Story telling/literary pet peeves.

I have a degree in English, emphasis in creative writing with a minor in theatre.
So basically I have spent a lot of time and money one being able to see a movie, read a book, see a play and point out what they should have done differently.

Now I don't believe if you follow the rules you will end up with a perfect story. That's rediculous. And your loyality, as an artist, is to your piece,  not to your critics.
But here are somethings that I feel are very important for artists to take note of.

1. "In the beginning" (Janelle, if you or any Children of Eden veterans are reading this then you are welcome for the song now pulling you into a post-traumatic stress disorder flash back.)


Writer's, especially beginning writers, begin too early. You need to know what you write. But your reader doesn't need to know all that.

Expostition should be as short as possible.
Who are we with?
Where are we?

Answer those questions and move on to the plot.

2. Deus ex Machina -- Don't do it.
For those of you who had a life in college beyond classic Greek texts this means when a god-like figure arrives at the last minute and saves everything.
Biggest let down for audience or readers who wanted to see how your protagonist was going to triumph against all odds. Now all they get to see is a plot interrupted.

3. CONFLICT

I cannot emphasize this enough.

Now, just in case you are confused. Conflict is not a battle. It is not agent X stopping the bomb with minutes to spare. It is not even your name being drawn in a death lottery.

These things are "external conflict". It does have its place. That is where most the plot comes from.

However, external conflict is never, never, enough on its own. It needs its friend Internal conflict. Faulkner wrote that the only thing worth writing about was "the human heart in conflict with itself".

 For example in the King Arthur legend Guinevere loves Lancelot. Lancelot loves Gueneiver. But she is married to King Arthur. Who is a good king and a good husband. Gueniever refuses to leave him. She loves him. Lancelot hates himself for his love of Gueienver because Arthur is a beacon of all that is good to him. Arthur knows what they are doing behind his back. But he refuses to do anything about it because he thinks that if he admits he knows the truth they will both leave him. They are his family. So one does anything until the enemies of Camelot take advantage and Arthur is faced with a choice-- watch his wife be burned alive or allow the kingdom of justice he has fought for crumble.
See that is conflict!! Impossible made worse by relationships.
Beautiful. That is why the King Arthur legend has lasted so long.
Unfortunately is is a tragedy so in this particular case the situation really is impossible. They all die and the kingdom is destroyed anyway. Sorry if I just gave something away.