Terrifying "Safe" Characters

By the time we are teenagers, we probably know that the main characters in any story are usually completely safe in whatever dangerous situations they are in. After all, if the main characters are killed off then what's left in the story to interest the audience? Some authors have done this, such as Steven King famously in "The Stand" where he blew apart half the character list because he'd written himself into a hole and couldn't figure out what else to do. George R. R. Martin also did this, but because he wanted the tale to seem real and in reality nobody is safe.

 

I'm more focused on how to truly safe characters are kept on the razor's edge. Think about the classic "Alien" movies... Ellen Ripley is the hero and completely safe and we all know she'll make it out just fine. *spoilers ahead* Then, she is on the escape capsule and changing out of her clothes to get into the cryo-freeze chamber and confronts the alien. She is in a completely vulnerable place, in her underwear, and facing the creature who single handedly defeated everyone else. It's terrifying (so much so that I still have a difficult time watching it with the sound on).

 

In moments of such vulnerability and helplessness, the audience completely forgets the thematic safety of the character and we are truly worried. Study that scene and you'll find a great roadmap on freaking out your audience. A similar scene happens in the first "Terminator" movie when Sarah Conner is in the dance club and all the main characters converge in a shootout where the audience still hasn't decided who lives and dies. It's a great moment, and has become an iconic image for the franchise.

 

Know your audience, but also know their expectations. Done well, no character seems safe--even when they truly are and the audience knows it.

 

- M

Excuses. Life happened. The dog ate it.

 

Sorry about being late on my blog... life happened, I suppose. Yup, terrible excuse. Excuses always are. It got me thinking about what I intended with this blog from the beginning. I wanted to get my ideas about books, stories, and storytelling out into the world. But, it's become much more than that. This is really a forum for my thoughts to come out and play. It's a place for observations and ideas. Limiting those wasn't really what I had in mind, so I'm modifying what I do a little bit... hope you don't mind.

Anyway, so how are excuses used within a story? Seems to me that it's mainly because someone is trying to get away with something; be it a slip of the mind, or not getting caught. Whatever the reason, the audience is nearly always aware of the excuse, and is eager to discover the outcome. We like to see someone being dishonest get punished for it. Perhaps it's because that so rarely happens in real life? Possibly.

Since I work in fiction, stories to me are less a reflection of reality than a hope for what could be. I like affirming stories, ones that inspire and direct. I want something that enriches me, pushes me to new heights, and gives me an example to strive toward. Stories are a great way of providing heroes and role models, just as much as demonstrating villainous behavior. It's no wonder that the "Lord of the Rings" is such a well-loved classic--it has heroes, villains, and good overcomes evil. In the end, I believe most of us want good to triumph.

Here's to bigger and greater things!

- M

Spots on the Sun.

Sunspot AR 2192, about the size of Jupiter

Sunspots are true marvels of our universe. They are somewhat understood, but there is so much more to discover about the why and how of their formation. My question is why they are needed? What processes are turning on the creation of these vast structures? I've been dazzled by these things since I learned of them as a child.

 

I suppose it's comforting to me to know there is still a lot that isn't understood. I like that. Discovery is part of the human condition, and I love hearing about some new tidbit scientists are only now understanding. I doubt we'll ever understand it all, although we won't stop trying. It's great fun to come across something nobody else knows.

 

There are hidden things in our universe, waiting for us to notice them. Dark matter, dark energy, and a whole host of strangely defined thingamajigs. We have ideas they are there, but finding them is a challenge. I look forward to the new discoveries. I'm eager to learn more, and find out more about the universe we all inhabit. The unknown isn't a scary place... it's an adventure.

 

- M

Battle of Genres

Genre is a fancy word that simply means category in the literary world. Fantasy is a genre and so is fiction, then there's history, biography, science fiction, and cooking. Those distinctions used to be very clear, sharply defined, and rigidly adhered to. That doesn't seem as true these days. I don't mind. There are now so many cross-over styles that saying something is fantasy isn't all that useful. We even have a vampire genre--sparkly ones included.

