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Locke and Key & LEARNING Things as a Writer
4 years ago
I've been watching Locke and Key on Netflix for the past few days and if there is one thing I am learning from the writing (and my own reactions to things), it is this:
Sometimes, as a writer, you need to have perfectly intelligent, rational-thinking characters do the EXACT wrong thing in order to progress the plot.
I have always written intelligent characters and let the story go where it is going to go with a concept of where I want it to end up. Most of the time, it does that, but also most of the time, I am uncertain as to how it will actually get there. Watching this series, I am realizing that the writers know better (and so do the watchers - in this case, ME) and they STILL have them do something the watcher/reader KNOWS is a bad idea, if only because it is a great way to progress the plot, reveal more backstory, and deliver on the promise of heightened expectations.
It strikes me as odd that I have NEVER BEFORE considered this, despite having written short stories for 30+ years. I always let the situation play itself out and let the characters react in their own way, but not make what I considered to be an obvious mistake - as that would lessen the reader's sense that the characters are supposed to be smart, given the world they find themselves in. Obviously, this is going to influence my writing in the future, but... how strange that something so obvious has taken me so long to even SEE...
Sometimes, as a writer, you need to have perfectly intelligent, rational-thinking characters do the EXACT wrong thing in order to progress the plot.
I have always written intelligent characters and let the story go where it is going to go with a concept of where I want it to end up. Most of the time, it does that, but also most of the time, I am uncertain as to how it will actually get there. Watching this series, I am realizing that the writers know better (and so do the watchers - in this case, ME) and they STILL have them do something the watcher/reader KNOWS is a bad idea, if only because it is a great way to progress the plot, reveal more backstory, and deliver on the promise of heightened expectations.
It strikes me as odd that I have NEVER BEFORE considered this, despite having written short stories for 30+ years. I always let the situation play itself out and let the characters react in their own way, but not make what I considered to be an obvious mistake - as that would lessen the reader's sense that the characters are supposed to be smart, given the world they find themselves in. Obviously, this is going to influence my writing in the future, but... how strange that something so obvious has taken me so long to even SEE...
go figure...
V.
Lot of give and take of character reflected in audience there.
On one hand we are all human, make mistakes and despite intelligence are impacted by stimuli, tiredness, stress, emotions, other people, all the time and are not aware. These weaknesses make great scene and character.
Yet, we hate seeing people do stupid decisions on the screen or in the book thinking we can do better which perhaps we can and perhaps not. All of it depends on how we wish to treat character and scene in story for the story.
It can do a lot, but be careful in how audience is suppose to feel with scene, plot, and character.
Emotion is definitely a cause for mistakes, and I've used it in the past to have protagonists make bad decisions. The challenge will be incorporating them into more scenes and character developments as the REASON for bad decisions, rather than just sitting back and letting the scene play itself out as I write. In my current "series" (Rey'na's Tale), I've realized that while there are ideas I want to use for events that are approaching, I have not done enough work in previous "episodes" to explain where they come from - so I've also learned a bit about foreshadowing from watching this series.
If anything, I'm boggled by the idea that I'm still learning such rudimentary things at this point in my writing career. This explains why I'm not truly succeeding in getting published - as there are some basic elements that I (apparently) have yet to truly absorb into my repertoire.
As for them doing the wrong things; sometimes it's a mindset, sometimes it's just an 'oops', and sometimes it would have been the 'right' thing to do for the information they had at that moment in time. Each type of wrong requires a different way of fixing, though sometimes there is no one perfect 'fix' to apply.
Keep writing and have fun!
Now it's time to start incorporating some of the elements I'm learning more about (and seeing how they are properly used).
There are many types of tale formulas and purpose and performance of story. With different needs and functions.
Glad Joe has opened your eyes to better characterization and plot building.
Well, in all frankness that first book you published and the original draft of gun bunny had a lot of growing room and were not ready for the publishing reaper. You've come along way since then though writing mechanically and storytelling wise.
Though, more and more things being published are the opposite of gold.
Publishing now a days is such a strange affair and I really cannot comment any more on the topic. Things in the publishing world just be spiraling away and I am half reminded we might be living in the darkest timeline.
I wonder if I am more apt as that dying breed of poet. As Martin Silenouse joked about book he tried to publish once they told him it was a masterpiece, one of the most beautiful books ever written, but it wouldn't sell for shit. At the same time, poetry is the oldest story form and taking that tradition seriously does the world a lot of good.
I am reminded of the Dr. Who episode where they showed Van Gogh his influence in the modern world...