Into the Fire

Technically I’m not a writer. But what I mean by that is if I had to consider the technical breakdowns of a story, I’d fall flat on my keyboard head first. Emotion propels me into story. Passion drives that emotional train, and if I can’t write passionately about something, I might as well not even attempt it. Let me make it clear right now: if you are a technical writer, that is one who sets up, plots, plans, and pursues the story through organizational techniques, I applaud you. Seriously. It’s just that I can’t do it that way.

I am a very sequential person. To force me to get to B or C without first visiting A will propel me into confusion. Except when I’m random. Which is rarely. But still. Sometimes I am.

So when I hear that this or that technique works well to increase tension within a story, or to use certain methodology to create angst, fear, humor, or whoknowswhat, I wonder how I ever learned those things. They can be present in my writing but not intentionally—at least not because of my technical efforts to put them in action.

It’s old news that I’m a rule breaker with the quantifier of I believe one must possess a solid core knowledge of those rules in order to effectively break them. To my friends it’s also well known that I love variety in story elements and styles and voices. Travis Thrasher told a tale in second person POV. How often have you read a story that dared to do that? It worked. Great idea. In his last novel he was all over the map with POVs, and he did it wonderfully. Good efforts. And I say: Go for it!

We all know that basic storytelling follows a formula. After awhile, those formulas can seem repetitive so it’s noteworthy when an author breaks stride to produce something a little daring or different from the norm. Of course in order to be successful they must do it in an appealing or provocative way. And who’s to say what that might be?

I admire technically perfect writers. Those who craft and form a story sometimes before it’s even written amaze me. I can jot a note here and there if something necessary but down the road to the story comes along, but structuring and organizing a story doesn’t happen in my world. It unfolds as the words hit the page.

No wonder I’m technically challenged.

Father, all I can say is thank you for your variety, your sense of humor. I’m sure I’ve given you multiple eye-rolling moments. And hopefully lots of laughter. How else could you put up with me? I love you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.