This post is part of the Absolute Write January Blog Chain. Our theme is -- you guessed it -- writing! Aaron Crocco, the blogger before me, posted about his tendency to write thematically dark works. And that started me thinking. Are my stories optimistic, pessimistic, or somewhere in between?
Whether I write optimistically or pessimistically depends, to a degree, on the story in question... but taking my body of work as a whole, I strive for a middle ground.
I've never been a fan of "too-perfect" endings or "too-perfect" characters, but even in my darkest works (like the rough draft I'm currently revising), I keep a window cracked to admit a ray of light. Even when things seem their bleakest, you're not lost as long as you can hang onto hope.
As a person, I'm not overly optimistic -- I have a cynical streak a mile wide. But neither am I overly pessimistic -- I focus on life's joys rather than dwelling on its sorrows. I reflect this middle ground in my fiction.
I strive for realism, but realism in the context of the story. For example, the rough draft I'm currently revising is a ghost story. And the next novel I rough-draft will have magical elements. So I'm not talking about literally "down-to-earth" stories. By realistic, I mean believable in the world of the story.
But even so, "believable" is often subjective. What I find believable, someone else might find far-fetched. And vice-versa.
Every fiction writer yearns to create stories with which readers will connect, characters to whom readers can relate. But no writer can please everybody. Some readers will relate to happy stories; others will relate to dark stories. And characters, I've learned, are probably the most subjective element of all... a character liked by one reader might be loathed by another.
Bottom line: while a story is a product of the mind of its author, the story and its characters function as something of a Rorschach blot for its readers . Readers relate -- or not -- to a story and its characters through the filter of their attitudes, ideologies, and personal experience. With fiction as with other art forms, basic competency and/or ineptitude can be more or less agreed upon, but there's no such thing as objectivity.
So instead of trying to please every member of my hypothetical audience, I try my best to keep things real to the extent I can, since that's the only thing I have control over. Once my story enters the minds of its readers, it will morph into the story they perceive, which might not necessarily be the story I wrote.
But if I've done my job well, it will -- for more people than not -- be close.
Here's the list of participants in the Absolute Write Blog Chain. Be sure and check out their posts -- lots of good reading!
living my life all over again
Spontaneous Derivation
Jenn Hollowell: Working Writer
Peregrinas
Techtainment
Anything That Pays
Polenth's Quill
wfg thinks out loud
Spittin' (out words) Like a Llama
A Thoughtful Life
The Speakeasy
Virtual Wordsmith
The Writer's Round-About
My Copious Notes Blog
Tennessee Text Wrestling
Writings
Twisted Fantasy
awchain
(Bunnygirl, take it away! *grin* )
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Optimism, Pessimism, or Realism?
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28 comments:
In most of my fiction, I put basically optimistic, can-do characters in a dystopian setting and watch what ensues. No one gets a truly happy ending, but I rarely leave my characters without hope. I leave them with the tools to build a solidly content life, should they choose to go forward in that direction.
I was thinking this morning, though, "Why dystopia? Why do I create these dirty, low-tech worlds?"
I'll answer that on my blog, I think, since I'm up next for the blog chain! :-)
Nice post, Thomma! Got me thinking, as usual!
Good post!
A small thought here.
One of the reasons Grave of the Fireflies (and boy is that a depressing movie) is so powerful is because there are moments of quiet wonder strewn in the horror. The contrast makes these peaceful moments far more tender and the darker moments far more terrible than if they had never been contrasted with each other.
But that is how real life is. One doesn't stop because of the other.
My stories aren't that dark, but they aren't all sweetness and light either. So I'd go for realism. I don't like sad endings, but I don't mind endings with a mix of happiness and sadness.
It's really depends which genre I'm writing as to how dark or light it is. To me, darkness and light relates only to the mood of the story. The degree to which everything feels hopeless.
In my current novel I need to weave in more darkness, more conflict, more emotional twists. The darkness of the world isn't apparent enough and the characters reflect too much optimism, too much hope.
In a way, a story like this NEEDS to be dark. Readers need to feel the depths of despair before they are released to the light.
