Isaac Newton was a scientist, not a novelist, but he stated a principle we all should consider in storytelling. “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Stated from a writer’s perspective, “One thing must lead to another.”
Don’t Play God
This really isn’t a silly exhortation. It’s a real problem because our writing from personal experience or from our imagination makes us like God in this way: We know how the story ends. Real life is much different: We can only guess what lies ahead. We don’t really know until after it happens.
Our knowing what happens can blind us to the concerns the character has at the present moment, the conflicts, the dilemmas, not knowing which way to turn. Create that moment, and then show how the character reacts.
Show the Struggle before the Solution
Sometimes we’re too quick to get to the answer, when the process of solving the problem is most important. Remember, an easy solution has little value compared to the life-changing lessons that come at a high price.
Include Unexpected Twists and Turns
As we look back on our experiences, we easily forget the concerns we had when we didn’t know what would happen. Why? If our concerns turned out to be unfounded, our “God” point of view said we had no reason to worry. We should trust God all the time, and that’s the Christian way, right? Yes, but that’s not the way to tell a great story.
To make our story true to life, we must forget the God-given answer and return to our worries at each moment when we didn’t know which way to turn. Make those worries real. Show what you thought would happen, a potential disaster that brought panic. What did you do? That’s Newton’s reaction that must follow the action . . . and the process continues. One thing leads to another.
Did everything turn out the way you anticipated? Rarely does that ever happen, but we tend to remember that it did. So we must force ourselves to remember what we were so inclined to forget.
Don’t Skip the Important Steps
The darkest moments give the light its greatest value. Be slow to recognize the dawn, but make readers question whether daylight will ever come. Make the reactions we thought would bring light actually darken the shadows and make the flashlight useful.
Put readers in total darkness, and they’ll join the character’s desperate reaction to find the light.
You can learn more about this at the Sharpen Your Skills classes on October 27 and 28. The event is free, but you need to register.
