Being a Better Writer: Inspiration · 7:18pm May 21st, 2014
Welcome back! Before I get into today's post, though, I have an announcement, and it's a good one.
Dead Silver hits the world next Tuesday the 27th of May!
That's right, after months of waiting (and almost a month of editing, formatting, and other work), Dead Silver is here! The sequel to One Drink picks up almost a year after the original, and stars Jacob Rocke's friend Hawke Decroux as the duo attempts to catch a live chupacabra in the small New Mexican town of Silver Dreams. For Hawke, it's supposed to be a vacation. But when people start disappearing and the chupacabra attacks began to grow more violent, it becomes clear that there's a lot more going on in Silver Dreams than they think...
Dead Silver weighs in at roughly 420 pages, and will be available for the low price of $5.99! So get ready, because you won't want to miss out.
Alright, that bit of excitement out of the way, let's get into today's topic: Inspiration.
A few weeks ago, I made the rare, conscious decision to stop reading a book. This wasn't a case of "I don't find this interesting," where I set the book down one day and then don't pick it back up because it wasn't holding my interests. No, this was something different. This was a conscious choice, a distinct mental observation that I no longer wanted to read it. It wasn't because the writing was poor. It was actually pretty good. And it wasn't because the story was dull, because it certainly wasn't.
It was because of what the book inspired.
If you're starting to think that when I said "Inspiration" in the title above, I might have been thinking something different than you assumed, then you're probably correct. Today, I'm not going to talk about what inspires you as an author. No, today I'm going to talk about something different. I'm going to talk about what your story inspires in it's readers.
As writers, we have a lot of challenges placed upon us. To generate a story that is gripping. To create characters that the audience understands and can relate to. To make our story readable, clear, and concise.
But there's another challenge that we have as well, something that all to often we completely forget. The challenge of what our work inspires in our readers.
That's why I stopped reading that book that I had been decently enjoying. It followed the classic standard of "good versus evil" except ... the book clearly threw far more attention on the villain than the heroes. And not in an amusing way. Although it started off balanced between the two sides, the book slowly slipped into a pattern were the villain's descent into evil was getting 2-3 times the amount of attention and words that the heroes were. Worse, the heroes were getting the short end of things from the explanation angle as well, getting short, quick, hand-wave explanations for why they did what they did, while meanwhile the villain was being given whole pages explaining from their mind why what they did was "actually right."
The end result was a book that gave lip service to it's heroes, while actually glorifying the villain and all the evil they were perpetrating. It wanted you to side with the villain as they did all these terrible, horrible things. It gave the villain far more attention than anything else.
So I put it down, because it wasn't inspiring anything that I felt was worth anything in my life. What was I going to take away from it? What was inspiring about a book that was all about how awesome it was to be evil (and I'm not talking tongie-in-cheek, either, this became seriously dark). I put it down because there wasn't anything I felt I could take from it any longer.
So let me ask you: what does your work inspire? When a reader finishes your work, what are they going to take from it? What are they going to remember? What has your book encouraged and discouraged, through either its plot or its characters? If you hand your story to a teen, what are they going to walk away thinking?
Quite often when writing, we forget about this. We talk of themes and character development, but we forget that when these are all put together, our work sends a message. It might be silly. It might be serious. But no matter what, there's a message. And when someone reads that work, that message is going to sink in. We might have a theme of, for example, love conquers all (just to go with a classic), but what will that theme inspire in our readers? Are they going to finish the book feeling like they have a chance at finding love in their life? Are they going to finish with a declaration that they'll do like the main character and make an effort to shore up weak areas in their life in order to be a better person?
As writers, our words can and will inspire readers. We need to acknowledge this when we write, and watch what we write, so that we can be sure we're inspiring the right things. Because let's face it, there is a grain of truth to the observation that we are influenced by what we watch, read, and play, conscious and unconscious (in fact, there is a massive amount of research to back this up). I'm not saying that if your character solves a problem with violence your reader will automatically, but rather than the solution presented is going to stick in a readers mind.
As a personal example, this is why my favorite character from the current Marvel films always will be Captain America. Not because of the fights, or his powers, but because of what his character inspires. He's the character who, in a pivotal scene of the first film, throws himself on what he thinks is a live grenade to save his squad-mates (who by the way, hate his guts). He inspires the sort of selfless heroism and ideals that I happen to respect. And when I watch a film with him in it, I feel inspired to be a bit more selfless and a better person.
