SubscribeSo I know that I have yet to post anything about backwards plotting. I still intend to but I’m still working it out for myself.
In the meantime, since we were just on the topic of television, let’s move to my two favorite shows at the moment. As a disclaimer, it should be noted that we have no TV in our home. All my passive entertainment comes via the computer either through the internet in the form of online viewing of episodes via CastTV or Netflix, or through DVD. As such I tend to catch wind of things rather late in the game and then play a great deal of catch-up. Hence, my current love affair with “Pushing Daisies” and “The Legend of the Seeker.”
It occurred to me tonight that one very notable feature of both storylines that merits noting: love. This is not your typical love affair where one person pines for the other who is oblivious of their “friend’s” longing. Quite the opposite really. In both cases you have two people madly in love with one another but unable to physically express that love due to a significant plot driving issue. In Legend our lovers cannot come together because of the woman’s ability as a Confessor would reduce the object of her affection to a mindless slave, ruining all that she loves about him and putting an end to the quest at hand.
Daisies, on the other hand, has the male lead gifted with the ability of bringing the dead back to life with the caveat that if he ever touches them again they will return to the land of the dead forever. In this case his true love is saved by his touch but now can never touched again lest he lose her. If you haven’t caught an episode of Daisies, I highly suggest it. Legend is just good ol’ fun in the Xena the Warrior Princess, and Hercules vein, while Daisies is filled with witty comedy, mystery, romance, fantasy, and that certain Amelie quirkiness (a French film that I absolutely adore).
Both storylines have characters whose gifts prevent them from attaining closure with their heart’s desire. They also have two very beautiful curly haired actresses playing love interest, (and I’ve always been a sucker for curly hair).
So the question is, what is your character’s gift and how is it keeping them from what s/he wants? When you’re crafting your story, are you considering this? Remember that a story is nothing without conflict and what better way to create conflict than by taking that one thing that provides hope for the future, the character’s gift, and place it in direct conflict with their desires?
Warning: The below video clip does have brief nudity, so please don't watch it in front of any fuddy duddies that don't realize that the nude form is a naturally beautiful thing that no one should be ashamed of and should be far less censored than violence, murder and gore. P.S. it's in French and their are subtitles, so you're gonna have to do some reading (gasp).
2 comments:
I'll have to check out Pushing Daisies for sure!
As for Legend of the Seeker, I have watched several episodes, and for the most part, found it quite entertaining. Given that I have read Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, however, I can assure you that the show is really watered down in order to make it palatable for a television audience.
So the question is, what is your character’s gift and how is it keeping them from what s/he wants?
Hey, we should make this a topic of interest for the next meeting!
Good idea. It's definitely a good question to ask, and one that I don't see noted in many "how to" books. I've even added it to my list of character traits as a question that must be asked. The idea of how we get in our own way is a question that I think we can all relate to, and when you add in something fantastical, it makes it all the more intriguing.
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