Comments on: Rethinking Your Story: Take the Reader for the Ride of Their Life

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:57:11 +0000

Larry, you jolly old soul, I will say this: I just finished reading the first two books in Stieg Larsson’s Girl trilogy, and those two books transported me into an arena like nobody else has that I can remember. Absolutely fantastic.

I feel similar about Vonnegut, regarding a lot of what you’re talking about here. In every paragraph he wrote, I was feeling and thinking exactly what he meant for me to be feeling and thinking. And even though he never drew conclusions for me, I always drew the conclusions he wanted.

Not sure how to say it better than that.

By: Deanna Schrayer

Deanna Schrayer — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:07:35 +0000

I’m a bit late, but would like to offer up Adriana Trigiani, a multi-talented author who started her career writing for The Cosby Show and then screenplays before realizing she wanted “her whole story” to be told, not just bits and pieces chosen from the screen world. I suggest starting with her first series, Big Stone Gap. I love the characters more than any other aspect of her works, but she has IT where all aspects of novel writing are concerned. I found it hard to believe, when finishing all three books in the BSG series that this was fiction. The stories felt that real.
Now on to part 4 – thanks Larry!

By: janice |Sharing the Journey

janice |Sharing the Journey — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:48:41 +0000

Supernatural has me believing I can slay demons. The characters are so real I can predict what Dean or Sam will say next. The West Wing had me believing I could happily sit down with Josh, Toby and the others and contribue something to an electoral campaign. Everwood had me wishing I lived there. Jane Eyre? A hymn for all us plain but smart and resourceful women. Any TV drama that hooks you and any book that left you slightly disappointed to find yourself back in your own armchair when you finished the last page is one that took you on the right kind of ride.

By: Rethinking Your Story: What’s Your Favorite “Vicarious” Ride?

Rethinking Your Story: What’s Your Favorite “Vicarious” Ride? — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:06:36 +0000

[...] an introduction to this topic, read yesterday’s post (either below, or here). Read the comments, too, that’ll help [...]

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:56:04 +0000

Thanks Larry. Not hard to grasp, just really hard to comment on. One thing I seem to keep holding on to though, is the depth of a character is equal to the depth of their relationship with other characters and the world in which they “live.”

Don’t write a story about a three dimensional character in a two dimensional world?

Amazing Race: Real people, real relationships, real places, real consequences.

Big Brother: Real people?

By: Larry

Larry — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:14:42 +0000

To all… I think it would be fun and productive if everyone could recommend an author or a specific book(s) that deliver on this count, that are successful not only because of their compelling stories, but specificially, because of the “vicarious ride” they deliver for the reader.

Interesting to note, too, that this is only one of many ways to make a story great. My favorite author is Colin Harrison, but not because of the ride he creates, but because of the astounding voice he uses. Mysteries are hard on this count, the puzzle is as much the attraction as the ride.

The first book I can remember that took me for a ride was “Endless Love” by Scott Spencer. Shows you how old I am… that was at an impressionable time in my life, which is why some “rides” hit us stronger than others.

By: Gwen Hernandez

Gwen Hernandez — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:07:31 +0000

I loved this post, sports analogies and all. In my circles, we’re always talking about unpublished writers who win contests and garner accolades, but aren’t published. Why? I believe some of the ideas you’ve been offering up in this series are why, and especially today’s point.

@Martha, I agree that specific examples would be helpful. For me someone who does this really well is Suzanne Brockmann, especially in her Troubleshooters series.

Thanks, Larry!

By: Larry

Larry — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:05:55 +0000

@Martha — as I mentioned, this is close to “arena” in terms of delivering a vicarious experience. It’s obvious how taking us to a “new world” or environment creates such a vicarious journey. What I’m suggesting here is to strive for that beyond arena, and do it in terms of relationships, stakes and urgency.

You probably don’t watch reality shows, but go with me on this one: there are three reality shows that are orders of magnitude more successful than others: The Bachelor, Survivor and The Amazing Race. Why? Because other reality shows are more like a zoo, we are looking in and simply observing. But these three shows “draw” us in, they makes us feel what it would be like, make us care about what it would be like, they deliver a “vicarious” experience.

It’s really that simple. You could say this is about simply writing a more powerful story, and you’d be right… but this is a way to explain how to get there, what to shoot for. Shoot for a great ride, one that puts you in the seat, rather than a great zoo, or an interesting voyeuristic experience.

Maybe it boils down to take. When a voyeuristic experience becomes powerful enough, it becomes a vicarious one. It’s a qualitative discussion, therefore one that defines formula or “the X steps to getting there.” We have to feel our way toward it.

The Lovely Bones did it well… we felt heaven. Jurassic Park did it well, we ran from those monsters. The Davinci Code? Not so much, that was more a fascination and a curiousity than a vicarious ride.

By: Martha Miller

Martha Miller — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:16:34 +0000

I think you’ve got something really important to tell us here, Larry, but I’m not quite getting it yet. A little more, please? Maybe a reference to a book or author particularly good at this nuanced way of writing?

By: Bruce H. Johnson

Bruce H. Johnson — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:00:27 +0000

Re the less is more: With writing, we want and need to allow the reader to contribute to the experience.

This is the difference between, “Watching the fiery sunset, we kicked back and chatted a bit” and a three-paragraph discourse on the effect of atmosphere and clouds on the setting sun.

John Olson calls this effect, “writing in the shadows.” No spoon-feeding your reader, please. It’s not only a bit insulting, but also slows the pace, kills the mood you’re working hard to create and throws the reader’s attention off the story.