Sailing Through the "So-What Factor"

"A character's actions are deeply important" -- James Wood

When an editor or an agent is reading a story or a novel they are looking for a reason to say "NO." They receive hundred, maybe thousands, of submissions. Why should they care about your character?

My character just found out she's pregnant.

So what?

My character might get kicked out of high school.

So what?

My character is unaware that she's a sleep walking serial killer.

So what?

My character is abducted by aliens who want to make him a court jester in another galaxy.

So what?

You can have the most interesting, imaginative plotline in the world, but you'll still have that pesky question to deal with... SO WHAT?!

We need to make the reader care about our protagonist. Good description, voice, style, dialogue can help with this... A relatable character can go a long way too. But most agents/editors/critics will tell you that your readers need to understand the dire consequences. If there are no consequences for your character, there's no dramatic tension... and then we don't have a good answer for that "So What Factor."

This is one of my biggest issues as a creative writer. I often fall in love with my characters. I enjoy spending time with them on the page so much that I forget that I'm supposed to be making them miserable. I need to keep raising the stakes. I need to keep presenting them with very tough choices. I need to keep emphasizing what happens if the protagonist fails. What's at risk? Why should we care?

So, since I'm still struggling with the so-what factor, allow me to direct you to a few experts who can better explain how to sail through these tricky waters:


Writing Beyond Good: The So-What Factor

Agent Query: Jen Rofe

Brutal Truth: The So-What Factor Matters. A Lot.

Resolution Check-In: February Edition

Since I bothered posting my New Year's Resolutions, I might as well provide updates as to my progress or lack thereof... So far, I have a few good things to report. Let's see how I'm doing:


1) Take more photos (photographs at least twice a week)

I suck as a photographer, but I decided to take more pictures mainly to help keep memories alive. Of course, shortly after making this resolution I learned that photographs can impede our memory.  Thanks a lot, Psychology! I don't care, I'm taking more pictures anyway. 

I'm not exactly taking a bunch of selfies. Just once in a while I take a snapshot of family outings, and I have managed to take a few photos each week, so I am doing fine so far. 

ACHIEVEMENT: 8.33% Complete


2) Write / sell a new picture book

I'm making some progress on this too... but nothing is for certain. I did write a picture book that I am quite proud of. More importantly, my agent says she loves it -- which is usually a good sign that the book might actually make editors happy. And even better news, it has been sent out to 12 editors. Keep your fingers crossed!

ACHIEVEMENT: Pending.


3) Generate idea for next big project (finish at least 25% of it)

Not too much progress with this one. I was kicking around the idea of adapting "Tomorrow's Wish" (one of my favorite plays) into a novel. Not sure yet. Still brainstorming. I did write a thousand words -- more free writing than an actual chapter. So that's something.

ACHIEVEMENT: Pending.


4) Work on a creative project with my daughters (a YouTube channel and/or Podcast)

This one is going to be a little bit trickier to quantify... because if my daughters don't really want to collaborate... this might not happen. Or it might happen in a different way than I expect. Because the girls are going to VidCon I was thinking it would be fun to try doing something to create a YouTube channel with semi-regular content. However, I'm now wondering if that's just going to take something fun (watching their favorite YouTubers) and turn it into a chore. 

However, Mackenzie and I did make a podcast episode, reminiscing about our favorite childhood board games. 

ACHIEVEMENT: Pending. 


5) Show my appreciation more often / strengthen relationships and communication. 

In some ways, this is a resolution that simply means be a better person. Be kind to others. However, because I'm on a goal quantification kick, I want to do something a little bit special for others. I made a list of 200 people, all of whom I hope to do something special for... or at least offer support and positivity.

So far, I've checked ten people off my list, so I better get a move on!

ACHIEVEMENT: 5% Complete


6) Lose ten pounds. 

Aw yeah! I did this one in less than thirty days! I went from 173 to 160 pounds. It helps that my wife is a Health Coach! Now I just want to stay below 164 for the rest of the year -- maybe the rest of my life.

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED (Time to eat some Ice Cream!)


I'll post another Resoultion update in March. (I realize no other reader probably cares about this... but believe or not, these blog posts really hold me accountable and help me stay on track!)

Duck Town - Feb. 5th, 2017

Saturday Morning Cartoon - Rhapsody in Blue

I didn't want to fall in love with La La Land... but I couldn't help myself. It's a valentine to Los Angeles. And it's fuel for us dreamers. How can I resist such a flick?

For some reason, the whole time I was watching the movie, I kept thinking of the Gershwin sequence from Fantasia 2000 -- which is essentially a love letter to New York City. Both works tell us to keep reaching for the stars. 

