Monday, April 11, 2011
I'll Take Questions as Answers for $1000, Alex
I’ve been reading Billy Mernit’s book on writing Romantic Comedy and though it’s aimed at writing screenplays instead of novels, I’m finding the elements of telling a good story apply across the board. Since my style seems to lean toward the modern day Romantic Comedy we’d find at the Cineplex (though better, I hope), this book seemed like the perfect guide.And it is.
Since Fran and I have been stealing…err…liberating blog topics from this book for weeks now, I do hope you guys haven’t gotten tired of hearing about it and tuned me out already. I promise, this blog will get you thinking and it does require a bit of participation, but it will be relatively painless (“relatively” being the key word there), and might even give you some idea about your own work.
Today I’m talking THEME.
Now, I do not mean “What is the common theme that runs through all of your work?” This is not about generalities such as redemption, forgiveness, or second chances. Today we’re getting much more specific. I want you to figure out the specific, detailed theme for your current WIP or MS.
To make this easier to figure out, simply examine your story to figure out what question you’re trying to answer. For instance, my first MS asked the question “Can love help a woman who trusts no one, not even herself, trust someone with her heart, her child, and her life?” See? Specific.Now, to be fair, I didn’t know that was the question until I read this chapter in Mr. Mernit’s book. But think of how much easier (relative term!) the plotting and writing can be if you know what question you want to answer BEFORE you start writing. Or at least early in the process.
I’m only five pages into the new WIP (hopefully more as I plan to write after I finish posting this blog) and think if I can figure out my question, then I’ll have an idea where to go to get the answer. Not that you need to know the answer, which might sound odd, but it’s true.
Say you start out with the question “Can a woman addicted to alcohol put down the bottle and turn her life around?” (This is the question for one of my future books, so don’t be getting’ any ideas.) Because we write Romance, it’s probably going to turn out the answer is yes, but the question alone defines the journey my character will take, and provides plenty of ideas on how to make my heroine's life as difficult as possible.So, what is the question you’re trying to answer with your current WIP/MS? What do your characters need to prove or overcome? What question was explored in a book you read recently?
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52 comments:
Hmmmm! Can I have two, Alex?
Can a man accept the love of an unconventional woman after losing his very conventional wife to an untimely death without betraying her memory?
Can a woman who never thought a conventional love might come her way, accept a ready made family and prove to him, and herself, that even conventionality isn't beyond her?
I think I just figured out the conflict! Yippeee!
Ohh, I love this!
Here's mine: How can a woman who sacrificed everything for a husband who betrayed her come to terms with her past and find a new way to imagine her family?
You can definitely have two, Chance. In fact, that might be a really good way to go to ensure plenty of conflict. So happy you got something out of this, I was afraid people might freak out. LOL!
Ooh, Hal, that's a toughy. Lots of family dynamics as well as questioning her own choices and judgment. No lack of conflict there.
Don't forget our own 2nd Chance is guesting at the Bandit Lair today!
http://romancebandits.blogspot.com/
yeah, and that doesn't even get to the terrorists, arms dealers, bombs and soldiers :)
Never a dull moment in a Cameron Jacobs book!!! LOL!
You've got the kaboom factor in spades.
Hey, I'm all for liberating topics. That might be the only way some of us pirates actually read a craft book and benefit from it. We're doing the pirates a great service. Reading for them.
Questions.
Hmm.
Can a couple on the verge of divorce see each other in a new/different light and realize the love they once had might not be gone after all?
See the problem with these questions is that they sound so Hallmark hokey. I can't get embrace these things. I just want to vomit in my paperbag.
Can a couple on the verge of divorce set aside their differences long enough to realize they might have been wrong about each other all along?
Is that one slightly less vomity than the previous one?
This is great, Terri. I've been pondering this on some of my WIPs but don't have an answer yet. So I will ponder some more and return with something (fingers crossed!)
I like everyone else's -- very nice!
Donna - Keep pondering! We'll be here when you get back. And I still don't have the question for the current WIP, so I'm still pondering that one too.
Hellie - We're writing Romance, darling. Of course it's going to be Hallmarky vomity. You can go with "Can a marriage circling the bowl actually be saved by some corny-ass counseling?" if that makes you feel better.
I can't see the phrase "circling the bowl" in a Hallmark card so I think it's safe.
Hummm.....
Hells, I didn't think they were vomity. And at least you guys have something definitive. I need to think on this.
How about....
Can a prostitute who's sold her body to protect her family accept her past choices?
Not quite right. I'll be back....
