I think -- *think* -- we do this naturally because we are interjecting our own experience with the work into the character. We are alone with a keyboard making this stuff up as we go, and it's easy to see how we can drift into the isolationist mentality. At least, that's what happens to me. It's a very dynamic storytelling mechanism, but it does have to take us out of the dynamic.
My current WIP is woman vs man and woman vs self. And no, I don't believe in fate. I think people can make tiny decisions that can change things permanently. I think of it as a varied butterfly effect. All that to say, I do believe when it's your time to die nothing can change that. So, does that make me a partial believer in fate?
Interesting! I am a firm believer in chaos theory. So fate is difficult to quantify in real life. But in fiction, boy is it ever a great tool to work with!
My current WIP is a (Wo)Man vs. Self + (Wo)Man vs. Man. I do believe in Fate -- but that there may be several paths that are predestined depending on choices made. I believe that the 'small details' make no difference, but that fate could shift between those X number of predestined strings throughout one's life.
So have you read A THOUSAND DOORS? It's an anthology I did exploring this very question. Can you change your life? (Maybe I should have cited that above... will go add. Thanks for making me think of it.)
I had also learned about Man vs. Society, or would you consider that Man vs. Man as well? I loved the story of how cats got nine lives, thanks for looking it up! And thanks so much for this craft post.
I'm realizing how hard I lean into... Man vs. Self in my stories! This was great, thank you!
I think -- *think* -- we do this naturally because we are interjecting our own experience with the work into the character. We are alone with a keyboard making this stuff up as we go, and it's easy to see how we can drift into the isolationist mentality. At least, that's what happens to me. It's a very dynamic storytelling mechanism, but it does have to take us out of the dynamic.
My current WIP is woman vs man and woman vs self. And no, I don't believe in fate. I think people can make tiny decisions that can change things permanently. I think of it as a varied butterfly effect. All that to say, I do believe when it's your time to die nothing can change that. So, does that make me a partial believer in fate?
Interesting! I am a firm believer in chaos theory. So fate is difficult to quantify in real life. But in fiction, boy is it ever a great tool to work with!
My current WIP is a (Wo)Man vs. Self + (Wo)Man vs. Man. I do believe in Fate -- but that there may be several paths that are predestined depending on choices made. I believe that the 'small details' make no difference, but that fate could shift between those X number of predestined strings throughout one's life.
So have you read A THOUSAND DOORS? It's an anthology I did exploring this very question. Can you change your life? (Maybe I should have cited that above... will go add. Thanks for making me think of it.)
I had also learned about Man vs. Society, or would you consider that Man vs. Man as well? I loved the story of how cats got nine lives, thanks for looking it up! And thanks so much for this craft post.
Hi Barb - I think Twitter is the ultimate example of Man vs Society. It's one again hoards, right?
Man vs. Man would be if a certain feed became the sole agitator, and the threat came from a single source.
I'm glad the aside didn't pull you out too much. But I got curious...
That is so spot on about Twitter!
Some authors choose it as the medium for that reason, don't you think?
Indeed.