How important is money in books?
Musing still further on the FIFTY SHADES OF GREY phenomenon it has occurred to me that the female readers may be less interested in Christian Grey’s Red Room, and more interested in his Black Amex.
Let’s imagine this scenario for a moment.
Ana goes to a pub in London. She meets a tall, handsome emotionally damaged man who wants her to sign a contract allowing him to hurt her. Only it’s not a Red Room in a lush apartment, chauffeured transport, free Mac books a go-go. It’s a lock-up in Dagenham with some handcuffs fitted into the walls, the loan of his Oyster card, and he’ll take pics on his smart phone for his mates on Facebook.
Doesn’t sound QUITE such a turn-on does it?
In a more general point, your characters (unless money is a main component of the plot) need to afford to eat. It’s important to strike a balance between their time being completely taken up by work and trying to do exciting things in two hours before bed, or being independently wealthy, living off a trust fund, and annoying most of your hard-working readers.
Don’t fall into the Friends’ trap where you can drift along in minimum wage jobs, and still afford a beautiful central Manhattan apartment.
How well off are your characters?
June 20, 2012
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