I'm going to go with my 2nd version of the question thanks. The "circling the bowl" sounds like a phrase by that Rodney Something-disgusting, who always makes a joke about toilet bowl margaritas. People find him funny; I DO NOT. *LOL* Ick, ick, ick.
That's Rodney Carrington and though I don't like everything he does, his old CDs are freaking hysterical. BLUE as all get out, but you can't help but laugh. My dad laughed so hard we worried he was going to give himself another heart attack.
You can do it, Marn. Getting over the past sounds like a good start.
Maybe I should revise it to "Can a prostitute who’s sold her body to protect her family accept her past choices in order to find love?" Or something like that.
Still not very good.
Harrumph. Back later after I think harder.
Marn - It almost sounds like she needs to forgive herself. Or find her worth again. Don't both of them think they're not good enough for the other? He's self-depracating, right? And she's not proud of herself?
So maybe something about leaving the past behind or finding your worth. Hmmm...I'm not sure how to say it.
I'm not sure how to say it either. But yes, that's right. LOL!!
How about, "Can a prostitute who's sold her body to protect her family accept that the person she's become is worthy of love?"
How about make it less about what's in her head and more about the situation.
Can a former prostitute leave her former sins behind and find love with a man who will accept and forgive her.
Not sure about the forgive part, but I think if you address the situation instead of her inner conflict, it'll serve more as a theme instead of a character arc description.
Sounds good to me! :)
It's a matter of trying to answer a universal question, more than a specific conflict for one character. At least that's what I got from the book.
For instance, in When Harry Met Sally the overriding question is if men and women can really be friends. It's mentioned throughout the movie. This doesn't come from either characters' personality or set up, but rather the answer is found through the quirks and traits of the character.
You could say "I want to write a story to see if a married couple can recover and stay together after one has been unfaithful."
The answer you get will be determined by who the characters are, and unless you're writing romance, it's highly possible the answer will be no.
Ended that before I was done. Grrrr...
But whatever answer you reach will be determined by the characters, what they go through, and how they react to the action and to each other.
Ah! I think I understand now. I'm going to think more. It's still not right, I don't think.
And the answer is NO, men and women cannot be friends. Because the sex always get in the way.
"No, you pretty much want to nail them too."
I think putting the question in the context of your time period will help, Marn. There are societal issues they'd have to overcome as well. And her fall from grace is likely larger in her head in that time period than it would be on a contemporary. Not that being a prostitute is exactly accepted today, but virginity isn't a commodity like it was then. A woman isn't judged as harshly for not keeping her virtue.
I think it's hard because the story isn't just about her.
Because ultimately, it's about whether both of them can look beyond the ways society defines them to find love together.
Then there you go. Can two damaged individuals look beyond societal definitions and see themselves for the good they really are.
Wow, that went lame, but I think you got it down. The crux of your story is not letting society and others define who you are and what you're worth.
It’s a matter of trying to answer a universal question, more than a specific conflict for one character. At least that’s what I got from the book.
This makes a lot more sense to me. I think I was trying to frame things with a specific conflict and was having troubles because of that. Now I've got a better idea (but still no answer! LOL)
Okay, off to do some work. I've got two more Heroes and Hearbreakers posts just assigned, some contest entries that have to be finished and mailed back today, and oh yeah, those two things for Christine I'm still working on. LOL
A woman isn’t judged as harshly for not keeping her virtue.
I agree that we're a lot less condemning compared with previous centuries, but I think we've got a long way to go. Women are constantly being judged for "slutty" behavior still. I don't think we go around saying, "You're a slut", but we still think it about certain people--we're still judging them based on their sexual preferences. Sex is still a defining virtue, just as much today as it was before.
And then if you're not having sex at all, you're frigid or a lesbian--so it runs the gamut the other direction.
It seems a very fine line to walk: enough sex to be contemporary, but not so much that you're a slut.
Wow, so many typos in there I'm not even going to try to fix it. *sigh*
Donna - Sounds like you have more work than I do! (Well, if I weren't avoiding all this crap on my desk.) Good luck getting all that done and now that you've mentioned it, you gonna tell us a bit about this contest stuff? Hmmm????
Good point, Hellie, but the difference between the early 18th century to now are ginormous. Back then, one indiscretion and that was it. No second chances. I agree it's not a good idea these days to boff the entire rugby team, but couples who meete in their late 20s are rarely going to expect their partner to be inexperienced when they meet.
Terri, it feels like my To Do list keeps getting longer! And I'm judging some contest entries -- my attempt to pay back for all the good contest experiences I had last year. :)
I love the Hallmark moment...but if you want your book to be shot for Lifetime, it must have a Hallmark quote. Or something you might find in a cardshop.
Though if you've been in a cardshop lately, they certainly all aren't Hallmark-ee...