"Today is Tomorrow" - The Lessons of Groundhog Day

Ever since I was a child, I was simultaneously terrified and smitten by the Twilight Zone. Some of those brilliantly twisted stories kept me tossing and turning all night. Throughout my tweens, I didn't not want to be alone in a room with a doll. Thanks, for the emotional scars, Talking Tina!

But Twilight Zone episodes aren't always scary. Many of them are dark; a few of them are comedic. All of them have a hook, some twist on reality. Many of the stories are built around a "What If" concept...

I'm telling you all this because the first time I saw Groundhog Day (way back in 1993) I felt it was a wonderful blend of Bill Murray and a brilliantly diabolic/comedic premise: What if you kept living the same day over and over?

I was a fan of the movie as soon as I saw the trailer. What a cool concept, I thought. I expected to be amused -- and I was. I still think this is Bill Murray at his sardonic best. But I also walked out of the theater with a sense of wonder. What would I do if I had all the time in the world? If there were no consequences? If I was forever stuck in the same place and time? These are fun questions to speculate upon every February 2nd.

But the movie, which I watched again today for the first time in about five years, means more to me now than ever before. As I watched it this time, so many life lessons really resonated with me. So without further ado, here's a handful of takeaways from Groundhog Day. 

#1) Excessive Pride Leads to a Downfall

When I first heard the word "hubris" I thought that it was that gross chickpeas mush you put on pita bread.

But that's hummus. Hubris is when we are more than a little too full of ourselves, and our arrogance gets us into trouble.

When we first meet Bill Murray's character, Phil Connors, he is soaking in hubris. He's a weather man who thinks he knows which way the wind is blowing (or in this case the blizzard) but he gets it all wrong.

And he doesn't just exude professional arrogance. His interpersonal skills are lame as well. He's more misanthropic than Moliere's title character.

When he interacts with Rita, his new producer (played by Andie MacDowell), he can barely tolerate her Pollyanna outlook. She is looking forward to the ceremonies of Groundhog Day. He counters her positivity with the proclamation: "People are morons."

He may be right. There are a lot of morons among us. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't love them any less because of it. And so the Universe teaches Phil a lesson in humility.

#2) Sometimes We Never Know Why Things Happen

Much of life is trying to figure out the mysteries around us. If we live long enough, we may unlock many doors, make many discoveries, learn many secrets.

But sometimes we ask "How did this happen?" or even more often "Why is this happening to me?"

And the Universe just keeps her mouth shut and has that silly grin on her cosmic face as if to say, "I'll never tell."

Why does Phil Connors get stuck on Feb. 2nd? Why that town? why that day? Why do things keep resetting at 6am? Why does there seem to be no escape? Even death fails to provide an exit.

Some fantasy stories use some trope to explain the magic. A Gypsy curse. A witch casts a spell. A kid's science fair invention goes horribly wrong. Somebody makes a wish before blowing out the birthday candles.

What I love about Groundhog Day is that we never learn the nature of the supernatural mechanism. Many of the big moments in life, both tragic and miraculous, are ensconced in that same veil of mystery. We might have our own philosophical guesses as to why something incredible and/or catastrophic happens to us -- but sometimes, like poor Bill Murray, the rhymes and the reasons remain elusive.

#3) Food Isn't the Only Thing That Feeds Us

The first time Groundhog Day repeats itself, Phil is deeply confused. A victim of severe Deja Vu. The second time he experiences dread. He seeks help from a medical doctor and then an out-of-his-league psychologist, and finally he ends the evening getting drunk and spending the night in a jail cell. When he wakes up back in his bed and breakfast, repeating Feb. 2nd yet again, he realizes that he has entered a universe where there are no consequences. So what does he do?

He gives into his hedonistic pleasures. He eats, drinks, and smokes whatever he wants. He uses the power of endless repetition to learn intimate details in order to seduce some of the local ladies. He steals a sack of money from a pair of bumbling security guards. He has absolute freedom. He does whatever he wants. 

And it does not satisfy him. He learns that he needs more than idle pleasures to lead a meaningful life. He also comes to realize that he needs love... but he pursues love selfishly (and pathetically) at first. 

#4) Desperation Is Unattractive

During one of the film's funniest sequences, Murray's character tries to figure out what makes Rita tick, hoping to make her fall in love in a single day, though in his world he may be trying and failing for months or years. He learns about her favorite drink, her career goals, her pet peeves, and her life long dreams... 

But he's doing all of these things because he wants her... He thinks he loves her at this point, but really he's just desperate for her to love him. 

But, as he says, he doesn't even love himself. And soon, he enters a cycle of slaps to the face. 

That's when he enters the dark period of his existence (and a slew of failed suicide attempts commence.) 

