Why is the essence of story conflict? Some say that life itself is a struggle. As human beings we recognize this at a nigh genetic level and unconsciously reject stories without opposition to the protagonist’s goal. Others say that stories are merely a form of escapism. Humans crave an adventure they do not get in their day-to-day lives.
I ask this as an aspiring writer. I look to the role models of authorship from both the past and present and I see . . . sad, sad people. It would seem that to be a great writer one must either suffer to such an extent that one simply MUST express himself or herself with the written word. Perhaps some less tortured souls have striven to present stories for the sake of the stories themselves, but after years of negotiating conflict on the page the creators have been corrupted.
Another cause may be the publishing industry itself. I imagine that the brave scribes that have lovingly crafted their prose and sent them to editors and agents only to be soundly rejected, often with a form letter rather than a personal reply, may have had their sense of joy calcified. For the lucky few that have passed through the gates of traditional publishing there exist the critics: they who mercilessly feast off the flesh of creators.
In this day and age of “New Media” several new writers have risen to the fore by rejecting the publishing industry itself. Some have blogged their work chapter by chapter. Some have created podcasts of themselves reading their words. There are even a few Twitter novels out in cyberspace. Imagine a story doled-out one hundred forty characters at a time.
For a time, I considered throwing in with this band of adventurous novelists, modern bards if you will. Several factors have delayed my decision, not the least of which is the fact that I have little content ready for mass consumption. I think now that I will continue my delay indefinitely.
You see, I find these pioneers of storytelling to be, as a whole, a very cynical lot. This impression comes from my experience with their blogs and podcasts dealing with the “business” side of being a storyteller. I won’t get into the details here, but I will say that optimism, as far as storytelling goes, is soundly rejected as being “too corny,” or “unrealistic.” Expressions of joy are derided as infantile. Main characters getting what they have always wanted without having to permanently lose something they prized is the greatest sin of all.
This community of writers may just be a microcosm of the tech savvy population: too cool to see that there is water in the glass at all. Perhaps they have forgotten the excitement of exploration that comes with this “New Media.” Maybe storytelling is, by its very nature, pessimistic.
My whole point in bringing any of this up is the fact that I am a recovering pessimist. (The first step to wellness is admitting you have a problem.) It’s something that I work to overcome on a daily basis. My problem, in terms of creativity, is seeking out and defining conflict in all situations. Everything has to be conflict driven in storycraft. “What does this character want, and who or what is opposing him?” This need to make one’s characters miserable in order to tell a compelling tale is hard to live with.
I realize that I write this while still attempting to craft a web comic. I understand that I am demonstrating an ability to create conflict. The difficulty I’m having is with REAL storytelling. Who reading this would argue that the stories I’ve told with my little robot toys are getting at a deep Truth of the human condition?
I want to tell Truth without damaging my spirit. Am I on a fool’s errand?
