Bullies And Psychopaths

Is there a difference? Is there a difference between a bully and a psychopath? I don’t think so. But then I think so. I guess it depends, right?

A ‘little bit’ of teasing doesn’t make someone a psycho but taking it further might. I think the whole ‘people hunt’ in cyberspace is actually not far of from a psychopath chasing his victims.

While writing my books I am thinking a lot about the twisted minds of some people. I try to feel myself into the character of Tim, who was my main character Liza’s partner for way to long. I try to understand what makes him tick, how he reacts what he might do next and how he manages to twist her mind to the point where she really does not think straight anymore.

I’ve never been in a relationship like this. I’ve never had to deal with real bullying and I’ve never encountered physical abuse. So it is all made up. All made up in my mind with the help of books I’ve read, movies I’ve seen and blogs I’ve read. Maybe the couple of semesters of studying psychology (or just call it an attempt to do it) play into it too. We had some amazing lecturers back then and the human mind always really interested me.

But how can I really grasp the depth of such a twisted mind. Liza’s part is easy. She is a girl, a woman like me. She is a normal, down to earth woman. I know how she feels, I know how she works. But Tim… And there it is, the question if I will get it right. If I can make him appear bad enough but also not as bad as he could be. Because I need her to get out. How can I keep it real? Do I have to keep it real? After all it is a book. Things might not work out the same way in real life, right? Is that a bad thing?

I don’t think so. For me a book has to take you somewhere. It has to take you away from real life and bring you into a fantasy world where you will stay for as long as you read this book. And maybe even a bit longer. Things might be easier in a book than they would be in real life, but that is okay. At least for me.

I wonder what you think?

So if my bully or psycho in the book will not come back in book two or three, would that be a mistake? Should he come back at one point? And to what extend?

So much to this: He is not coming back in the second book. But as I am working on the third one now, I was wondering if he should. Honestly, I don’t want him to. There will be enough going on without him. But I can. I can if you think it might be good. As a little hint: Liza walks out on him finally after catching him in bed with another one. There will be some spice to it… And then she leaves. Back to the country, ready to pick up the pieces and start over again, reconnect with the old Liza.

And now I wonder if the story needs the bully to come back. Maybe as a psycho this time…