At first, I’m offended. But I’m always a little touchy when it comes to put-downs on plot.
First off, I’ve never known anyone who would pass up the chance to write a mass market blockbuster novel sold at airports. It’s much more of an accomplishment than the writer gives it credit for. Much harder than she thinks.
Wait a minute. Slow down…. Me being defensive doesn’t serve the writer well.
What she is truly saying is the Dramatic Action plot is easier for her to create than the Character Emotional Development plot.
She’s approaching the time in the story when she has to peel back another layer of the protagonist. Get closer, go deeper, find the internal motivational stuff behind the character’s actions.
Actions = external.
Motivation = internal.
Some writers prefer one over the other.
I say: be thankful you have a strong front story (dramatic action, plotted) in place filled with conflict and suspense. Use that as the base for the rest of the story.
You want to develop an important narrative voice.
Okay, write the mass market plotted draft first.
Think of what you are doing as a layering.
Get the first layer down = dramatic action easiest for you.
Ask yourself constantly:
- Why is the character doing what he’s doing = motivation.
- Have him set goals that he hopes will take him closer to his big , overall story goal.
If that’s a mass market plotted story, so be it…
Finished first draft allows for the next layer to go on.
For more on Character Emotional Development versus Dramatic Action plots:
I love that you were able to see through the insult to put it into your terms. That definition may help others get to the ends of their first drafts easier. Now what am I waiting on?
Hey Marth…
Last night on NPR I heard a story called "Job's Jobs" written by Aimee Bender and read by Anjelica Huston at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. It was one of those stories where you sit in your car in the driveway with engine off and finish listening to before going in to the house. I was listening to it as I was driving back from a Borders bookstore, where I have been spending the last few days doing research for the story that I have started writing. As I was walking out of the Borders, thinking how much I need to dig into my China boxes for your DVD and book to help with my story, I passed the shelves of "new released paperbacks" and there was Shreve's book, front and center, her bright blue eyes paired next to the coyotes'.
I hope you'll search for the radio program and Anjelica's amazing reading of this story. It's incredible. Apropos. It was on a program on Sunday night called "Selected Shorts".