MY WRITING DNA: PLOT ELEMENTS
Posted on September 29, 2018
This is the second post dealing with the commonalities in my writing. The first entry was about the character archetypes I employ, and you can check it out here:
My Writing DNA Part 1
This go around I want to talk about the plot elements I favor. It's no surprise that what I lean on is inspired by the pop culture I adore.
Coming of Age
Virtually every one of my books deals with this plot trope. I squarely blame a steady diet of John Hughes and Steven Spielberg films. I can't help but be fascinated by this stage in life where you form your sense of self and strike out on your own. This is due to the fact that I sometimes feel stuck in that stage, as if my whole life is still me figuring myself out while the other adults all around seem so self-assured and fully realized. The Irving Wishbutton series is perhaps the project where this theme is most pervasive. I often feel like a smudge and can relate to Irving's quest to find his true self and not be content with the path his writer has in store for him. The Powers That Flee and Ghost Coast also delve heavily in forging one's identity. And not all of my coming-of-age stories feature teens. Bring on the Magic features a twenty-something struggling to find his place in a world where he has just learned magic actually exists. My Angus Farseek time travel book applies the coming-of-age template to a married, middle-aged man.
Father Figures
The notion that the child strives to live up to what his parents see for them is another big element in my stories. My relationship with my father was always a little removed. Rough waters perfectly describes our strained relationship. Luckily, it's gotten much better with age and wisdom on both our parts. But, for a time in my late teens and early twenties, it was flawed and I obsessed with trying to please my dad, while at the same time doing things to drive him away. This was the basis for Graham's relationship with his father in my gargoyle series. Graham toils to work for and against his father's wishes. I find that conflict rich and easy to write. Having to live up to extreme expectations really does a number on you even when those expectations are more likely generated by yourself than your parent.
Evil Encroaching
Bring on the Magic and Monsters in Boxers deal with a magical/monstrous invasion. I love the idea of having evil infest our world. Throw in monsters and strange magic and you have yourself a dream recipe for fun in my book.
Patchwork Worlds
Having read a lot of fantasy in the seventies and eighties, I really gravitated to the books that featured worlds where kingdoms that were extremely different sat beside each other. One minute, you're evading ice dragons in a frozen realm, the next you're taming blind sand worms in a desert setting. I just find the variety a patchwork world can offer so inviting. It's front-and-center in Tagalong in the dimension of Myriad where magical hybrids vie for equality. It's also present in Cascade, the dimensional home of Graham the gargoyle. Ned Firebreak also takes advantage of this trope.
I think that's a decent start. I'm sure there are other plot elements I favor and will let that percolate. Hopefully, I'll identify a few more and share those in a future posting about My Writing DNA.