B.R. MYERS: S.E. Hinton

Thursday, 26 January 2012

What's Your Story?

Are you worried that your story is so totally awesome and unique you don't even want to breathe a word about your query because someone will take your idea it's just that amazing?

Well, cool your heels sister, chances are your completely original, never-been-seen-before-idea, has already been written.

RELAX. Apparently every story is basically a remake. There is a common belief that every story ever written falls into one of seven categories.

Tragedy. Where the hero with a fatal flaw meets a tragic end.
Comedy. Not necessary a thigh slapping, laugh fest, but always a happy ending, usually of the romantic persuasion.
Overcoming the Monster.
Voyage and Return.
Quest. Ah yes, it is the journey and not the destination that propels the plot forward.
Rags to Riches.
Rebirth. This is where the main character has an epiphany and discovers a new meaning of living.

I tend to agree with this list. But then why do we keep writing the same stories over again?

Probably for the same reason musicians keep writing songs with the same notes that Bach and Beethoven used. And the same reason fashion designers come out with new ways to wear pants and jackets each season.

The theme may be the same, but the characters, settings, and dialogue are different. Every story is a window display but how you dress up the mannequin makes all the difference.

Let's look at the list again. I've put a classic and contemporary novel beside each one to demonstrate how wonderfully different two of the same story can be.