 

I think what this means is that stories aren't being restricted, that they are leaping past any boundaries and finding new places to bear fruit. Modern stories can be difficult to pin down because they pull from so many sources. It's like defining the shapes of clouds--in the end you throw up your hands and say clouds are "cloud shaped" and leave it at that. This is a good trend in my view. To me, stories matter far beyond the limited definition of their genre.

 

Now these are weird clouds!

Categories are useful though, if for no better reason than finding other similar things. We humans categorize everything, so it's only natural. But, thinking "outside of the box" is a good thing. Never be limited by definitions, or boundaries. Seek to break free to bigger things. Stretch. One of my new favorite tee shirts is one that shows a tic-tac-toe game with a typically tied setting... but this one has an X outside the box and connects that one with two inside the box, making Xs the winner. That is a great concept.

 

Here's a toast to taking things beyond their definitions!

 

- M

Cotton Candy Days.

Ever read a book that takes you back to your childhood? Or seen a movie that captures a moment so perfectly that you can't help but be drawn inside? Perhaps it's music that speaks to your soul and brings tears to your eyes...

 

 

 

Or, maybe it's sitting on a blanket with your children, watching clouds pass as you eat cotton candy?

 

Moments like that make life worth living. They really do. I've spent countless hours watching clouds, imagining them forming fun shapes, and talking. Many of my fondest memories are spending time with my wife (well, girlfriend then) looking at clouds and talking. Talking about important things. Talking about silly things. Talking about dreams. Talking about hopes. Talking about the past, and the future. We became close because we talked.

 

It's amazing how fast memories such as those brings goose bumps across my arms! And when I experience a story that does the same thing, I quiver with happiness. As I grow older, I search for times that recall simpler moments, without the stress of adult life. Of course, it's different for everyone but the effect is no less.

 

Cotton Candy Days... those blissful times when all you cared about was that glorious sugar confection which melts in your mouth.

 

- M

Friends. Close Friends. True Friends.

 

Friendships are the glue that holds human society together, and often keeps stories from falling flat. The question is are friends true or not? Literature is filled with fascinating sketches of friends who weren't but pretended to be, or friends who don't seem to be yet are. Severus Snape comes to mind from the recent Harry Potter books (and if you don't know, I'm not about to spoil it). Careful thought about character interactions can create fabulous friendships that surprise the audience again and again. Do that, and people will keep coming back for more.

 

I do think there is a distinction of between an acquaintance, friend, close friend, and true friend. True friends aren't necessarily close friends, but they remain true no matter the circumstances. Such friends can even be on the periphery, yet remain loyal and true. They can be used as literary foils (a neat concept, if you don't know already know it) where they are the bedrock of the story, yet aren't involved in more concrete ways.

 

Watching a character develop from a side note to a close and dear friend is marvelous. I enjoy it. There is a sense of progress, of development, and satisfaction that I love. It's a difficult trick to pull off, but when it works it is dynamite. Usually I see characters develop in a flash of smoke and magic, rather than slowly. Maybe our modern attention span doesn't hold up to slower development, but I'd like to see it more often.

 

Hopefully you have true friends in your own life, people who never let go and always hold you to a high standard. We need that encouragement and that accountability.

 

- M

Expectations, high or low.

 

Whatever we do, we have expectations. When we drive, we expect to arrive at our destination. When we eat, we expect the food to nourish our bodies. And, when we experience stories, we expect a good tale. Of course, we could be expecting the opposite and want something bad. Either way, we are looking forward to something deliberate.

 

There are many reasons something succeeds, particularly with stories. I think one of the most powerful reasons is that the author understood the expectations of the audience. I really doubt most horror audiences expect a happy ending, and I can't imagine a romance story being depressing overall. Sure, there are exceptions, but they are hopefully well thought out studies in audience manipulation. When people get what they expect, they tend to shell out cash to get it. Just look at the iPhone. Wow, do they shell out for that!

 

Right now I'm about to read the novelization of the movie "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." My expectation is for more detail and more insight into the characters. I already love the story, but I expect to love it more. I'm sure I won't be disappointed, especially with the high ratings the book has received. Check it out.

 

Take a look at your own expectations. I'll bet you will be surprised at some of them, disappointed with others, and happy at most. Whatever the result, self-examination is a great exercise.

