breaking, rape, and murder. Given that elements of bondage and dominance feature so strongly in most paraphilias, it is no surprise that this is often the route followed after adolescence.
2 - Acting out fantasies on animals
Almost all serial killers – in fact, 99% of them – admitted that they started by acting out their violent fantasies on animals before graduating to human beings. Due to the dysfunctional families most serial killers come from, such pathological and abnormal behavior may be ignored or completely missed – as in the case of Jeffrey Dahmer, whose father was unperturbed by the fact that his son was dissecting animals. These acts of animal cruelty are a great source of pleasure to young killers, and they manage to perfect the art completely – later performing the same acts on their human victims.
1 - Physical injuries
Head injuries received during accidents, repeated head trauma suffered during physical abuse or injuries during birth have been suggested as a very important link to aggressive and violent behaviour. Damage to the limbic brain, hypothalamus or temporal lobe may cause bouts of spontaneous aggression. These areas are involved with hormones, aggression, emotion and motivation; injuries to them may also result in seizures and forms of amnesia.
70% of serial killers received extensive head injuries as children or adolescents, clearly showing the link between these types of injuries and serial murder. Some researchers believe that the pre-frontal cortex (the area involved in planning and judgement) does not function properly in psychopaths.
Information above found at: listverse.com/2013/01/02/10-most-common-traits-of-potential-serial-killers/
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How To Create A Good Killer While Writing
Anyone can write in a boring killer into their story or novel, but not everyone can create a well-written killer who is smart and capable of not being caught in their story or novel.
If you've ever wanted to write a horror or thriller short story or novel, it probably involves some sort of killer in some way. I, for one, love to write about people murdering other people, which sounds really bad but its true. I love the gore and blood that comes with having a killer in one's story. The only hard part, though, is writing a good killer into your story. Anyone can write just anyone killing someone else, but not everyone can write it well.
First thing is first, pick how your killer will look and what they are going to use to successfully accomplish their many murders to come. Try to make it different and try to make your killer smart rather than the average horror movie cliche of having a stupid serial killer who doesn't even cover their steps from killing someone and easily gets caught. As for their weapon or way of killing people, you can choose something nice and simple like a gun or perhaps have them like to suffocate people, or you can go the more extreme route like me and choose the most bloody and horrifying way to kill someone and go off of that.
Next, try to give the killer something unusual that he or she keeps from their victims or something they like to find in their victims so they all have something in common and the killer can have a trophy of remembrance of the kill. Try to find something like that because it helps the reader understand the psychological psychopathic tendencies of your killer.
Then, you're going to want to then create a weakness for your killer. Every single killer has at least one weakness, no one is fully impenetrable. Pick something different though, something emotional helps tug at the readers heart strings and mind. If you choose something like "my killer's weakness is knives because they can kill them" then your killer is very boring and obvious. Obviously a knife will kill anyone! Choose something unique to your killer.
Finally, choose how you want the killer to end or prevail at the conclusion of your story or novel. Do they die? Do they live? What happens in the end? Jail? Freedom? There has to be something that happens to the killer whether they live or they die or else the story is boring and there are so many loose ends the readers won't enjoy the story anymore.
Now you have the basics for making a killer in your story and hopefully the killer you create isn't boring or typical like a lot of killers we see in books and movies today. Make your killer pop and be different so people read about him or her and they are shocked and intrigued with your story.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I hope this helped you bring to life your villain, serial killer, psychopath, or any combination of the above!
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