We’ve all tried them.
Some of us still love them. Kids around the world cheer for them, but
deep down we all know what chicken nuggets really are: bits and pieces of the
worst part of the feathered bird mashed together into a semi-recognizable shape.
Sometimes that loose form can be a dinosaur, a circle, or an infinite amount of
other predetermined designs, but no matter what that nugget looks like it
always tastes them same.
Pair that image against a chicken wing that is still attached to
the bone. True, the quality of a barbecued
of buffaloed wing can vary based on several factors, but one constant remains:
the meat is where is should be. There is
a comforting feeling knowing that you are eating something that is meant to be
this way. Unlike the nugget where scraps are gathered up and forced into a
design, the wing is just as it always has been.
And I think that difference is important.
The same comparison can be given to writers and their work. A great story feels organic and
unforced. A seasoned reader can tell that
everything is exactly where is should be: the characters are interesting, the
plot is compelling, and the conclusion is satisfying. A poorly written tale is the exact
opposite. From page one the reader can
see that the series of events laid out is just a mishmash of ideas that haven’t
been fully thought out. There
is no structure and there is no bone to hold the figurative meat of the story
together.
What does all of this mean?
I am glad you asked! Before you
set out to write that great novel or short story, stop and take the time to make
sure the meat is attached to the bones. Create characters that are vibrant and flawed, form conflicts that are believable, and fashion a setting that is fresh and
exciting. If you take the time to think
about structure before you begin writing the end result will be far more
delicious!
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C. D. Kearby
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Follow me on Twitter @cdkearby
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