Sometimes when I’m in the outline phase of a story, I get bogged down with this idea of writing something truly original. But no story is truly original. Especially when you zoom out far enough to take just the bare essentials into account.
Fantasy often has this theme of a fight between good and evil. Sci-fi often has themes about how technology can change society in fundamental ways. Certain elements in stories have been used so many times that I sometimes wonder if it can ever be recycled or re-done. But then I come across an old idea that has been used in a new way and it makes me smile. In those moments, I realise that, no, storytelling is not dead. It’s still evolving and there’s still opportunity for new tales to evoke a sense of wonder and surprise.
Other times I encounter an old idea just to roll my eyes .
I think it was Elizabeth Gilbert that said that for something to satisfy the reader it must be both surprising and inevitable. That’s when the reader will feel, “Oh, how exciting!” and “Yes, that makes sense.” It’s that point in the story where things click into place for the reader. But writers can sometimes fail to execute those moments well.
I’ve read quite a few psychological thrillers that tend to want to obscure the suspected murderer by adding bizarre twists and turns at the end of the novel. Those endings are usually not satisfying. It doesn’t make sense to complicate the plot because you’re trying to make up for a lack in originality or satisfactory revelation.
Saying that, I sometimes add complexity to stories when I feel that my plot is lacking in originality. This doesn’t always work. Sometimes I abandon stories after 10 000 or 20 000 words. I’ve done this quite a few times. Sometimes the story doesn’t work and it’s better to toss it, but other times it’s just my own perfectionism creeping in. More often than not a story doesn’t need additional complexity, but just a little attention to detail. Stories aren’t always about being totally original—and it shouldn’t be. Sometimes good execution makes up for a lack in originality.
Related post: Book Review: The Children of Men – PD James