{"id":240,"date":"2013-10-15T00:03:13","date_gmt":"2013-10-15T08:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writinghope.com\/?p=240"},"modified":"2018-09-26T09:02:16","modified_gmt":"2018-09-26T17:02:16","slug":"cross-genre-support-nano-prep-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/untanglingtales.com\/WritingHope\/cross-genre-support-nano-prep-15\/","title":{"rendered":"Cross-Genre Support (NaNo Prep 15) and a sort of checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I read a book on Einstein\u2019s physics of which I understand nothing, it doesn\u2019t matter: that will make me understand something else. — Pablo Picasso<\/p>\n

If one is master of one thing and understands one thing well, one has at the same time, insight into and understanding of many things. —\u00a0Vincent Van Gogh<\/p>\n

Current cant equates fantasy with escapism, and current fashion would have it that fantasy is both easy to read and to write. It isn\u2019t. When it is done honestly, by a skillful writer, fantasy takes us far enough beyond our daily perceptions to open us to the essential realities beneath it. This is the true goal of all art. — Ellen Kushner<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Image<\/a>

Image courtesy of Andrey Gorshkov via stock.xchng<\/p><\/div>\n

Here, “fantasy” doesn’t have to refer just to stories with magical or fantastical elements. It can refer to fiction itself.<\/p>\n

Some genres have gathered disdain from their non-readers, in part because of the recognized formula of their structure.<\/p>\n

I have three things to say about this.<\/p>\n

a) Stop it.<\/p>\n

b) They are a fabulous testament to the fact that many people read for the process, the experience, and not the surprise, and<\/p>\n

c) They are an impressive example of the creativity and variety that can bloom within constraints.<\/p>\n

\u00a0I like how Victoria Lynn Schmidt (whom I mentioned yesterday<\/a>) described templates (like Save the Cat<\/a> or the Hero’s<\/a> or Heroine’s journey<\/a>s):<\/p>\n

They provide basic outlines to free you from worry about structure. Once you have the steps outlined you know where you’re going. You can spend your time creating interesting characters and adding new twists to the story instead of thinking about the structure and direction of it. [Templates] are a tool to free your creativity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

~ ~ ~<\/p>\n

Last year, I read the book Silence of the Lambs<\/a> for the first time– on my kindle. I was just beginning to try and apply things like “first plot point” and the Midpoint reversal.<\/p>\n

Reading the novel, I was delighted to see the formula being followed almost mathematically. I felt the story-excitement rising as we approached the 50% mark, and at that point the rug was completely pulled out from under me in a way I never anticipated. I laughed in delight. For the first time I connected the math (the structure) with the execution (no pun intended).<\/p>\n

~ ~ ~<\/p>\n

For now, if you\u2019re following along to get ready for next month, lets take this half-way(ish) mark to consider a few major milestones of \u201cformula fiction,\u201d and how many of them we have so far.<\/p>\n

If you’re not ready to do this for you own novel, you may still find it helpful to practice on one of your favorite movies. It will give you a template for when you’re ready to try for your own.<\/p>\n