;-)
I totally get the context thing and setting the question into the correct timeframe. I mean, mine makes little sense in the modern world. Conventionality (I think I'm spelling that differently everytime I write it, btw) isn't really something most people strive for in modern society.
At least not in California. On the central coast.
And I really appreciate everyone reading these books and boiling them down to the essentials for me!
Good for you, Donna. I still don't feel like I know enough to be judging other writers. Which is silly because I've been reading Romance forever and that should qualifty me. Maybe next year.
Chance - Good point. I've seen more fart jokes in greeting cards than I care to count. LOL!
I need to get some work done so I have to disappear for a while. I can't find the top of my desk!
What's a desk?
Welcome to the "at work, goofing off" club, P. I'm a charter member. Clearly, Chance is NOT.
It is hard to accept that the rest of world could give two shits about our hairdo or waistline or pollen covered vehicle. Or keep from thinking if I just changed my hairdo, lost weight, or washed my car that they might care.
So you explore self-acceptance and getting over the bullshit. Sounds like an excellent topic to me.
It's a very ego-centric way to be, isn't it? I'm always amazed at how much we think others are watching us and actually paying attention. Conversely, we worry if they aren't!
I think you got the theme questions down pat, Pat!
;-)
Terrio, I'd settle for an at-home desk somedays!
One that isn't buried in clutter.
I need to read that book!
I've been thinking about The Question for my WIP for several hours now. I think it may be too early in the process for me to know the question. Maybe it's something like this--Can two people with heavy baggage forgive themselves, expose their vulnerabilties, and together find a wholeness they thought was unattainable?
Those are three very hard things to do, Janga! I used to say you never realize how much baggage you're carrying until you try to put it down. Then you want them to forgive themselves AND be vulnerable. Man, you have your hands full.
I do recommend the book. Mr. Mernit uses movies as examples, many the older films like Bringing Up Baby and The Lady Eve which most people have seen. He also uses When Harry Met Sally and Tootsie for more modern examples.
I've been pondering this for a few of my stories, and I've been framing the question not as "Can they?" but "HOW can they?"
As you said earlier, since it's a romance, we know they can find their way through their issues to the end. But it's the HOW that makes the story different from all the other versions.
Okay, back off to work. . .and HOA activities.
Excellent observation, Donna. And it helps me find my own question for the new WIP.
How do two people deal with falling in love when the woman is engaged to the man's brother. Okay, that's more a premise. Dang. Back to pondering.
"How can a woman who trusts no one, not even herself, trust someone with her heart, her child, and her life?”
Here's your example, with the "How" added. Now I want to know HOW she goes about doing this. :)
LOL -- you goofball. I meant that now people will want to know how she does it.
Heh. I wrote that. LOL! Man, I need more rum or something. I am not on the ball today.
You read the book, Donna. If you still don't know, then I've failed miserably. LOL!
Oh, then I should probably make that the short pitch. LOL! Actually, it's better than anything else I've come up with!
Well, Ter, if they can't forgive themselves and expose their vulnerabilities, the relationship is sunk--and so is my book. So I hope I can persuade readers they can credibly do so.
Of course you can do it, Janga. I only meant that's a lot to work with. My problem is I never create enough problems for them to overcome, then I don't have a lot to hold up the story. You could fill two books with all that conflict. LOL!
Ok - this needs some work but my first go is:
How can past lovers overcome the ultimate betrayal and realize that first love can be true love?
Ok that's crap. Totally misses so much.
Back to thinking about it.
I think Janga has three books, don't you, Janga?
Scapegoat, that isn't crap. Though defining the ultimate betrayal might be a good idea. I mean, to some it's obvious, to others? Not so much. I mean, switching beer brands might be considered the ultimate betrayal...if the hero owns a bar and the heroine is a beer distributor.
Forget HOA, Donnaroo. I'm suffering from RTE...Romantic Times Exhaustion.
Oh, wow. Someone just commented at the Lair about being married 50 years...
Not crap at all, Scape! That's what we're for, to talk it through. Chance is right, what is the ultimate betrayal? Or better yet, how did that betrayal make them feel? I'm thinking broken hearts here.
Can first love overcome two broken hearts and turn into true love?
Wow, that is more vomity than anything Hellie came up with earlier. Yes, we'd better think on this more. LOL!
How can two people who can't stand the sight of each other see past the heart and find the love they once shared?
Huh. That's a little better.
I'm going to go out on a limb here--but I think the answer to "how did the betrayal make them feel?" is "It felt ultimate. It was an ultimate betrayal."
Of course, it's more vomity than anything I came up with. You're the Vomit Master.
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