Since I’m not featuring any authors this month, I’m just posting things I enjoy writing about. If I seem scattered, you’re right. I’m still re-organizing my computer after it murdered so many of my files, and I’m busy with two book launches. More about that next time, but right now, let’s talk focus.
So let’s say you want the world or milieu to be paramount. Your characters will enter this world you’ve created, they’ll look around, react and interact with it, and they’ll let you find out what this place is about while, at the same time, they’re finding out about it.
Think of Alice. Now, there is one milieu-dominated story. Alice moves through an underground realm of odd tea parties and even odder court trials, then she returns home, having finally understood the futility of trying to make meaning out of any of her encounters. Critics of the story say that, unlike a good milieu story, Alice hasn’t been transformed by her experience, and this is often noted as the failure of the novel. If she had returned to her “real” world different than when she entered it, the story would have been a stronger one. Still Carroll’s milieu tale is popular and continues to entertain readers.
But the characters, you say. They must be the focus, especially the protagonist. And in a character-focused story, they are the focus. The character(s) start in one place and end in another. With my story Double Negative, my guy, Hutch McQueen, is stuck in an abusive home, and his one thought is escape. The problem is he can’t because he makes one bad choice after another that prevents his escape. It’s not until he starts making smart choices (and that take some serious work) that he finds the way out of the mess he’s in. And viola! He’s a new kind of kid–still flawed, but with an idea of how to make his way through the world without landing in trouble.
When the author focuses on an event that throws the established world order into chaos, then you’ve got a story that requires either knitting up the old order or creating a new one. Shakespeare did the event story a lot. Macbeth to name one.
Thanks for so much info packed into a mini writing lesson. Very clear and easy to remember. I’d love to host you in July or August as a guest on my summer series, The 5 W’s. Just tell me who, what, where, when, and why about your story. Wishing you success with your new releases!!
JQ Rose
Hi again. I love your offer for a summer appearance. I’ll be sure to touch bases with you.
I LOVE CHARACTER STORIES. The others are certainly good in their own rights, and I think each story calls for something different, but my favorites are almost always the character-centered ones.
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
These are fascinating stories for me, too.
I typically think of plot v. character in how a book is driven, but I like your four focuses. I’m now off to look at my bookshelves to see which favorites fit into which categories. I wonder if I’ll find a pattern of what I’m drawn toward most?
In truth, this is an artificial distinction, but when you look at books keeping these focuses in mind, it’s a different way to see them. Let us know if you find out what suits your fancy best.
Two book launches? Wow. Take care of yourself during this time of stress.
I don’t care so much for character driven stories unless it has one of the other three elements going for it too. To me, it’s the plot that makes a character great.
All three book elements are totally connected, that’s for sure.
I think I’ll need a few weeks off after May. I’m beginning to feel a strong magnetic pull toward a beach with comfy chair.
You broke down the segments so well. I learnt something today. Thank you.
Hi Nas,
Great to see you. We’ve kind of lost touch. So busy here and I’m sure where you are too. We have to catch up!
Yes, so very busy! I just finished one author’s project and it published on 15th April. Another release is on 1st May. And editing another one at the moment. So literally no time to even think!
Good thoughts, Lee. I read Alice in Wonderland to my daughter twice (wonder if I can talk her into listening a 3rd time, now she’s 20)
I have decided to consolidate my two blogs (one is more professional) as I can’t see any reason to keep working on them both. In a strange way this feels like I’m coming out of the closet as I haven’t written about my livelihood. Most of my posts from now on will be at http://www.thepulpitandthepen.com. (I think you’ve been there before).
You’re welcome to stop by. Sage
Hi Sage,
Yes, I think I have stopped in at your other blog, and will do so again. It will be a lot easier to maintain a single blog.
Excellent breakdown. Though I have to laugh at critics of Alice saying it would have been more effective another way. While that may be true, I haven’t seen Alice hurting for attention…
There are critics out that for every book, even the most successful once. I’d like to have one of my books stay in the minds of readers for half as long as Alice has. 🙂
Great proverb! I don’t know how you’re managing two book launches. I seriously underestimated what all was involved in mine. But I guess I’ll know better for next time 🙂
It really is challenging to do launches. I’m having trouble keeping everything straight, so if I mess up I hope people will cut me some slack.
Ooh, fascinating. Don’t think I’ve ever viewed storytelling quite like this before, but the way you laid out the four different parts really clicks with me. Amazing how much the tone of a story can change by focusing on one part more than another!
It’s an interesting way to analyze stories. I agree.
Finding your blog for the first time because you left a comment on another blog. Catching up on your #Challenge posts. For a writer, a great theme to enjoy. This is a beautifully presented blog. LOVE your header and the fact that the information is easy to read without a lot of clutter going on. This is a great example of how to create a successful blog. Congrats! If you have time or interest, my theme this year is BOOKSTORES, their architecture, location, and the good people who sell books. One of my passions. Hope to see you at one of the stores this April.
