Writing Stories
We are mystified by high stories and enchanting tales. Be it written in text, pictorial, animation or film, stories move us in a way some of us cannot fathom. Many aspire to be storytellers for the sake of telling others their stories, and through that, sharing our views, ideas and experiences. I gave lots of thoughts and countless hours of serious study towards the creation of stories. I am not claiming to be a superb writer or such; nor am I being simply modest by denying, but I can if needs be state the facts that there are much more things in storytelling that I need to learn, practice and understand.
When writing a story, I think a number of us worry about the quality of our chosen language. Is the sentence sophisticated enough, or flowery enough, or poetic enough? Perhaps because some good novels, songs and poems are described as beautifully written, we tend to think that good story writing is likened to writing each sentence in it as shakespearean poetry. Similiarly, we tend to look at "good" movies by defining the technological aspects and achievement as definition of a good story. More so than writing perhaps, because special effects and visual mastery can easily dazzle the senses towards great heights.
What are we doing?
We are defining the beauty of a structure based on the quality of the individual bricks in it. We are glorying a painting by the quality of its paint's materials.
Do not mistake me for thinking that my belief is that those things are inconsequential. They are. But not to a point that they define the very existence of the work. It's easier to appreciate a drawing or painting or sculpture as a whole, than doing the same for a narrative, story, comic book, graphic novel, animation or film. But both are art forms, and we should learn to appreciate the latter group as we do the former; for what it stands for, the meaning and purpose behind it and its overall beauty.
A film is not good simply because it has the lastest Special effects. An animation is not good because it has cutting edge 3D. Nor is a video game that way because of the high end graphics engine.
And if it's not technical aspects, its certain themes that a story wants to portray. I'm talking for example about how many locals can go overwhelmingly supportive of anything that has local inspired contents, or how many women can be so roused up be a film with strong feminist sentiments and triumphs over men, or die hard war-buffs who howl with glee over movies with noble warriors and bloody warfare included. In my case, my constant worry is that my overwhelming joy of sci-fi alien races and spaceships would overwhelm the fundamentals of a good story if I were to write one. This is just wrong.
The best stories I think should be universally inclined.
In writing, we should not think the ability to know and comprehend more words within a dictionary and the ability to write flowery, poetic phrases as the hallmark of good story writing. A good story, almost always, is defined by the journey of the protagonist(s) in which the audience can relate to and enjoy, as well as the message than touches within all those who read the story.
Many of us either know of, or have actually read the Hero's Journey. If not, there's some useful insights at this link: http://www.mythichero.com/
Upon reading that, or if you already know of the contents, you'll realize that the good tales revolve not around effects or content materials we want to advertise/portray, but rather the story of how a character matures. How the character changes, evolves, and develop over the course of the story. Nobody will find it exhilirating if the hero from the very start is already as powerful or more powerful than the villain. Nobody also, would find it very interesting if the character remains static till the end of the tale. And no amount of FX, unique content, or flowery language can fix that.
Additionally, storytellers cannot be self-centered people. I say that because storytellers need to be people who share their tales and experiences. They cannot be those who wish to promote only the things they like, nor wish to enforce things to the audience. The acceptance and pleasing of the audience is the foremost objective in storytelling.
Forget that you think the world is a bleak place and wish to show the folly of the human race too much. Forget that you think adding a zillion unique fairy tale-like creatures to be a fun thing. Forget that you think only an overwhelmingly complex backstory is the groundwork of a good tale.
Inspire the Audience. Reach out for them. I mean, I'm sorry if some of the things you personally prefer or profess isn't to their liking, because those of the audience want be inspired, want to see hope, and want to see a purpose to existence beyond this drudgery life we have. We want to see that there is something better in life, or a semblence of hope for something better. We do not want to be told of how bad life will be, or how inevitable our demise is (even if it is true, in logical circumstances), or how only a narrow view conceived by one or a few person to be the ultimate utopia. (And I apologize off hand because while writing that last bit, feminists comes to mind....but to be fair, it's not just you actually).
