I’m
currently reading Life of Pi. Everyone raves about this book—but I’m
struggling. I keep looking for the PLOT, but it refuses to be found. Maybe it
is still floating on the ocean :)
When
I read books that I find boring or slow it really helps me to remember—all
books are not constructed with the same emphasis on plot. I came across this
idea while reading Characters and Viewpoints by Orson Scott Card.
There
are 4 types of story factors. Each of these factors are present in every story,
but one will usually take prominence. Card has an acronym to help us remember
these factors: MICE.
M—Milieu
I—Idea
C—Character
E—Event
Milieu—In a Milieu story
the setting or world takes prominence. The world becomes another character. The
way the characters interact with the setting dramatically affects the story. If
you take the characters away from the world the story falls apart.
Example: Lord of the Rings and Gullivers
Travels.
Idea—A question is always
posed at the beginning of an Idea story. The entire point of the story is to answer
this question. Mysteries and thrillers are Idea stories. These stories generally
get a reputation having weak characterization, but the point of this kind of
story is not the characters, it’s the idea.
Example: Agatha Christie and Dan
Brown
Character—Literary fiction almost
always falls into the category of a Character story. In this story
character is KING! Character arch can replace the plot. The point of the story
is the characters journey.
Example: To Kill a Mocking Bird and
The Road
Event—In this type of story one
event is usually the catalyst for the entire story. The world is out of balance
somehow and the point of the story is to right this wrong. The Event stories
drips with plot.
Example: Hunger Games and Harry Potter
Great
stories will have a little of all these factors, but one is usually more prominent
than the others. If you are struggling with a story maybe it is because you
aren’t crazy about its main factor. I know I’m more drawn to event stories than
any other kind.
What about you? Do you
write: milieu, idea, character, or event stories? Which is your favorite to
read?
-Angie
