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Best Character Descriptions: Wanted for Murder

August 16, 2017 by Jim Potter 2 Comments

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·  WANTED FOR MURDER  ·

I’ve been collecting “Reward” postcards since I was first hired by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office (KS). I find the descriptors fascinating. Most of these penny postcards were quickly printed and mailed once a criminal offense was reported to local law enforcement. Of course, this was in the day long, long before instant communication. The sheriff told the receivers of the card (other law enforcement agencies) that he could be contacted by wire, meaning via telegraph.

When a postcard would describe a stolen horse or an escaped prisoner, often there was no photograph to accompany the best description authorities had on hand. These cards, without photos, are often the most interesting to me because I enjoy reading the words and attempting to physically reconstruct the crime and the outlaw.

My favorite postcard was sent by the sheriff of Natrona County, Casper, Wyoming, in 1920. The wanted man, with the alias of “Richie,” is called a lot of things, including “a degenerate of the lowest type,” and “has the appearance of a fat boy instead of a man.”

It’s humbling for me to recognize how this information-packed postcard has created a better, fuller description of a person than I’ve created in a complete novel of characters! I’ve got so much to learn.

When you read the postcard, did you blink your orbs upon reading of his “squinty blue eyes”? Did you roll your tongue after reading that “Richie” had “three or four badly decayed upper front teeth”? I imagined this guy beating his way on to freight trains, then I conjured up a bigger bully with a bigger club.

Not only does this postcard give an excellent example of how writers have an opportunity to fine tune their literary characters, it also creates a setting from the past. Imagine the year 1920 in Casper, Wyoming. Those were some rough times, especially around the oil fields.

Natrona County Courthouse, Casper, Wyoming, 1918.

If you were writing a historical novel, would you show “Richie” escaping on horseback, jumping a freight train, or driving a stolen automobile? Would “Richie” be captured or get away?

If you’d like to create your own short story using the details of the above postcard, I’m interested in hearing your version of his escape, capture, conviction, and/or prison sentence. After extensive historical research, I’ve learned those details and much more, including “Richie’s” real name.

Whether you use this as a writing exercise, or use it to jump-start a novel, good luck imagining.

Until next time, happy writing and reading!

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Comments

  1. Jan Hurst says

    You’re right! The description is fascinating and so detailed that I can see “Richie” standing in front of me. Those postcards must be great for visualizing your villain characters. Also interesting to me is the typesetting. It has been set justified left AND right, undoubtedly (because it’s 1920) with hot-metal letters arranged by hand. And of course, in the style of the day, with two spaces between sentences. Holey moley! —Jan

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Jan,
      You sound like a lover of words and history! Thanks for the comment.
      Jim

      Reply

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Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Larry Kruckman, anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a… Read more “Larry Kruckman, anthropologist”

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental… Read more “Morgan Penner”

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centers on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to… Read more “Sean McArdle, Winchester, England”

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller… Read more “Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist”

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

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I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters… Read more “John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement”

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.

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