So, to close off, tell me a story. Lift me up from my meagre existence. Entertain me. Show me hope. Make me believe. Keep me interested. But above all, make sure we are all inspired.
When writing a story, I think a number of us worry about the quality of our chosen language. Is the sentence sophisticated enough, or flowery enough, or poetic enough? Perhaps because some good novels, songs and poems are described as beautifully written, we tend to think that good story writing is likened to writing each sentence in it as shakespearean poetry. Similiarly, we tend to look at "good" movies by defining the technological aspects and achievement as definition of a good story. More so than writing perhaps, because special effects and visual mastery can easily dazzle the senses towards great heights.
What are we doing?
We are defining the beauty of a structure based on the quality of the individual bricks in it. We are glorying a painting by the quality of its paint's materials.
Do not mistake me for thinking that my belief is that those things are inconsequential. They are. But not to a point that they define the very existence of the work. It's easier to appreciate a drawing or painting or sculpture as a whole, than doing the same for a narrative, story, comic book, graphic novel, animation or film. But both are art forms, and we should learn to appreciate the latter group as we do the former; for what it stands for, the meaning and purpose behind it and its overall beauty.
A film is not good simply because it has the lastest Special effects. An animation is not good because it has cutting edge 3D. Nor is a video game that way because of the high end graphics engine.
And if it's not technical aspects, its certain themes that a story wants to portray. I'm talking for example about how many locals can go overwhelmingly supportive of anything that has local inspired contents, or how many women can be so roused up be a film with strong feminist sentiments and triumphs over men, or die hard war-buffs who howl with glee over movies with noble warriors and bloody warfare included. In my case, my constant worry is that my overwhelming joy of sci-fi alien races and spaceships would overwhelm the fundamentals of a good story if I were to write one. This is just wrong.
The best stories I think should be universally inclined.
In writing, we should not think the ability to know and comprehend more words within a dictionary and the ability to write flowery, poetic phrases as the hallmark of good story writing. A good story, almost always, is defined by the journey of the protagonist(s) in which the audience can relate to and enjoy, as well as the message than touches within all those who read the story.
Many of us either know of, or have actually read the Hero's Journey. If not, there's some useful insights at this link: http://www.mythichero.com/
Upon reading that, or if you already know of the contents, you'll realize that the good tales revolve not around effects or content materials we want to advertise/portray, but rather the story of how a character matures. How the character changes, evolves, and develop over the course of the story. Nobody will find it exhilirating if the hero from the very start is already as powerful or more powerful than the villain. Nobody also, would find it very interesting if the character remains static till the end of the tale. And no amount of FX, unique content, or flowery language can fix that.
Additionally, storytellers cannot be self-centered people. I say that because storytellers need to be people who share their tales and experiences. They cannot be those who wish to promote only the things they like, nor wish to enforce things to the audience. The acceptance and pleasing of the audience is the foremost objective in storytelling.
Forget that you think the world is a bleak place and wish to show the folly of the human race too much. Forget that you think adding a zillion unique fairy tale-like creatures to be a fun thing. Forget that you think only an overwhelmingly complex backstory is the groundwork of a good tale.
Inspire the Audience. Reach out for them. I mean, I'm sorry if some of the things you personally prefer or profess isn't to their liking, because those of the audience want be inspired, want to see hope, and want to see a purpose to existence beyond this drudgery life we have. We want to see that there is something better in life, or a semblence of hope for something better. We do not want to be told of how bad life will be, or how inevitable our demise is (even if it is true, in logical circumstances), or how only a narrow view conceived by one or a few person to be the ultimate utopia. (And I apologize off hand because while writing that last bit, feminists comes to mind....but to be fair, it's not just you actually).
So, to close off, tell me a story. Lift me up from my meagre existence. Entertain me. Show me hope. Make me believe. Keep me interested. But above all, make sure we are all inspired.
posted by Raccoon General | 2:56 PM
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