Of course, in other genres this isn't the case. In a drama or a romance the story is about the character emotions primarily. Those need to be in a swirl but that doesn't mean they need to feel despair. Readers can be gripped with anger, fear, and confusion.
I wonder if it is possible to write a story that is ALL optimism. I think it would throw that sustained belief right out the window. Readers would get that sick feeling in the pit of their stomach and that urge to hit something I get whenever I cross one of those people who just glow with peppy optimism (cheer leader style). 100% optimism isn't real.
Great comments, everyone -- yes, I was speaking, in my post, about a work's overall tone. My favorite words are those which blend a complex variety of moods and emotions, to great effect.
Rebecca, that's a good question about whether someone could write a novel that is 100% optimism, and I agree, I don't think that's possible. Well, theoretically it's possible, but nobody would want to read the thing. One of the most basic points of storytelling is people overcoming challenges in some form or fashion -- if everything's 100% perfect, hunky-dory, no journey to make, nothing to learn, no difficulties to overcome, the story could be marketed as a cure for insomnia! ;-D
"My stories aren't that dark, but they aren't all sweetness and light either. So I'd go for realism. I don't like sad endings, but I don't mind endings with a mix of happiness and sadness."
For me, this type of ending is romantic. It's the one I one to pull off.
This is such a great post!
I've been playing with the idea that February should be the month I break back into fiction writing. Not for profit, but for me. Your post has given me a lot of food for though.
Thank you!
I agree that the bottom line is that you write charactars that people connect with. That is the crux of a good story
LIKELY to be a blog star?
*snort*
Honey, I don't care if you got long fingers, you keep putting me down like that and there will be NO Trevor love for you.
I agree with everything you've said.
I think you are a pretty balanced writer. Each of your characters that I've read about so far are real, rounded and I can accept their attitudes as reality...the reality that you create in your stories. I fall in love with your characters and hate some of them the way I'm supposed to.
I think I'm basically optimistic in my stories. I have a lot of unleashing to do and I'm learning to let the dark part of my brain, my kids call the morbid part, come out.
Even when I'm writing magic...I try to keep it real for the story...believable. I've so much to learn, I've so much to read, and I've got so much in me to write. I just wish things would settle down enough to let me write. But I can see I'm at war with my body and I think I'm going to have to fight tooth and nail to get my way and write my stories.
Also, I absolutley refuse to die with unfinished, unedited novels lying about. Ugh!
Warm hugs...great writer friend!
Dorothy -- I'm delighted to see you visiting! I am so glad you're feeling stronger -- WOOT WOOT WOOT! Keep taking good care, and I am sure you'll be working on your stories and novels again soon! :)
Thank you for your kind words about my characters -- sometimes I worry that they're hard to relate to, because many of them are odd like me. :) But you know the old saying, write what you know, and all I seem to know is "odd", LOL!
Re: light and dark -- the ghost story I'm working on is so dark, I'm wondering if maybe it's too dark... but then I kick my own butt and say just get the darned thing written, don't cripple it with doubts before it's even done. So, onward and onward!
Your stories are wonderfully realistic, whether they are real world or magical -- things cohese so well and your characters are a delight -- I do get a strong sense of optimism in your work, but it's a courageous kind of optimism, not a fluffy optimism. Courageous optimism I love. Your work makes me think of this quote from John Gardner, one of my favorite authors:
"The traditional view is that art is moral: it seeks to improve life, not debase it. It seeks to hold off, at least for a while, the twilight of the gods and us. This, I have claimed, is what true art is about—preservation of the world of gods and men." John Gardner
Warm fuzzy hugs, my dear friend, and the Ballicai send purrs!
I'm a pessimist, but I also believe in the redemptive value of humor, so when I can hit the balance right with both, I'm...happy.
Hi, Tiv! :) Yes, the redemptive power of humor... I am firmly convinced of that, too.
I write darker fiction, although personally I'm a cheery, optimistic sort. I always have characters that go through a lot of tragic stuff before anything remotely resembling a HEA. As a reader, I like having my heart crushed by the writer, totally wrung out. And I write that way, as well.
Terrific post, TL. You always make me think!!