 

- M

The quintessential quest.

Random picture of our cat. Great picture, isn't it?

Questing is a common theme in fiction, especially fantasy. You put a nearly impossible task before the main characters, then make that task necessary because of some urgent reason. Like finding the Holy Grail to heal Britain, or crossing through a series of trapped rooms to save your true love, or perhaps finding the answer to a riddle. Whatever the quest, the majority of the story is typically centered around the journey to fulfill that quest.

 

This is actually just a structure that is used to prop up a story. The quest many times isn't the focus, but is a means to bring the characters into conflict and put them into situations that reveal their strengths and weaknesses. Without the quest, the characters would go about their lives without much interesting happening. It's an effective framework, and fun to play with. The final Harry Potter books use this as they are finding the evil pieces that will make the villain weak. Yes, it works very well.

 

I've often wondered if quests cross over into the real world. Certainly there are times when we see people going after a certain thing, but I doubt anyone ever says they are "questing" for it. What I hear is someone talking about their "dream" they wish to fulfill. Maybe saying you are going on a quest is a foreign thought, but it does provide a useful frame to hang dreams upon.

 

I like the idea. It's romantic. It's unusual. It makes people think.

 

What's your quest?

 

- M

The Flash, finally back on the small screen!

The Flash is back!

I love the Flash. He's my favorite superhero by a long shot. Now there is a new television series featuring the speedster. It's put out as a spinoff from the show Arrow, but the attitude of the series is frisky rather than dark and brooding. Here's a show that is pleased to have fun, enjoy itself, and thrill at the superhero game.

The premier episode contains a treasure trove of Easter eggs--more than enough to overfill a large basket for those of us who know what to look for. One to point out is that the Flash's father is actually the same actor who was the Flash in the 90's television show.  Besides those marvelous nuggets, the series is off with a bang. There's a lot going on, but it appears they aren't taking themselves too seriously and so the plot speeds along without taking a lot of time on deep characterizations or connections. This show was to get things started, and those deeper aspects will come as time goes by.

We meet the Weather Wizard, one of the Flash's more iconic villains, and see the Flash do his trademark anti-tornado dash. It's great fun. The Flash has had fantastic writers who created a wealth of background history, so the show has lots to draw on. And the producers are clearly going to go gonzo with that, mainly because of all the little tidbits included in the premier. I can hardly wait to see more.

Ride the lightning!

- M

Liar, liar, pants on fire!

Stories contain many characters who lie. The villains lie about their motivations, their plans, and their goals. Story narrators lie to shift attention away from important events that are meant to be less noticeable. Even heroes lie, but usually when dealing with someone they know is dishonest and so they do it to pretend. Whatever the reasons, stories are truly "tall tales" filled with exaggerations and outright fibbing. I'm sure readers expect it, and in mysteries it's actually a badge of honor to have lied well enough that the audience has no idea who the actual villain is.

Audiences don't seem to mind; I know I don't. Without the fanciful lies within stories, there isn't much of a story to tell (after all, fiction is completely untrue so that'd get rid of an entire genre if you could only write about complete truths). What does get audiences annoyed is when the fictional world doesn't match its own philosophy. There's a concept called "suspension of disbelief" which is a fancy way of saying you go along with whatever doesn't make sense. You give up making sense of a few things and then let the fictional world do as it likes. But--and this is a big but--the rest of the world must follow the new rules. When fiction doesn't play fair, the audience gets irritated.

I love fantasy and science fiction, and I've written many stories in both genres. Creating a whole new world to toy with is great fun. I love doing the writing, and doing the reading. Imagination is such a powerful tool! On the wings of tall tales I've talked with dragons, crossed the universe, and floated in the depths of the ocean. Let the stories lie a bit, enjoy the distraction, and let it all happen. It's okay to do that once in a while, isn't it?

- M

Pie. I like it.

I like pie. All pie. Every kind and color.

Well, maybe not the color of soot. And, actually, I don't like pumpkin all that much. Come to think of it, I really only eat apple pie or French silk pie. Well, just goes to show you that making blanket statements isn't a great idea much of the time, or any time for that matter. The point is, be careful what you say. Words matter. Ideas matter even more. Communicating those ideas in meaningful ways makes us special.

