Drilling down

September 9, 2009 in Journal with 4 Comments

Yesterday I posted a short vlog on the importance of writing stories that we’re passionate about, because passion will carry us farther than a gimmick or fad will. Today I want to drill down to what that means and how to figure out what kinds of stories excite you and why. If you’ve already done that, feel free to get back to writing. If not, read on. What I have to say is pretty elementary, but there’s something powerful about really looking at something you like and saying, “This moves me because…”

The best place to start is right in your house. All the clues to what stories make you come alive are probably sitting on your shelf. Go look at it right now. I’ll wait. When you do, take note of what stories “pop” from the shelf. Glancing at my own shelf, I see titles like  Odd Thomas (Dean Koontz), Book of Lies (Brad Meltzer), The Good Guy (again, Dean Koontz), House of Wolves (Matt Bronleewe). Now, if I stop and drill down to why I like those authors and the stories, here’s what I come up with:

1. Characters. I like the people in these stories and care about them because they’re like me…normal. Average. Complicated. To this day I think Odd Thomas is one of the most likable characters in modern literature. Characters matter to us because people matter. The character is the story in all of my favorite novels.

2. Suspense. The tension in these stories kills me, in a good way. That’s why I love thrillers. Thrillers are a snapshot of life’s drama with all the boring bits cut out. I love that. I have a short attention span, so I’m quickly bored. A story has to engage me and keeping me asking, “What happens next?” I have to know. I want to blast out of the gate and into something big. End of the world big is even better.

3. Superstory. Most of the books I love revolve around a “superstory”, a theme that resonates just below the surface throughout the ride. It’s “the point” if stories really have “points”. Now, not all stories are strong thematically; they are basically just good roller coaster rides. That’s fine. But the ones that move me have a superstory that uncovers some hidden part of me or inspires me. Some of the best are what I define as modern day parables–truth disguised in a story.

So, if I were to drill down to what kinds of stories I want to tell, it would come down to:

I strive to create heart-pounding thrillers that revolve around multi-dimensional characters thrown into impossible situations that keep readers burning through the pages.

What kinds of stories do you love? What kinds of stories do you want to write? Take a few minutes today and write it out. “I strive to create…”

  • Kelsie

    My shelves are filled with Ted Dekker, Eric Wilson, Robert Liparulo, and Brad Meltzer. I love characters who are realistic: too many characters in stories are see-through, predictable, and dispensable. I love characters that grab me and reflect real human nature (even bad guys!)
    I love bad guys who are realistic and who aren’t just stereotypical villains. I don’t think I’ve ever read a bad-guy better than the ones Dekker writes, because he gives them motives and stories and reminds us that they are characters too.
    I love stories of redemption, where the hero is against impossible odds and comes out on top.
    I love love, where two characters fall in love and it’s realistic! (I love it even more if they’re not supposed to be in love or if there are circumstances that should keep them from it, and they fall in love anyway.)

    I strive to create stories of redemption that are realistic, where the characters respond as real characters would and make my readers ponder; but I want to mix redemption and suspense – I don’t want my book to just be a feel-good book, I want it to keep my readers excited and genuinely caring about what happens next.

  • http://thedownwordspyre.deviantart.com Tina

    I would have to say that I definitely agree with Kelsie – I love the villains that Ted Dekker creates because I’m not reading them with a “here we go again – bang, bang, evil laughter. whoop-die-doo” taste in my mouth. His villains are…creepy. And definitely inspire many “whaaaa?!” moments in their actions. When you think you’ve figured them out, they toss a curveball into your soup bowl. It’s a nice twist.

    As far as my own shelf goes…I see C.S. Lewis, Ted Dekker, Dee Henderson…stories of redemption with characters everyone but God has given up on; characters who overcome tragedy in their lives to become a better person through God’s strength.

  • Fusion

    You mentioned on your “Hello” page that you’re working on your first novel. What is it about? I’m assuming it involves the “heart-pounding thriller that revolves around multi-dimensional characters thrown into impossible situations” bit, but can you give us any details?

  • http://www.bsnapzworld.com BSnapZ

    Like you, I like stories that have underlying “superstories”. Sure, once in a while a purely entertaining, but highly predictable and see-through novel may be read to for no other reason than to kill some brain cells, when you really don’t want to do any thinking at all, but other than that it has to be deep. I want my writing to have incredible superstories underneath them. To speak out, touch, cut deep, challenge.

    Characters must be realistic, as you say, not stereotypical and predictable. Real.

    Endings must be real. In real life not everything has a happy ending. Why should novels be any different? I’m not saying that I’m completely depressed and thrive on suffering and despair, but realistically, that’s life! Not everything ends in “and they all lived happily ever after”. In fact, sad endings can be a lot more impacting and powerful sometimes. Realistic is all I want. That’s what I want to write.

    I want to make an impact on the hearts and minds of those who read my books. I couldn’t care less about the money. I write because I love writing. It’s who I am.