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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

I Love You, But This Is Going to Hurt a Little

In general, I avoid conflict and confrontation. I don't like to stir things up. I'm a why-can't-we-all-just-get-along type of person.

In stories, this is a very bad quality to have. It literally sucks away all tension from the story. And without tension/conflict/suspense...what do you have? BORING.

I like my characters. I want them to be happy. But, unfortunately, I'm going to have throw some rocks at them, as much as it pains me to do so.

I love the show LOST. And last night's episode got me thinking about how cruel I am to my characters. Compared to the writers of LOST, I am a softie. Big time. I don't throw enough at my characters. LOST has such great tension/conflict/heartbreaking moments because of the major, mind blowing obstacles thrown in each character's path. I found myself yelling at the TV: I HOPE THEY MAKE IT OUT OF THERE ALREADY!

I think the success of this show has more to do with the characters rather than Smoke Monsters and the unexplained mystery stuff. It's all about the characters. That's the backbone of the series. It wouldn't work without them so deeply sketched.

So, dear present and future MCs of mine, I love you, I do, but this is going to hurt a little. Maybe a lot. I'm sorry!

11 comments:

  1. I, too, had an AHA moment watching LOST--so sad. Thanks for the great post!

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  2. Diana - I think the creators of LOST owe me a box of Kleenex after that one. They really just pour it on, don't they?

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  3. I cried. A lot. And yes, it does suck having to be mean, but apparently I'm horrible to my MCs haha. :/ Good luck!

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  4. Sol Stein says to never give the reader what they want!

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  5. Amanda - A very sad episode...and, apparently, it's good to be horrible to your MCs!

    Karen - Yes! And, also, don't give the writer, yourself, what you want. =)

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  6. This is so true!!! We have to hurt them...its for their own good. You have to think of the worst possible thing that could happen and do it. This is so easy to say...really hard to do.

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  7. I'm all for making ones characters suffer. It's horrible but it makes for good reading!

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  8. Yup, I put my MCs through the ringer. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. At least you were nice enough to warn them about what's coming. ;)

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  9. Agreed! I'm not a sadistic person, but there is some satisfaction in putting my MCs in horrible situations. They come out stronger that way, and then I'm proud of them. :)

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  10. Ha! We love torturing our MCs. Hopefully the ends will justify the means and readers will be entertained...we'll see.

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  11. For some reason, I'm picturing all of these MCs sitting around in a circle, plotting revenge against the Writers. Hmmmm. Book idea, perhaps? =)

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