The funny thing about all this is, I really do like pie. I do my level best to try any new thing I'm given, and I've made my kids promise to at least try something once and then judge it. The truth is, sometimes it's really tough--I can only imagine how I'd respond if someone put a plate of snails in front of me. Yeesh. The thought is a bit up there for me. Here, have a look...it's called "escargot"...

Doesn't look all that bad really. I'll put it on my list of things to try.

Anyway, enjoy life today. Make the best out of what you've been given and give your all. Life is worth it. And, if you get the opportunity, have a nice thick slice of your favorite pie!

- M

Weird animals, strange creatures, and untold amusement

There are critters in this world that are so weird it's hard to believe they even exist. Take the woodpecker for instance--why is there a bird that bangs its head into trees in search of grubs? Or how about the platypus? Here's a mammal that lays eggs (mammals normally have live births), has a bill and lives mainly underwater (but, it can't keep its eyes open so it hunts blind), and it has poison toes (normally only seen in reptiles). It's like this creature's sole reason for existing is to toss expectation to the wind and buck the system.

A baby platypus

Mythology contains all sorts of strange creatures as well, and many are somewhat based on reality. I still feel that dragons have some kind of basis, otherwise why are they found in myths all over the world? Also, what about sea serpents? Certainly something brought about the stories. Experts have theories of course, and so do I, but stuff like this doesn't ever seem to be solved. That's fine with me, because, as a writer, I love coming up with reasons and letting my imagination run wild.

Sure, I'm easily amused, but taking the time to learn about these animals expands the world you live within. I thinks it's important to discover such things for yourself, and continue learning. Open your mind to new experiences, new information, and new joys. It's well worth the time and effort, and you'll learn more than you can imagine right now!

- M

Fun with Zero Gravity

I'll bet most everyone has thought about what zero gravity is like, what it would feel like, and if you'd enjoy it. You can get a taste of zero gravity by being underwater--in fact, astronauts train underwater in full space suits because it is so very similar. But, the aspect of being completely weightless is still a really foreign concept. I won't get into the idea that zero gravity is really just an illusion, since you are really falling rather than weightless. But, the point is how it feels and what it can do.

Sometime watch how a flame behaves in space. Or, water droplets. Or smoke. It's amazing to witness, and challenges our understanding of how things respond. People have been sending all sorts of things into space to see what happens, what survives, and what doesn't. Even so, my guess is people love to play in zero gravity. There's even special planes that make it possible for us ground bound slobs to experience small pieces of zero gravity for the price of a few years salary.

There are already small things manufactured in space, and I expect that at some point there will be many things created especially in space. Mirrors and micro-beads are two that I know of. As the process improves there will be breakthroughs making everything easier, and those advances will follow through into terrestrial manufacturing. It's an exciting time to be alive.

Come to think of it, skydiving is another simulation of zero gravity. I've seen vertical wind tunnels, where you basically are pushed up by a giant fan and can fall as long as you can drift. Looks like an incredible amount of fun! I'd love to do it sometime.

- M

Bionic humans, knee replacements and such.

I've had both of my knees replaced, making me a sort of bionic man. I enjoy the thought, since I absolutely loved the original "6 Million Dollar Man" show. It was fun, clever, and endlessly hilarious with its pseudo-science. So what if most of it made little sense? What mattered was the show followed its own mythology and made things fun.

Anyway, we are getting so far along the path of making a cyborg that it's actually believable. There are all sorts of story possibilities--many of which are already covered through the wealth of science fiction already created. But, there's still room for much more. My guess is the desire to explore the growing bonds between humans and technology will continue to grow as we get more and more comfortable. And, I don't mean more robots, but more humans augmented by machine parts--to the extent where it's difficult to determine the difference.

In the end, it's about wish fulfillment. I love robots, and I love people. What fun to put them both together! Besides, my new knees have given me back the exquisite ability to walk! It's still fresh in my mind how it feels to be unable to even stand or take a step. Now, I'm climbing stairs. What an incredible gift! I can only imagine how having bionic knees and arms would be... like becoming an incredible Hulk... unstoppable.

Hee hee. Hulk smash!

- M