I’m planning a book for this summer. It’s going to be a 30 day project. Already it is very well plotted and ready to go, but I have one character that I need to work on a bit more. In an allegory–Pilgrim’s Progress perhaps– her name would be Unctuous. In case you don’t know which definition I plan to use, let me give you a good definition of what I mean.
unc·tu·ous (adjective)
1. characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, especially in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug.
I have a character that needs to be believably unctuous. That isn’t as easy as it sounds. A touch too much, and she’s unbelievable. A bit too little, and you have a woman who is just “on fire for the Lord.” I need a Pharisee that makes Saul of Tarsus look like a slacker.
Unctuous. It’s a horrible sounding word. I wish my father had used it when I was a kid instead of self-righteous. I mean, at least self-righteous has that positive sound of “righteous” mingled with the ickiness of “self” in there. Unctuous is just… ugh. There’s another “U” word for you.
U is for Unctuous–UGH!
Hope you hit the Unctuous “sweet spot” for your character! What a good word.
And, did you say 30 day project? You go, girl!
That sounds an interesting word! An interesting character too… the kind that kind of drives me nuts sometimes. 😀
A 30 day challenge? I’m sure you’ll have fun! 😀
To the KING be all the glory!
Rebekah
Boy do I love new words and this one is especially poignant — yes, it’s hard to keep your characters on the fine thin line that makes them believable and likeable. I heard the dreaded – “Your character is too stupid to live” one time as a new author — crushed me, but I finally got back up. LOL
Good job.
http://www.billieawilliams.com
Mystery Suspense author
All the best for the 30-day challenge and Unctuous!