Story rules

[frogs_of_war]

I came across a link to a list of story rules or suggestions from the writers at Pixar. Some I think I do, and many I'm sure I fail at. (These were tweeted, so a few have odd abbreviation or aren't crystal clear.)



#1: You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.

I'm not sure if I do this. In reading yes, but in writing....


#2: You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be v. different.

I try to write what I want to read, although I may be better at this with short stories than my long serials. 



#3: Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.

I hate rewriting. I know I should do it more. And I don't really understand themes. I read a article where they were explained and I thought I got it at the time, but it has since slipped away. I need to do more self study.



#4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.

This is the basic story way.



#5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.

I had a minor heart attach trying to imagine cutting/condensing/merging  Are You Together? into a normal sized story. I'd probably have to ax half the characters. It wouldn't be the same story (it never is after a rewrite), but it might possibly be better. Although from here I can't see it.




#6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?

I try to do this. It's kind of how I think up the beginning of the plot. A Prodigal's Dilemma was thought up when I asked 'who would be the absolute worse person to see opened your mother's front door to your knock.



#7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.

I do this. I know where the story is headed even if I don't know how it's getting there.



#8: Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.

I try to do this. Sometimes I come back months later and I can't remember what bugged me about it.



#9: When you’re stuck, make a list of what WOULDN’T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.

I'm hardly ever stuck, but this sounds like a great idea. That said I have a few stories unfinished, but most aren't for lack of what comes next, but for an inability to write how I want to write, so maybe those are #8s.



#10: Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.

I don't know how to do this. Does it just mean knowing what you like, because two people can write the same story, but one will be better than the other and I don't always know why.



#11: Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you’ll never share it with anyone.

This is true. Stories are whispy before to harden them with pen and ink (Or keyboard).



#12: Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.

I like this one. I don't like reading the obvious, but I'm not sure I write that way.


#13: Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it’s poison to the audience.

Opinions give characters shape. 



#14: Why must you tell THIS story? What’s the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That’s the heart of it.

I never know why some stories haunt me and others float away on the wind. I write what I want to read. I'm not sure that's enough heart. But I do have a reason for Uninterrupted which I will post with the master list, hopefully before I finish posting all the chapters.




#15: If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.

I try to always be my characters as I write them.



#16: What are the stakes? Give us reason to root for the character. What happens if they don’t succeed? Stack the odds against.

I'm not sure I give my character's high enough stakes.



#17: No work is ever wasted. If it’s not working, let go and move on - it’ll come back around to be useful later.

Several of my early, too-bad-to-post stories have themes or character traits that came back around in another story later.



#18: You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining.

I don't try to edit as I write. But I'm not sure if that is what this means.



#19: Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.

I totally, 100% agree. I don't think I've done this because it bugs me so much.



#20: Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How d’you rearrange them into what you DO like?

This sound like fun if done with other people. I have done this with a book I didn't like. I rewrote it as a short story that was just as bad, but in a good way.



#21: You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can’t just write ‘cool’. What would make YOU act that way?

I try to do this. 


#22: What’s the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there.

I don't think I'm good at economical stories. But this seems to be an idea for a rewrite. I think if I didn't have more stories everyday stories haunting my head, I might be more interested in rewriting, which would make me a better story teller. But if I wasn't constantly hounded by plunnies I might never have written my first word. 

I need to build up some self control and rewrite my stories. Maybe then I will publish something because if It's in black and white going out to who knows who, I want it to be the very best.