We need to be aware that when we make our characters heroes in other's eyes, we're inspiring them. When those heroes make a decision or act in a certain way, our readers will be influenced by it. Likewise, the tone of our book, the moral, message, or ideal (and a purposeful lack of an ideal is still an ideal) will do the same. So when you sit down to write your story, your characters, consider: what are you going to inspire. What do you want to inspire. If someone is going to take the theme of your work to heart, what will it be? And how are you going to make that theme come across, so yours not the book readers stop reading because it's purported theme is completely overwhelmed by another?
This is, admittedly, a short topic. But it's something that all of us, as writers, or really any creators of content, should be considering. Our works will inspire people, like it or not. We need to remember this, so that we can be sure that we're inspiring the best.
An excellent topic. I've got a fair bit of thinking to do. You raise excellent points, and I can totally see how much the movies/books I've read impact my life and the way I choose to live it. I've even spoken on this subject before but I never sat back to look at my own writing and ask what it inspires.
And huzzah for Dead Silver coming out! I'll be on a river, but upon my return that'll be the first thing I read.
Interestng. While not a writer myself (long time ago I've actually written something non-technial down), I am reminded on what my endgame for some of my old high school creative writing assignments. Most of it was written just for fun, but there were the occasional works that were inspired by looking at other works, not limited to writing.
The topic of inspiration also brings up for me the debate I recall from one discussion between Superman and Batman. static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11115/111152476/3732001-1179074188795.jpg
Who does a better job of inspring the civilians, and to what extent? Supes is the ideal of a hero that everyone can look up to, but never replicate. He's the pedestal that no one seems to be able ot reach, much like Captain America. Though as a bonus, he's not a native born American, which adds a layer of the American dream to him. Bats on the other hand inspires out of fear, where he will take you down if you get out of line. Aside from all of is cool toys, he's more closer to regular civilians in that he does experience a lot more loss than Supes, starting with his parents, and the occasional bat-family member depending on the story arc and continuity. Not entirely sure where I'm going with this anymore. Hmm.. Maybe I'm asking which is the better inspiration, one where you look up and keep going, or one where you stand up and keep going.
Also, this sounds like a segue into how to portray particular themes.
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Well with both of those characters, it's important to remember why they do what they do as well. Superman does it "because it's the right thing," but he's a lot more open about that motivation than Batman, who's own motivations are more complexly motivated by personal loss, but come down to some similar arguments.
Granted, in the second Nolan Batman film Batman himself asked himself what he'd inspired, because he'd wanted to inspire people like Dent and instead ended up with lookalikes.
Personally thought, Batman's being a jerk in the above comic, and totally taking a cheap shot.
This is surprisingly topical, my friend. Also very good. I often lose sight of this, however, I can't say that I ignore it when it comes to the things I read. I do read junk, more often than not, but I prefer stories with a healthy dose of optimism and respect for the characters in it, no matter what the story is about. I am also more often than not offended less by big ideas and more so by the little bits of characterization that speak volumes about unintentional messages of what may or may not have been missed, ignored, or downright unknown to the writer in question.
It's also why I love FiM. It's not perfect, not by any means, but I love the vast majority of messages that it does try to convey. Plus, I love it when it spreads optimism and respect.
See, this is one of the things I think about when reading books. What would I do in the given situation? What does the character do? Which action is right?
More often than not, I find that I take something with me when I depart the universe a book has set up. My favorite books and characters are those that teach me something, either about myself or the world around me.
For example, when I read 'Carry on' I felt as though I got a greater understanding af both my own psyche and those around me that have suffered traumatizing experiences. Now I won't claim that I'm a psychologically damaged individual, but I do recognize that I have some issues, mostly stemming from childhood problems, being the target of bullies and transferring to a different school twice. Anyway, 'Carry on' made me think, and while not being a giant eye-opener and fix all, it did give me some food to feed the contemplation machine.
A bigger inspiration came from 'Paper Towns' by John Green, essentially making me rethink how I see other people. Big improvement of my character really.
So yeah, I'll say that inspiration is an important factor to take into account when writing, it's a great responsibillity to bear, and we all know what that entails.
Also. May 27.
Damn you, now I need to figure out if I'm going to read 'Skin Game' or 'Dead Silver' first. In addition to needing to play 'Watch Dogs'.
Why must great literature come with such hard decisions
Huh. You learn something new everyday.
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The thing is, even junk inspires something. In fact, I think it'd be a challenge to write a story that absolutely inspired nothing. Granted, I'll get more into that in a while when I hit another, related topic...
