Sometimes writers need to turn to unlikely sources of inspiration. In an article for Lit Hub, Blake Turck says we can learn a lot from fictional author and possible ice pick murdered, Catherine Tramell. “Thirty years later, Basic Instinct’s Catherine Tramell is still one of the greatest femme fatales in cinema,” Turck writes. “She’s beautiful, brilliant, and wealthy, with a mystery behind her ice queen demeanor. Also, she may or may not be a serial killer. As Basic Instinct turns 30, let’s celebrate the writing lessons we can glean from Catherine Tramell.”
- Everything in life is fodder for fiction, but don’t be a jerk about it. In the famous interrogation scene, Trammell admits that she uses episodes from her life in her fiction. “Real life is the best inspiration for a writer, and in turn, anyone and anything is fair game—though as we know, this mentality can come with its own set of issues,” Turck says. “Catherine’s incapable of forming relationships with anyone outside the context of using them for her work, pointing to the real-life perils of seeing everything in your life through the lens of potential content.”
- Use your grief. In the movie, Catherine writes a book about a boy who kills his parents, mirroring the accidental death of her parents in a boat crash. Was this an unintentional confession or a way for her to channel her grief in fiction? “Catherine taught me that the best way to write is to pull from your real-life experiences—which helped inspire me to take the leap into personal writing years later,” Turck writes.
- Find your people. Catherine surrounds herself with dangerous – but inspirational – friends, two of whom murdered their families. “Seek out those with similar interests and aspirations,” Turck advises. “Of course, this pertains to writers, not reformed murderers. Yet the tangible takeaway remains—finding your writing community is one of the best ways to hone your passion and talent.”
- Do your research. Catherine’s workspace includes personal information about Detective Nick, but is this an author’s research or a serial killer’s obsession? You decide.
- Kill your darlings (or not). “Attachment to a person or memory can make writing difficult for even the most brilliant minds,” Turck says. But Catherine never allows emotions to interfere with her process, and she’s never afraid to break her own rules.
