I'm humbled by how many writers open up to me about that most vulnerable part of them -- their stories.
Immediately ascertainable is how closely a writer is identified by the story.
1) This is the story they have told themselves and lived by their entire lives.
2) This is a fun romp, thrilling mystery, or pure romance.
#1 is generally character-driven.
#2 is often action-driven.
I get to not only sit in the crow's nest and analyze the plot and structure of the story, from that vantage point I often also see a higher archetypal pattern emerge.
For instance, in a character-driven memoir about strong political and historical and religious themes, the protagonist (the writer) is betrayed as a kid by her father. Later she falls in love with four men. She is betrayed by all four of them.
A bigger picture unfolds... Or, is it only my imagination?
Are there other ways to tell this story? You bet ya.
How much of that which comes intuitively throughout the plot consultation do I divulge? Like a palm reader, say everything and let the writer decide?
How much would you want?
Fascinating journey this is, being a plot consultant to writers.
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It's hard for a writer to concise his story and give it to his readers as a teaser because that's his credibility as an author rely.
Martha, what you always do beautifully for me is point out the holes, the questions that I haven't answered with my plot. It may be a why, or a what next, but you hit it every time! I love that part of your consults. :)
And get ready, because I'm starting to plot Caro, INCLUDING filling up my index card box with scene ideas.
again, Martha, thanks for your interesting site. Re: ". . . I often see a higher archetypal pattern emerge . . .a bigger picture unfold(s). . ."
The need, my need, to have a sense of what this big picture is initially, in other words, to understand what I'm REALLY writing about, seems to be my biggest obstacle in writing fiction. I've written several books and have in fact found some underlying theme by the time I reach the end, but I think they would have been stronger books if I could have clarified, in my own mind, the theme/idea behind the book.
Marchel Probst, I'm not sure what you mean, but welcome -- haven't "seen" you around these parts before now.
beckylevine, can't wait, Becky. You know -- I love historical fiction for any age...
janice, thanks for your comment.
Seems to me you're asking quite a bit of yourself.
I find that writing is an act of discovery. Like a dream that doesn't always make sense. We're drawn to write stuff. The meaning emerges.
Over time.
The deeper you go, the more meaningful.
Over time.
Draft by draft by draft... Each time you find a thread of thematic significance and rewrite, you'll find another, until you're at the very heart of it all.
Over time.