tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244655935835341127.post3632002298680890275..comments2024-01-22T09:05:50.153-06:00Comments on S. Kyle Davis | Blog: Writing That Stellar Novel Part Four: MarinatingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00551007849945853798noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244655935835341127.post-72636190171890263232010-06-10T20:11:38.895-05:002010-06-10T20:11:38.895-05:00This is absolute truth. Great article, Kyle.
In ...This is absolute truth. Great article, Kyle. <br /><br />In regards to having your characters do something, Ben Bova (science fiction writer who 'found' Orson Scott Card) once wrote this: "Show, don't tell..." He continues on to explain that once you break the flow of the story's action you risk reminding your readers they're reading a story. The interaction moves from being a part of the events to attending a lecture.<br /><br />Another important item he states is never allow the characters to tell each other anything they already know. For example, you have two scientist who have worked together on some project for the last ten years of their life. Scientist one begins telling Scientist two how it works and how the whole project came about. Shouldn't scientist 2 know this?<br /><br />A good example of how background, plot, and character development come together is found in an opening scene of one of my favorite films: Raiders of the Lost Ark. When Indiana Jones is confronted by Beloq for the first time we get a glimpse at their history, who they are, and what the story is ultimately about.<br /><br />We see Indiana Jones in his leather jacket and rugged clothes covered in spider webs. That tells us he likes to play in the dirt, so to speak.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Beloq is dressed in nicer clothes with little dirt or grime on him. We've just been told Beloq has money and influence (surrounded by locals). We also know he's educated because he can speak the language. We also know he likes stealing from Jones and is willing to kill him if it came to that.<br /><br />We also know Indiana is interested in history and preserving it, unlike his rival.<br /><br />This drives the rest of the story so when we get to the scene with Jones holding a rocket launcher to the ark, we believe it because we know Jones - and it's all from this little scene of about 2 minutes. No one ever came out and stated the obvious. No one tried to explain their history. And yet, we know them very well.<br /><br />One more example from the movie about advancing plot while combining elements. Lawrence Kasdan thought we should see Indiana in the field and at the University. 2 very different sides. We see (rather than tell) how energetic he his about his craft in both instances. Why is that important?<br /><br />We'll when we get a small history lesson with Indiana explaining the history of the ark to the government agents they can get away with it. If the scene was different, Indiana explaining biblical history to Marcus Brody (the Dean and on the board at the Museum) would we have had the same exhilarating moment? Probably not.<br /><br />To wrap this up and bring it all together, I really enjoyed Kyle's comments above and it really brings home the need to combine elements in a story to move it along and get you into the character's mind without lecturing to the reader. We learn more about a character and care more when we are shown rather than told who they are.Rockyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13683983323026041570noreply@blogger.com