Behind the Scenes of Little Beasts
What inspired the dark themes of my last post?
Okay, I know it's pretentious to say "behind the scenes" of a fictional short story. But it's also fun. So…
The themes of my last Substack, Little Beasts, came from the cognitive dissonance I felt listening to True Crime. Enamored by scintillating tales of dismemberment as much as the next fellow, I employed podcasts like Red Handed and Sword & Scale on many desert drives or long night hauls on tour—creating that odd tension between intrigue and the fear and certainty that you'd never be seen again if you got a flat tire.
But by the end of the accounts of bodies decomposing in vats or heads boiling in crockpots, I found myself wondering: Am I supposed to feel this sad when I listen to these stories?Â
In Little Beasts, Theresa was a proxy for me to explore this sadness. I didn't feel comfortable writing her in the first person, but I wanted to humanize her by having her life's context precede her dark lore. So often in true crime, we learn tidbits about the victim after we know the gory details of their demise--details that signal to our brain, "Remember, they are a story, not a person!" **
Rose, Tad, and Margo represented the notion of victimless crimes. For the sake of story, it is fun to consider the butterfly effect of menial actions, though I don't recommend it for everyday life!
Finally, to explore the theme of justification, I decided to rewrite the story not from a linear narrative but from each character's perspective. Each character cultivates an end to justify their means in each situation—whether it be a forbidden kiss, that one last trick, or a harmless grift gone awry. Little Beasts was a reminder that the end we think we can predict is as semblant as the blue glow of our Curaçao daiquiri.Â
*There is a sophistication that comes with never explaining your art, but I feel more inclined to engage through opening a conversation!
**This is not meant to guilt anyone for listening to True Crime. I still do from time to time. It just f’s me up.
From the Black Dahlia murder to the Cecil Hotel’s slew of mysterious deaths, LA has this dark underbelly that is impossible to ignore if you live here long enough. Pictured is Thelma Todd, a Silver Screen starlet I reference during Theresa’s final segment. One of many Hollywood hopefuls whose untimely death is shrouded in mystery.
I like knowing why you write certain things in certain ways.... As you know, the Crime stuff is not my thing usually. Don't especially want to encounter the dark side of humans any more than I already do through hearing the world news or the stories in my work. That said -- I appreciate your willingness to venture into your own discomfort and challenge us to do the same! xox