In the previous post I mentioned that it strengthens a story
when the story’s key event interrupts something else more normal that’s going
on. One more tip in terms of story dynamics is to try to make sure each scene
reveals character as well as advancing the plot.
For instance, I gave the example of a sitcom plot in which
the son in the family is being bullied. We might have a scene in which the
father tries to teach his son to defend himself and the mother objects and says
violence never solves anything. So far, so predictable. But if the father
reveals that when he was a kid, he tried to reason with a bully and the boy
humiliated him in front of a crowd of other kids, suddenly we find the father a
more vulnerable and sympathetic character and have discovered something about
him that we didn’t know before.
If you watch a well-written drama or comedy series like “Mad
Men,” you’ll soon spot a lot of examples of how good writers consistently
manage to reveal character as they move the plot forward.
(Would you like me to guide you through to your writing goal over the course of 60 days? See my new Breakthrough Strategy Program at www.jurgenwolff.com)
