A day before my last workshop class period I find myself thinking about the space between good writing and exceptional fiction. The space is not terribly vast. It can be a particular turn of phrase, a unique plot point, even a cleverly structured interaction. More often than not it is character that spaces good fiction from exceptional. Character is the key to everything. Moreover, secondary characters are the most important thing. If Hermione and Ron were not exceptionally rendered then the Potter stories would’ve remained in the rejection heap from whence they came.
I’m serious about the Potter thing. That is the kind of story where most readers can find a richly imagined character they can identify with. On some level the characters are created in a way where they fit into common molds. Likewise, the houses are molded in a fashion to allow us to identify and segregate ourselves as our nature would warrant.
The secret to story isn’t all that secret. Make us love the people and we will follow the words until the words entirely run out.
Some Thoughts:
- Excited to meet with the class one last time. Ought to be a good one.
- The fact that NFL players wear helmets makes them seem so much more like Knights.