Good Advice About Illuminating a Central Problem

This comes from Louis Catron’s “The Elements of Playwriting” but I think it applies to other forms of fiction writing too. He begins with the concept that the idea for a play can stem from a character, a situation, or a theme — whatever idea that strikes your fancy. Then you flesh that out, then focus on the other two elements so you have a well-rounded concept. (For example, if you want to write about a situation, you flesh that out, then focus on its characters and theme.)

This is the set-up for one of the best-written pieces of advice about writing I’ve ever seen, which is:

“You could write an essay telling readers your conclusions… but plays show. Tell yourself that your play can never state the problem directly — a good guideline is to assume the characters do not know the thematic issue or problem and therefore can’t speak it clearly — so you search for actions.“

That is wonderfully expressed, and if you keep it in mind, it will keep you from committing the cardinal sins of having your characters explain themselves to your reader in a way that nearly always sounds artificial, or of having them behave as though they’re conscious they’re supposed to be illustrating an idea, which will immediately render them false. It will add subtlety — a powerful influence — to your writing.

~ by seriouswriter on August 3, 2007.