#5) Become a Person You Love to Be With

This movie is a romance on multiple levels. Sure, it's a romantic comedy with an imaginative premise. By the end of this fantasy, Bill Murray wins the heart of Andie McDowell and the seemingly endless repetition ceases. The beautiful February 3rd arrives miraculously and CHANGE HAPPENS. 

But the other love story is with himself. In the beginning of the movie, Disgruntled weatherman Phil Connors is egocentric, yet he cannot stand himself.  But now he is stuck in an eternity of Groundhog Days, he's stuck in a small town in which -- even though he gets to know everyone -- no one will ever get to know him on an ongoing basis. He's stuck with himself. He's the only one who can grow or change... and finally, he takes the opportunity to enrich his soul... 

through music... through poetry... through heroic deeds... through genuine compassion and friendship. He falls in love with the person he is becoming, and that in turn gives him the capacity to deeply love all those around him. 

Whether it takes a day or a lifetime, I wish that blessing upon us all.  

Happy February 3rd!

Creative Writing Experiments (1 - 4)

January has been a very productive month for my creative writing students. One of their ongoing projects is to try a variety of Writing Experiments. Throughout the semester I will be issuing forth at least fifteen of these strange experiments (aka writing prompts) and students are required to conduct a minimum of five experiments and include them in their portfolio for the final day of class.

Here's a run-down of the different Writing Experiments so far, along with links to the blog posts of the brave authors who dared to take them on.

Experiment #1: Write a picture book text.

Please Use Your #&?%! Blinker... An adult themed picture book about road rage.

Two Brothers' Morning... A tale of two imaginative brothers.

Where Are My Toys?  A magical answer to the age-old question.

The Dog Who Pooped Like a Cat  I think the title says it all.

Deep Within the Forest  A lovely, lyrical lullabye.

Untitled Goblin Tale   A goblin girl wants to make friends in the human world.

Penelope Jones - On the Case  Sherlock Holmes meets Junie B Jones.


Experiment #2: Write a song

"My Hands are Broken But I Can Still Sing the Blues" -- one of the musically inclined students has two songs posted on Soundcloud.

"Getting Old of the New" -- my favorite lyric: "if we had infinite money." That's what I think every time I play Monopoly.

"Mama Said" -- I don't know what the melody is like but the lyrics are powerful.

"Isolde's Song" -- Classic style, immortal themes... Dr. Sydney Sims would be proud.

"Poison Song" -- Powerful and angry.

"My First Attempt at a Song" -- and it's a good first attempt!

"Wonder Years" -- One of my favorite lyrics: "Oh they gave you hope / Then robbed your home."

"Painting the Hopeless Romantic" -- this talented lyricist partnered up with her musically inclined boyfriend.


Experiment #3: Create a map of a place that doesn't exist

Like what you see? Click on a map to visit the student's blog...

She didn't illustrate a map, but Kaye uses words to map out a realm of science fiction.

Experiment #4: in media res

I asked student to begin a story that starts off right smack dab in the middle of the action or the conflict. I'll post the title (if they provide one) along with the first sentence. 

"Firstly and Secondly" 

It was as if every last drop of Calvin Klein's marketing career was spread in a thick layer across his skin. 

Sarah's Blog

Lydia ran as fast as her legs would take her. 

Kaye's Blog

"I think I've discovered something," Victoria declared to her boss, Dr. Klein. 

"Sunset"

The world was silent. 

Kenneth's Blog

Everything was beginning to come into focus for Ben. 

"The Restaurant"

The restaurant was filled with the dull din of people making conversation. 

"Dead End"

He knew making that left turn was a mistake. 

Coming Soon: Experiment #5: 

Write a story or a poem that is in the form of instructions. 

Word Count Wednesday - Feb. 1st, 2017

What am I Working On?

I have been feverishly revising my children's book: THERE'S A DINOSAUR ON THE 13th FLOOR.

This will be coming out in 2018 thanks to the amazing Candlewick Press. I have seen the sketches by illustrator Kevin Hawkes. They are as wildly imaginative as I had hoped they would be.

Word Count: 650

That's not very much, but you should have seen all the words I added and then removed. Very exhausting!


How Do I Feel About the Process?

I am so thankful that I was so productive yesterday. I spent most of this week doing grown-up work stuff. (Bleah!) And lots of driving around teenage daughters to a variety of locations. The only time I really had to focus on this creative project was yesterday. But the thing is, I was letting ideas cook the whole time I wasn't able to write. So by the time I sat down with my trusty pencil, I had just about everything worked out in my head.


What am I reading?

I just finished reading about 65 in-class essays. They were all personal narratives, and some were exceptional stories.

I am also re-reading Stephen King's On Writing. And, of course, the blogs of my Creative Writing students.