A monthly letter from Gotham’s president, Alexander Steele (writing advice and other musings)
You know what might help you see the coming year in an exciting light? Picture your life as a picaresque.
A picaresque is a type of novel where a hero, often low-born or somewhat roguish, hits the road embarking on a series of adventures, encountering various characters, living by their wits, and after many highs and lows generally reaches a happy ending. (The term comes from picaro, Spanish for rogue.)
In my last letter, about Election Day USA, I called that time the climax of 2020, and I think it was. But now what?
After the climax in a story, there is often a denouement, where the tale has a chance to wind down.
By the very end, it’s best if the central conflict is resolved, but it’s also good if there’s a sense that the story will continue in some way, letting the viewer/reader continue playing things out in their imagination.
Continue reading “Denouement”
Today begins the climactic chapter of 2020, and I never thought I’d live inside such a story.
For what it’s worth, this year does have all the elements you want in a good tale.
Conflict—The most essential element of any story is tension between opposing forces.