Diary of a Novel - Week 8

Still slogging along. Have hit about the third way point.

Got a call from a few producers this week, each saying the same thing --something about my books making you think and having a clear message, but never feeling preachy. Not sure how that happens except probably in character. I wrote a scene yesterday that was awful; the character was spewing truth on everyone in the room. It was truth, but boy did it stink. Not only did I hate the scene, I hated the character. So I got up this morning and rewrote it where she still spoke the same truths but was less sure of them, more crippled, with more warts ... like me. Like my readers. Like a real person. The same information got on the page, but suddenly it felt organic and real instead of propaganda and forced. Such a simple tweak, but it made all the difference.

I notice this even in my public speaking. I say some very straight and hard-hitting things, but always with humor and with much of it making fun of my own failures. Somehow that transparency puts the audience on my side. I'm not preaching at them, but encouraging them to come limp along with me as we try to do the right thing together.

I'm reminded of what Frank Capra (director of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's a Wonderful Life) used to say when people asked, "How do you get away with being so preachy in your films." His answer was, "I spend the first few minutes getting you to like my characters. After that I can say what I want."

There's a lot to be said about that, but I think there's something else as well. If we're writing what we think is truth, and present it in a truthful way (along with its problems -- or, in the case of characters, their limps) I think the reader realizes we respect them as thinkers. And that we believe truth is strong enough to stand up on it's own...without false props or spins. That's usually how I deal with the God elements in my books and when talking to folks...honestly sharing what my stubborn, piece-of-work soul has finally learned...and freely admitting there's lots more it needs get right along the way.

Hope that helps,
Bill
www.Billmyers.com