Thanks, Stepheny. So glad you found me, and I’ll come around to read your bookstore challenge. I didn’t do the AtoZ this year, so I’m just visiting as I can.
I haven’t thought of literature in that way for many years; you’d make a great teacher!
🙂 I put away my chalk years ago!
Milieu is a fancy world. Thanks for educating us on its meaning. As authors, we have to know exactly what the world is we’re building for our characters. They have to experience it with all of their senses.
It is kind of a “fancy” word–one we borrowed from the French who have a lot of fancy words. Thanks for the visit, Sherry!
Interesting! I don’t always think about this, unless it’s character-focused. I tend to notice that a lot because I love good characterization. It’s great that we can take these same ideas and create new things over and over.
-Lauren
I’m the same, and I’m sure most readers are. It’s interesting to analyze storytelling once in a while, but most of the time I just like to jump in and enjoy. Hope your spring is bringing up lots of flowers and new books for your enjoyment.
Sorry I haven’t been around much. I’ll make up for it in May (after AtoZ ends)!
Totally understand. On to Z with you!
In music, there are 12 notes and 7 rhythms. We should have bored of music a long time ago, right? 😉
Your post reminded me of something that got drilled into us in band in high school. The rest of the lesson consisted of reminding us of all the myriad combinations of those. Although, I think it usually started as the director trying to get us to execute some rhythm correctly.
Great comparison, Liz, and I really didn’t know there were 7 rhythms. Thanks for telling me that. Did your band get those rhythm correctly?
I love this week’s quote.
We all filter differently don’t we? Which is good because it makes for many unique stories and perspectives.
YOU, have a pleasant, productive week.
Add in socio-cultural differences and that makes for a very interesting and complicated world, indeed. Thanks for the good wishes, and I’ll send them back your way.
So true about how different focuses can change a story. You’re certainly reading a broad range of books right now. Good luck with everything you have going on.
I like variety. Some say that’s a well-rounded reader; others say it’s a scattered one. Since I’m an aquarian, I think scattered is the correct choice. 🙂
I hate admitting it, but I’ve never been a fan of Alice – maybe it’s the milieu story aspect! 🙂
You and Cheryl Kline. She hates that book.
I think I may have mixed and matched a bit along the way haha Never heard that complaint about Alice in Wonderland before.
You’re a cat, Pat. Cats are notorious for mixing and matching without caring what people think. That’s what makes them fascinating. Hey, I think I just gave you a compliment, there.
Each story is filtered between TWO unique brains. The reader also brings a bit of himself/herself to the event. And that experience is fluid too – which of us hasn’t reread a book years later from a very different perspective.
So true. I’m always interested to read reviews because readers write things that surprise me. They’ve sometimes interpreted things differently than I imagined them. That’s fine with me because it means I’ve allowed them some creativity space.
I guess I must be slightly character-driven because although I agree that Macbeth is around an event, I think it’s also character-driven – Macbeth and his wife make choice after choice that drive them into the ground.
It sounds like you have a great reading pile going.
Best wishes with your writing and your computer!
(and thank you for the reminder to back up my work.)
It’s not cut and dried for sure.
Good on you. Having some fun with the blog. That’s the best.
If it’s not fun, there’s no sense in doing it! We share a philosophy.
New worlds, deftly created are a wonder to visit. I think it’s why Alice is so popular. An adventure like no other. For someone a little scattered your post was all focus! 🙂
Ha! That’s a good one, Yolanda. Thanks.
What an interesting post! Loved that you references The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland (since each is important in the Fairday Morrow series). 🙂 The Native American Proverb is so true. 🙂
I think the focus of the MG I’m working on has a strong world focus, actually it might be event, but it’s about how the characters handle it.
When are we going to know more about this MG? I’m a very impatient reader out here.
Yeah! Me too. –Oh wait, you’re talkin’ to me.
I can tell you to run when you see rainbows and that butterflies are deadly. Does that help?
Those are all key focuses and they can be blended.
I think people like Alice in Wonderland just for the drug trip.
And that trip happened before Leary! Pretty interesting.
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
I love what you did here and I learned from it. You outlined the four parts of a story and elucidated, in a way that even I could understand, how the focus determines the manner in which it is told. You also named famous works as examples of each area of focus. I also appreciate your Quote of the Week which reminds us how a good story can dwell in your mind and heart for a lifetime.
Have a great week, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
Good morning, Shady! Great to see you here on this Monday. Glad you stayed and enjoyed the post.
I know the milieu is never my focus but from your descriptions, I’m not sure which one is. Mostly character I think, although event plays a strong role as well.
I guess you can’t really separate them clearly, but it’s interesting to consider how storytellers can recreate the same story and never bore us, isn’t it?