BE TRUE TO YOUR STORY!

 

 

Today I just want to explain this bit of "Be true!".

When I wrote in the "So, lets start writing!" post that you need to be true in your story, that doesn't mean that you can't have, for instance, a fantasy in your story. (Fantasy is everywhere!!)  

What I really mean is that you need to create the universe of your story, and that universe must be true!

 

Let me give you an example:

 

In the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" the  universe that Roald Dahl created accepts that there is a garden of sweets with a chocolate waterfall, and that you can eat the grass and the flowers are candy.

 

Perfect. So it's part of the universe of the story and no one gets surprised that could happen. We have the working squirrels, the blueberry chewing gum which tastes like a complete meal, Mike TV tele-transported and broadcast... everything makes sense in the story. Why? Because when  you sit in front of the screen watching the movie (or reading the book), everythings fits among the others fantasies of the story.

 

Now, lets pick a James Bond movie, any of them. James Bond is making a massive shooting against all the evil people, smashing as much cars as possible, maybe some planes too... sundenly a massive attack of zombies come from the USSR! (Oh my God, I just pitch an idea... but let's stick with the ORIGINAL 007). For the universe of the stories of James Bond, zombies don't make sense! There is no zombies in the cold war (well maybe one or two).

 

Thats what I meant about to be true in your story.

 

It is acceptable to have edible grass in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it is not acceptable to have zombies in James Bond adventures (the closest you get is the people of Baron Samedi).

 

The truthfulness must extend not only to the story, but also on the characters, places, speech etc etc etc. Everything must be true to your universe.

Hope this makes sense.

See you soon and keep in touch for the next posts.

All pictures rights to the owners of  

James Bond Live and let die  and

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.