Forest For the Trees

Sometimes, just like in “real life” my fictional characters can’t always see the forest for the trees.  (I wonder why folks don’t just say because of all the trees, but I won’t hop down that bunny trail just now.)

Have you ever watched a movie or television program only to become frustrated with a particular character?  Frustrated that he or she can’t seem to see what’s so glaringly obvious to us, the viewers, as well as the other actors/actresses on the show?

Sometimes, this is done through flashbacks from other characters’ perspectives or from sneaky shenanigans between various parties.  It’s necessary to keep the momentum of the movie or T.V. show flowing along at a fairly brisk pace.  If everything is all sunshine and roses, without much conflict, then we will likely change the channel due to boredom.  (I personally like lots of sunshine and flowers, but characters shouldn’t appear ignorant or blind to the most obvious details either.)

If done correctly, skilled writers know how to successfully build tension without going so over the top that it makes our readers want to “flip channels”, also.

For Christian fiction writers, especially, there needs to be a healthy balance between “keeping it real” and “too much information.”  Some topics I may very well address and do so quite candidly.  Still, I won’t portray graphic violence, foul language, or voyeuristic views into the bedroom, as I think there are already enough venues that glorify these things.  Being a Christian doesn’t make us boring prudes, as I’ve said a number of times before.  I just think we should strive to glorify God, rather than be slaves to sensationalism.

Now, with that being said, back to the forest and the trees.  Sometimes, I allow my characters to chop down a few of those trees so they can delve more deeply into the beauty of the forest.  In fact, they may tend to get a few callouses from swinging that old ax.  Like us, it helps my fictional characters to learn and become better people for it.

And in relating that to the book proposal I’m currently polishing, I’m resolving to chop down a few of those trees myself.  It’s sometimes slow going whittling away all the bark before seeing the magnificent wood beneath.  I love description and narrative, but in a proposal, we just can’t leave it all in.  We have to get to the heart of what’s taking place in each chapter and do so in a succinct format.  And as we mature as writers, we learn that we can still cull through our “forests” without ever damaging the loveliness inside!

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A question for you to ponder…Have you chopped down any “trees” lately?