Just a thought.
I like complex stories. I hear many people complain that, as writers, we should explore one theme and do it well, rather than pull in many different ideas. Now, this is not about any one book that I have written, but more on how the process is when writing. My day job requires that I do a bit of quality work on processes that are not going well. It’s a standard process improvement dynamic. As you break down each step of the problem, you discover that there are many stumbling blocks along the way to the ultimate goal. The first thing that you do is decide what needs improvement, who can bring about improvement and what is the ultimate measurable goal.
In writing a HEA, you pretty much know your goal. Setting up who you want involved in the process, determines the dynamics, but the end goal is always before you and it must be measurable. Is the HEA moving forward, or has it moved backwards and how do you move it forward. The stumbling blocks are your conflict. As one process block is solved, I find that two or three others may pop up as a consequence. The people outside our core team impact the direction of that team and will often change how we approach the process or bring in detail or minutiae. There are some things that only take a few changes and by exploring it well, you have reached the goal. As a person that seldom gets to work on the simple problems, I enjoy solving all the issues along the way.
The big push in quality is evidenced based research. We are creating, measuring and evaluating research to make decisions on what works to ensure the best outcomes. I like the analogy of the formula romance novel as evidence based. Yes, we can improve quality of care for the heart attack, because after years we’ve accumulated enough evidence to prove that if we get them to the hospital, give them aspirin, beta blockers, have a positive ST elevation and to cath lab or thrombolytic interventions fast enough we can save them. Our Romance formula story gives us the perfect example of this; you meet the beautiful female or plain Jane; A world weary alpha hero; throw in questionable heart pains and mild discomfort that eventually leads to severe discomfort, breaking heart pains and send them to the best cardiac center in the country and it’s all good.
I have a lot of respect for the best. I also have a great regard for the firsts. Those individuals that come up with the question of how can we do this better, even if it’s different that how we have always done it. The original great paranormal romance writers, the non-formulaic romance writer or the subtle suspense writers and totally off the wall heroes and heroines who populate some amazing books.
I see so much of the absurd in life, even life and death. So when I find it in a book, I’m completely pulled in. When I write, I always know where I’m going, but I don’t always know how I’m getting there, it’s a process and I let the next stumbling block determine the next scene. Although, I write paranormal, I use parallels in the amazing real lives of the normal to build something believable.
Like I said, it’s just a thought.
Rhianna
Very interesting. So, in general, do you feel that you strive to go where no man has gone before, as in the “firsts” who bring in a very unique take on things, in writing your stories? Or do you feel that you identify more with sticking to the formula, while trying to be unique within that framework?
Writing seems so complicated to me. So many things to think about when putting together a story. It would give me a major headache. I always read the end result and it seems so effortless to me by the time I get to read it. Like it all just happened. But from what you have written here, it’s quite a complex process.
Comment by MB (Leah) — May 19, 2008 @ 10:56 am
I don’t know that I always strive for a non formula story. Formula is good sometimes, but I like to add a spin, or make the characters different. I like alpha males, but when I wrote for Takeshi, I felt that he needed to be very strong but low key, which I felt was fairly true to his character and the culture. It all depends on the story I want to tell.
I have to do a lot of evidence based practice and process improvement at work and because I do it a lot, it seemed that there was a simularity to a story board. But, you know what they say, if all you have is a hammer, everything begins to look like a nail. *snort*
Most days at work I write during my lunch break. I take a notebook with me to the cafateria and usually manage a couple of pages. Sometimes only a page, but that is usually because I am being very visual in what I write that day. Every once in a while a character or idea about the story will click into place and I realize I have managed to bring two or three threads together. I love that. It happened last week. The longer a story simmers in my head the more detailed and real it becomes. But, I have come to the realization that I have to take it offer the burner sometimes and serve it up before it gets mushy or too tough. Oh well.
Tomorrow at work is a huge mass causualty drill and I have to be there extra early to moulage the victims. For a normal person that might sound fun, but I’ll be dragging my ass in. I’ll let you know it goes.
Rhianna
Comment by Administrator — May 19, 2008 @ 10:30 pm