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Yeah, it's worth the self-introspection to take a look.
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See, comments like this are why I spent so much time carefully researching things with "Carry On" and making sure that what was presented was carefully selected. Same with "The Definition of Strength," which took even more careful time, effort, and forethought.
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And now, your mind has expanded!
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All this is hugely part of why I follow you and other artists.
Not only are your creations good, some of the other followers/fans are equaly awesome.
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All you need to make a good decision is one D6
1-3:'Skin Game'
4-6:'Dead Silver'
second roll:
1-2: do nothing
3-4: read the book you rolled
5-6: play 'Watch Dogs'
:x:misc_Octy_chair:
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Yeah, probably shouldn't have brought up superheroes, especially those two. The fact that you can fit Batman anywhere on the good/neutral/evil X lawful/true/chaotic chart shows that there are way too many versions of him to refer to him in general for inspiration. Out of curiosity, what do you think of novels that are pretty much worldbuilding, with a story attached, like LoTR?
Heh, usually a self rule of mine is to go through and finish a book / series, just so I have the right to fully complain and criticize. Unfortunately, some just become too difficult to read. Tried War and Peace, but it was too dry for my liking. Did finish Atlas Shrugged, but skimmed the Author Tract. Can't finish the Wheel of Time series because of how stupid the gender dichotomy is. I mean I only got halfway through the series because I was reading it for one particular character (Matt), but had to stop. Maybe one day I'll pick it up again.
I find it amusingly ironic that you're telling us that all stories have a theme and message (which I wholeheartedly agree with) when in the past you have endorsed the blog of Larry Correia, who said in a blog post I read that stories with themes and messages are the province of dorks with their heads up their asses.
But the description of this book you put aside was a bit of a cautionary warning that I appreciate. I've been thinking about a story I'm trying to write, during which both the nominal hero and villain have a downward spiral before righting themselves in a mutual redemption arc. The danger would be in making the process of them giving in to bloodlust and revenge too sweet and awesome to read, outpacing the gut-wrenching consequences and somber, heartfelt reconciliation. As much as I know I should still be writing all of this instead of just talking about it, I'm glad that I'm learning this lesson before I spent too many words going down the wrong path.
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I couldn't even start the second Wheel of Time book because of how derivative and badly-structured the first one was. I got through that first book with effort, because I will be damned if I let a book that I paid money for beat me like that.
Also, it takes a talented author these days to elevate Batman beyond the one-dimensional "kewl badass" that the internet has reduced him to.
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Not quite. Larry wasn't espousing that all stories with themes or messages were the province of dorks and heads up their own backsides, but rather that people who believed that a story was nothing but a theme or a message and wrote nothing else were those. The kind of stories that aren't really stories, but blunt ideologies or thinly veiled soapboxes with minimal story or character, written solely to push the idea and nothing else. That's what he was going on about with that. He's well aware that his own stories present themes and messages, but at the same time, they're also rousingly entertaining stories in their own right. Whether or not you agree with a characters viewpoint or some of the messages, you can still have an absolute blast reading about a bunch of monster hunters using a giant snow-cutter to make mincemeat of zombified werewolves. On the flipside, a story that is nothing but a thinly clothed soapbox has little weight behind it—it flashes with the few people who are either already onboard the idea ... and then vanishes, because there's nothing to hold interest past the ideal.
That whole debate started because of a few select authors making public statements that the purpose of sci-fi was not to entertain, but to be a soapbox for idealogy, and that story and enjoyment should not be considered, but rather what ideology the work is arguing (which is part of the whole explosion of drama with the Hugos, just so you know).
A theme and a message are something you should consider, and should be a core consideration, but at the same time, they are not the sole underpinning of a work. If they only point of a story is to thinly disguise an authors personal opinions on something like sexuality or politics without regards to character, plot, or any other story elements (which happens all the time, even here on FimFic), then you really don't have a story. You have a flavored opinion article. That is what Larry was arguing against.
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I think I'm having a pretty serious problem interpreting Correia's blog posts. He's arguing against one extreme, and I immediately think he's in the opposite extreme. Now I'm a bit worried.
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Well, it helps if you realize that he's a bit extreme—his blog is pretty hyperbolic. It probably helps that I've spoken to him in person, and I know that he's being dramatic and extreme for effect.
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Right. I can never tell when people like that are serious or just kidding.
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Actually, he talks about it in his post today: