What I Learned About Writing
from Watching TV aka Justifying my TV Habit.
I had to do Lost for L because man, I love that show. I am not saying
Lost was perfect in its writing. Indeed, some of the eventual explanations and
plot twists grew so far fetched it did start to feel like they made it up as it
went along. Still not sure about that last episode.
But what I did love is the backstory of the characters. The Flashbacks
(or Forwards, or whatever in the end). They aided and abetted the plot that
week. They helped us understand where the characters were coming from.
It’s important to know your characters backstory. We don’t all have the
structural set up to dump whole plot lines of our characters’ backstory in,
like Lost does. Indeed too much infodumping in a novel can drown out our plot.
But it’s important to know the ‘flashback’ story. What made your character like
they are?
Quotes: I'll see ya in another life, brother.
In general FYI I love Desmond. I also have this
wee crush on Daniel Faraday which I can’t quite explain.
I've never seen Lost, but I know what you mean about backstory. Sometimes, you're longing to know what happend to cause a character to behave in a certain way. When it comes, you absob the information hungrily.
ReplyDeleteFrancene.
A - Z Challenge
http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.co.uk/
I heard about lost but never watched
ReplyDeleteBut what u told makes sense . The story should be firm with out any loopholes
Good luck for ur writing career
Am an aspiring author yet
Haven't started writing full pledged yet :$
Ahhh I love Lost, and I quite often find myself saying 'see you in another life, brother.' It was a great show, even with the farfetchedness.
ReplyDeleteLost could leave it's viewers feeling exactly the same way. Great show.
ReplyDeleteFrancene - yes exactly those bits of info which come are all the more welcome!
ReplyDeleteAfshan - thank you, you too!
Laura - it's a GREAT quote. Now I just want to watch it again.
Sheena - kay - it was an AWESOME SHOW. ahhh lost.
I recently watched LOST for the first time. I loved the beginning of the series, but, like you, I'm still not sure about the end of it all.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right about knowing your characters' backstories.
I have never seen Lost. But I know the importance of a good backstory.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED LOST, but it was a great example of writers who wrote themselves into a corners that they couldn't get out of. :)
ReplyDeleteI think Lost is one of my favourite programmes ever. Like you, I don't think it answered a lot of important questions, but it certainly gripped me from the first episode. We've just got Netflix and Lost is on there. I watched every episode back to back, over a fortnight, and it was just as good as it was first time around.
ReplyDeleteNow that the show has ended, I keep meaning to watch all the episodes on NetFlix.
ReplyDeleteI always plan out my characters' backgrounds before I begin writing.
back story is one of the hardest parts to write in any story
ReplyDeleteI agree about liking Lost! It was so interesting, and that's probably because of what you posted. Backstory is so very important and it's equally important to feed it in just right.
ReplyDeleteCatching up with my AtoZ Challenge and getting back into the Small Things Hop this week!
That seems to be a big hang up with a lot of writers, myself included: When and how much of a backstory do you give. Some otherwise wonderful books were ruined because of too much backstory. Much of my characters' backstories are blocked together and may be a bit much in one spot, but I saw no better way to do it. I think the stories are interesting, but that's an area I need more work in as well. Writer’s Mark
ReplyDeleteI love Lost. So glad you mentioned it. Great show, great writing, and the dialog ... just excellent ...
ReplyDeleteAs far as characters (what made mine the way they are) ... their pasts. Everything I put them through is somehow related to their pasts.
Great post. Enjoyed being here.
Silvia @ Silvia Writes
I know the entire backstory for all my characters although I only sprinkle here and there is my stories.
ReplyDeleteI loved Lost, but did feel a bit cheated by the ending. Not sure what else they could have done with it though.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a great weekend. :-)
Short Story Ideas &
Just Ermie
HOUSE!! oh why oh why did they take my fave show away?? boo hoo! still looking for a replacement for the irreplacable!
ReplyDeletei is for in living color, a great comedy show but didnt last long, jim carrey, jennifer lopez, chris rock, damon wayans, & jamie foxx all started there!
what about Jeopardy!
and i need to watch lost, saw bits and pieces, but my kids were too needy for me to watch much tv when it was out...bad timing!
great job w/the challenge! and i am highlighting you on w day (for weekly support!)
M.J. Fifield - yes for me it was fab - ooh got fabber and then I wasn't sure about it toward the end. Still it will always be a special 'man I loved it' show to me.
ReplyDeleteRegina Gort - Backstory is important, even if we just know it in our head!
DL Hammons - absolutely! I'm not sure they knew at the beginning where they were going and I think they got stuck.
Rebeccah Giltrow - I LOVED Lost too and I would love to rewatch it all back and see how I enjoyed it the second time. Didn't answer everything no but still so inventive and fun.
Alex J. Cavanaugh- I would love to rewatch it all!
sassyspeaks - it's hard to put backstory in without feeling like you are dumping it in, and to drip it in as needs be!
C. Lee McKenzie - it is difficult to drip it in right, a v. hard balance! See you for small things soon!
Nancy LaRonda Johnson - agreed it is difficult to know how much and how to drip it across a piece.
ReplyDeleteSilvia Villalobos - agreed, Lost was a great show. And important to know where your characters have come from and how it influences their present.
J.L. Murphey - I agree, it's good to know the backstory but just to sprinkle it in.
Kirsten - I'm not sure either! They sort of got into a corner with it where probably no ending/explanation would have satisfied me!
Tara Tyler - yes I loved House too, I thought Hugh Laurie was great.
JEOPARDY! I didn't think of that. You are good with the letters ;)
Aw bless you thank you I'll visit Wed!
Hello! I haven't ever seen this show, but I remember how popular it was. The story, characterization, and writing was often talked about, so I can see it could be a wonderful show for writers of all genres to learn from.
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
I've never seen the show, but I've heard good things about it. I'll have to look for it. New follower here. I'm stopping by from the "A to Z" challenge and I look forward to visiting again.
ReplyDeleteSylvia
http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/
Lost is one of those shows I keep meaning to watch on DVD. I feel like I really missed out on something!
ReplyDeleteLaura - it was a fun show! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteSylvia - It's worth a look I'd say. Thanks v. much for visiting!
Julia - ahhh do if you get a chance ;)
I loved that show. It was a never miss for me.
ReplyDeleteA to Z buddy
Peanut Butter and Whine
Oh yes. Backstory is vital to a writer. It helps us understand our characters' motivation and helps us know how characters are and how they react.
ReplyDeleteMy Writing Blog
My Life Blog
Connie - ah it was a good show!
ReplyDeleteMisha - it is indeed, it's the dripping it in that's the balance to strike.