And while I was reading, I was thinking of the books of yours I've read - and I agree that you maintain a good balance between light and dark, and your characters display both pessimism and optimism.
Me? I like a bit of realism in my characters - insecurities, quirks, the things that make them relateable. And as much as I WISH I could write with and edginess or darkness, it just doesn't happen - and not for lack of trying. My characters inevitably come out light and/or sarcastic/witty.
Hi, Julia! As Janis Joplin (I think) said, and I paraphrase, "to know happy you have to go a few rounds with sad" -- and I definitely have both sides as part of my make-up. Like you, I enjoy a book which provokes a wide spectrum of emotions, and I try to write that way, as well.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Wylie! I see you as a very thoughtful and reflective person and somebody who looks on the bright side of things, and that's reflected in your writing. You make your readers think, and you make them smile -- and that's a wonderful combination -- and a great talent. :)
I'm not a fan of "tto perfect" characters, either. Even my nicest characters have some pretty big flaws. In fact, when I am building a character, I think (this is the first time I've realized this, actually) that I begin with their flaws. I have no idea why this is, but somehow it helps me know them better.
I also can't agree more with what you are saying about one character loved by one reader might be loathed by another. The novel I have out with agents right now is told from six different characters' perspectives, and strangely, I've found that each person who has read my work has loved and loathed very different characters. What some have found endearing about one of my characters, others have hated her for. And one character that I was sure everyone would at least have only lukewarm feelings for has garnered an undying fan. Go figure.
Hi, Colby! I'm the same way, re: liking to write characters who have flaws -- people with challenges are interesting to me, and their stories are compelling.
And yes, it never fails to amaze me, people's varied reactions to my characters. The same character read by six people can sometimes engender six different reactions, and almost always at least three. :)
Hi there my Tennessee friend,
Sorry I have been by lately too busy with my writing.
I enjoyed reading your posting.
I would say I like to feel my writing has realism to it. To me I'm never sure how my story will end until it has found its own ending whether that is happy or sad.
I've left you a fresh cup of tea. So don't forget it now.
Best wishes and warm hugs,
Annie
Hi, Annie! Thank you so much for the tea, my sweet friend -- it is delicious. :) That's great you've been so busy with your writing -- I wish you good luck with your novel! I know about busy -- I've got so many projects on my plate that I'm practically running over the top of myself, ha! :) Big hugs to you. And I agree, a novel's ending is best when it grows out of the story.
When building characters, I think I also start with their flaws, but that, I think, is because there have to be flaws to move the story along. Okay, so all opposition could come from the antagonist, but where's the fun in that? :) I like making my characters screw up - it's more realistic. :)
I don't know that anyone is completely optimist or pessimist. I think we are all a combination of both. Our previous experiences may lead us to be overly pessimistic about a certain topic, but not all topics.
And I love that you likened our beloved novels to a Rorschach blot for the readers. I love it... (and agree!)
Hi, Laurie! Yes, I agree -- part of the fun in moving the novel along is having the protagonist screw up --far better for the protagonist to take action than for them to be only reacting to the antagonist. :)
Hi, TheBlog! Ha, it's only been within the last year or so that I would have compared novels to Rorschach blots -- but having become more active with getting my work beta read and critiqued, I noticed how reactions to my stories and characters varied so widely all across the board, dependent on people's personal attitudes, philosophies, experience, and even spirituality! :)
Thanks, both of you, for visiting and commenting! :)
A Rorschach blot novel...hrm. Yes, I can see that. I can even see how a person would interpret a story differently each time they read it, just by value of their attitudes changing over time.
I think the light and the dark have to balance out in a novel. That's how it is in life, even..the good times and the bad times layered over each other. You can't appreciate the one without the other.
Hi, Beth! Excellent point about how reading any particular novel is an experience which can change over time -- there are novels I re-read every few years, and I get something new from them every time I do, because of new places I go in life and new things I learn.
Yes, re: light and dark -- I agree on the balance and keeping things real. You can't appreciate the good without the bad.
I couldn't concur more!
Hi, Virtual Wordsmith! Thank you for reading and commenting. :)
I am an optimistic person and in my fiction, I try to keep that optimistic tone.
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