In everyday life, people normally strive for as few
complications as possible. We plan ahead. We prepare. We come up with menus and
grocery lists, and wash soccer uniforms for Saturday’s game. We even worry, as
if considering all the negative scenarios will help us avoid them. And life is
easier when we’re organized. We won’t run out of pasta on lemon chicken
linguini night. Of course, we might be out of lemon. To use a cliché, life
doesn’t go always as planned.
complications as possible. We plan ahead. We prepare. We come up with menus and
grocery lists, and wash soccer uniforms for Saturday’s game. We even worry, as
if considering all the negative scenarios will help us avoid them. And life is
easier when we’re organized. We won’t run out of pasta on lemon chicken
linguini night. Of course, we might be out of lemon. To use a cliché, life
doesn’t go always as planned.
Your character may worry and plan, too, or maybe not. Either
way, in order to keep us reading, there have to be complications for your
character. Don’t let her life go smoothly. Complicate her plans, her day, her
life, her obstacles.
way, in order to keep us reading, there have to be complications for your
character. Don’t let her life go smoothly. Complicate her plans, her day, her
life, her obstacles.
One of the ways to avoid a sagging middle (Act II) of your
story, is to layer in complications—both in terms of characterization and plot.
Maybe your character faces a new scenario she’s never planned for. She doesn’t
know how to handle it, or perhaps the situation triggers something in her she
didn’t expect. Complications.
story, is to layer in complications—both in terms of characterization and plot.
Maybe your character faces a new scenario she’s never planned for. She doesn’t
know how to handle it, or perhaps the situation triggers something in her she
didn’t expect. Complications.
You may have heard that it’s best to keep tripping your
character up and then kick him when he’s down. The advantage to that is
that when things finally do turn around, the emotional payoff is intense.
However, this technique is also somewhat transparent and can wear on readers. They’d
like to see some victories, or the story may depress them. It’s best to have a
balance, without making things too easy on your characters.
character up and then kick him when he’s down. The advantage to that is
that when things finally do turn around, the emotional payoff is intense.
However, this technique is also somewhat transparent and can wear on readers. They’d
like to see some victories, or the story may depress them. It’s best to have a
balance, without making things too easy on your characters.
I read a lot, for Pelican, of course, but elsewhere too. One
element I’ve seen over and over is writers keeping things safe, both for their
characters and themselves. No situation is ever out of control. No barraging
circumstances. No unresolved tension. But tension is a reader’s favorite hook. And
the complication of barraging circumstances, the chaos of complications, not
only feels like real life, but also keeps stories from sagging.
element I’ve seen over and over is writers keeping things safe, both for their
characters and themselves. No situation is ever out of control. No barraging
circumstances. No unresolved tension. But tension is a reader’s favorite hook. And
the complication of barraging circumstances, the chaos of complications, not
only feels like real life, but also keeps stories from sagging.
Have you ever tried to train a puppy to “heel?” “Heel” is
the command for walking beside the master/owner while on a leash. This command demands the dog not pull on the lead, but rather remain in step. And though temptations to sniff the
surrounding area come, once trained, the dog remains faithfully next to the owner. Just like with every other lesson, puppies need training in this. When
you first put a puppy on a leash, he’ll twist his head to bite on it. He’ll
scamper around in circles, trying to either get the leash off or get it into
his mouths. He might stop everything, sit down, and use a hind paw to
scratch at the collar and leash. If the owner tries walking (all the while
giving the command to “heel”), the puppy may put the brakes on, dig her feet
into the ground, and try to remain where she is. All manner of distractions
keep her from cooperating. The same should be true in our stories.
the command for walking beside the master/owner while on a leash. This command demands the dog not pull on the lead, but rather remain in step. And though temptations to sniff the
surrounding area come, once trained, the dog remains faithfully next to the owner. Just like with every other lesson, puppies need training in this. When
you first put a puppy on a leash, he’ll twist his head to bite on it. He’ll
scamper around in circles, trying to either get the leash off or get it into
his mouths. He might stop everything, sit down, and use a hind paw to
scratch at the collar and leash. If the owner tries walking (all the while
giving the command to “heel”), the puppy may put the brakes on, dig her feet
into the ground, and try to remain where she is. All manner of distractions
keep her from cooperating. The same should be true in our stories.
All manner of complications should keep our heroes and
heroines from their goals. That keeps readers hooked, or on the leash to remain
with our metaphor.
heroines from their goals. That keeps readers hooked, or on the leash to remain
with our metaphor.
So, what about your work-in-progress? You’ll know if you
have a balance by instinct. If the scene lacks life, consider layering in
complications. The same is true if your scene lacks realism. Let complications
thicken your novel. The goal is to keep your reader on the leash all the way
through to the end. And, unlike in real life, in story, complications are desirable.
have a balance by instinct. If the scene lacks life, consider layering in
complications. The same is true if your scene lacks realism. Let complications
thicken your novel. The goal is to keep your reader on the leash all the way
through to the end. And, unlike in real life, in story, complications are desirable.
