Frustration 2
Posted on 15 February 2011
We creatives, no matter what field we’re in, must think of ourselves as storytellers. Whether that story is about a man on a mission or simply telling the story of a product for sale, the whole general idea is two-fold: to tell a compelling, engaging story and to have the audience see, sympathize and internalize that story.
This two-fold perspective on storytelling is essential in the success of any creative’s career. We were easily able to sympathize with a plain-looking, scrawny boy living under a staircase. J.K. Rowling’s billion-dollar epic told the story of how this young boy grew up to fight against insurmountable odds. Who among us doesn’t dream about moving out of an oppressive situation into glory? Still, somehow this story is significantly more popular that, say, any Mary Sue story with similar properties. This is because readers reject the notion of “hidden perfection.”
That is to say, it’s the same reaction we as viewers have when watching a trailer for a movie in which the female lead is magically turned into a hot, smoldering temptress from a frump. “Shenanigans!” we cry because, frankly, the actress was hot in the first place. How are we, as an audience, supposed to suspend that sort of disbelief? And more, because of that disbelief, we are prevented from internalizing the story to elevate it above a simple “enjoyable” experience.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There is a great deal of money to be made out there by simply telling a story rather. But crafting an experience that enables the audience to participate or allows them to internalize the story marks the difference between those storytellers who will gain people who appreciate their work and those who will create rabid fans.
I think about this each time I sit down to write and begin to feel worried that I’m loosing the audience’s attention. Especially recently. I am having a blast writing the monstrosity but it’s not readily clear that, outside a few dedicated commenters, anyone else is enjoying my offerings.
So I become paralyzed. I sit there, not particularly experiencing writer’s block, but unwilling to type because I’m afraid I’m boring people.
1 Response to Frustration 2
Do not fear. You do not bore. Thank you for writing.