Adding Your Own Flavor

I like to cook and bake. You give me a recipe, I'll follow it. In my younger years, I was told to always follow the recipe and never add or take away from it. As a kid, I didn't mind that. I loved following recipes and discovering something new to eat.

Then I got older.

Instead of making plain chocolate cupcakes, I'd add chocolate or white chips, or chopped up cherries, or a little more vanilla to the batter. Some of my experiments worked (chocolate chips) and some of them did not (chopped cherries), but the fact that I added my own take to the recipe gave me some confidence in becoming a unique cook.

This is the same with writing, specifically: Werewolves.

We're all familiar with the generic werewolf lore: person––usually a man––gets bitten, he experiences strange changes, transforms beneath the full moon, maybe harms a few people, and when he wakes––usually naked and covered in filth––he doesn't remember a thing.

Whew, that was a lot.

This foundation for the werewolf as been added upon for years.

Instead of being bitten, they're cursed by witches or gypsies, or some other mystical person.

Sometimes the person doesn't shift into a man-beast, standing upright like a human, but instead transforms into a large wolf.

Sometimes the person shifts into a different canine altogether, whether it be a coyote, a dog, a bear, really anything with teeth and sharp nails.

The point is, adding our own flavor, our own take, not only adds to the foundational lore, but helps us explore our own creativity and imagination.

I like writing about werewolves because I feel they're the most relatable and human of the monsters. They can hold a nine-to-five job, have relationships, and be average like everyone else. It's when something traumatic occurs, say an attack by a monster, or curse, that literally or figuratively shifts the direction of their life course, which piques my fascination on how they will navigate the consequences of the traumatic event.

How will they respond to the changes in their mental or physical health?

How do these changes affect their relationships?

I like diving into the psychological aspect of werewolves because we all have something to hide. Whether we're embarrassed, ashamed, or private with our lives, there are things we don't want others to know.

A character turning into a werewolf might be a danger to their loved one. They want their loved one safe, so they push them away emotionally. They may be concerned about passing on the curse, so they isolate themselves. They may not be able to control what's happening to them and are afraid or ashamed of what they might do.

No matter the severity of our secrets, we want to hide them. We want to keep them to ourselves.

I tackle each of these things in my werewolf-centered books.

Whispers of Addington Manor deals with protecting loved ones at all costs.

The Cold Springs Killer is more about helping others through their trials, wanting to support them however possible.

A Deadly Walk Home explores the negative approach to the beast, using its power to control and manipulate.

The Investigation of Camp Tree Trail is just me being stylistic and showcasing how destructive such beasts can be.

But you may wonder, what's my take on the werewolf? Sure everyone displays the tropes typical to the beast, but what do I add to the cacophony of transformations and gore?

A few things.

Their transformations are cyclical

Unless they're capable of transforming on their own, if my characters were bitten at 2:20 AM, then a month later, at 2:20 AM they'll transform, down to the millisecond.

They transform three nights a month

This one isn't really new, but I've tied the levels of energy in connection with the moon cycle and when the moon is at 98%, 100%, and 98% luminosity, they can't help but transform. And with the days surrounding a new moon––2%, 0%, 2%, luminosity––they're as close to feeling human as they possibly can.

They remember everything

Perhaps I'm cruel or a realist, but just because my afflicted characters are bitten by a supernatural creature, doesn't mean they're off the hook in remembering their actions. I'm all for people taking responsibility for their actions and my werewolves are no exception.

Just because bad things happen to us, doesn't give us the right to be mean and continue that cycle of pain. Everyone needs to work through their trauma and with the help of others they can then see the good in the world and perhaps even add to the good in the world.

My werewolves remember everything so they can either be motivated to change for the better, or dive deeper into the darkness.

Eye color is important

The final thing about my take on the werewolf is eye color.

In simplified terms: if your ancestor was bitten by a werewolf, their eyes would be orange when in wolf form, BUT the generations following them would have red eyes in wolf form after they were also bitten.

I treat the werewolf as a genetic disease passed on from generation to generation (this isn't new) but can remain dormant until activated by a bite. ALL my characters need to be bitten in order to activate the affliction. Just like certain cancers can be inherited and wreak havoc in our later years, some characters can go all their lives not knowing what lies within their genetics until they're bitten.

And yes those who are genetically prone to transform (red eyed beasts), they have an entirely different life experience compared to the characters who are first generation (orange eyed beasts).

And I have yet to write about my blue eyed werewolves, but that's a discussion for another time.

So I'm encouraging writers to think of ways they can add their own flavor to foundational tropes/genres'. There's nothing wrong regurgitating the same story line or characterizations, but adding your own curiosity or experiences to those story lines and characters just might give your readers a new perspective or a deeper level to relate.

Explore the possibilities of your genre. What if the genie in the lamp was an alien imprisoned because he fell in love? What if a household item was cursed, or gave good luck, or was way more valuable on a different planet?

Add your own flavor. Get creative. And most importantly, keep writing.