 |
| The phrase "Once upon a time" written on paper.* |
Like we discussed last month in Part I, story is powerful. Have you ever watched a movie, then left
the theater feeling changed (for better or for worse)? I recall experiences of
leaving theaters and feeling oddly disconnected from reality as if I couldn’t
readjust, which isn’t preferable if the movie has few redeeming qualities. Stories
can change us. They hook us emotionally and help us rethink our paradigms,
perhaps toward confirmation. Perhaps away.
We writers can use story as a tool, but here are some
cautions:
* Avoiding absolute statements: Life isn’t red or green.
Life is purple or blue or orange. We learn this the longer we live. Does that mean there isn’t a
difference between right and wrong? Of course not. But the purple-ness of life
shows us mortals that we were never meant to serve in God’s place as judge. Who
knows everything? If you use absolute statements, you risk
many things. You may make yourself look foolish. You may offend others. (Of
course you may offend others anyway. Even Jesus, the sinless One, offended
people.) You may later learn you were wrong about that absolute statement. Then
what? We can’t always go back and change them. We have a responsibility, and
ideally we’ll walk out that duty with humility. Helpful hint: find a relatable
element in the message you want to convey and leverage that in your story. Find the universal theme and watch how using it can help readers connect and even open themselves to seeing
your deeper themes and purpose.
* Avoiding preachiness: Raise your hand if you’ve closed a novel
when an author started preaching. That approach to story (and I’m not
necessarily talking about a scene that contains a sermon) can be heavy-handed
and unappealing. Many editors flag those elements in
a novel and request rewrites. Why? Because fiction isn’t non-fiction, and
preachiness has no place in entertainment.
* Avoiding full explanations (resist the urge to
explain/RUE) (which may stem from a motivation to control). Instead, let
readers draw their own conclusions. Readers are smart. Plus, what speaks to one
reader may not speak to the next. Let him or her take what they will from your
words. Give up control. Jesus didn’t explain every parable, in fact He rarely
explained any. But when the disciples asked Him to, he did. (See the story of
the leaven of the Pharisees.) Best to let God work through the story as He
wants to rather than strive for a certain outcome. There’s beautiful humility
in creating our product (novel) and then handing that creation to God to do
with as He wills.
You have a reason for writing your novel—a message. But
handling that message takes finesse and caution. I recommend finding critique
partners with whom you can share your vision for your book, and who will be
honest in how your attempts are coming across in the story itself. Sometimes
our passion for a certain theme can come across as preachy or controlling
(those absolute statements again), whether in the novel or through our social media
presence. It’s in those moments that we might step back and consider the power
of words and the innate power of story and proceed with caution.
Your turn: Have you read a book (non-fiction or fiction) that
changed your mind? Did the author use a certain technique that you now use in
your own writing? What ways have you found to get your message across in a
palatable way?
Write on, friends!
~~~~~
 |
| Husband Material by Annette M. Irby |
Wyatt Hansen has no fears about commitment, but only three years have passed since his beloved wife died, and he can't bring himself to break their annual dinner date—that is until he meets restaurant owner, Lara Farr. Lara doesn't have time for romance; she has a business to run. At least that's what she tells herself so she doesn't have to admit that commitment scares her. But Lara's business is failing, and it just may take a miracle—or marketing analyst, Wyatt Hansen—to save it. Can Wyatt rescue Lara’s restaurant, help her overcome her fears, and prove he is good husband material?
~~~~~
 |
| Annette M. Irby |
Annette M. Irby is a freelance editor and Christian fiction author who dabbles in gardening and photography. She has completely fallen in love with her grandson. She enjoys spending time with her family and husband of over twenty-five years. You can learn more about Annette by visiting her website or her page here on Seriously Write.
* photo credit: the awesome people at Pixabay
