Sin + Virtue = Bestseller
I took this class at ACFW. Agent Natasha Kern was the speaker and she kept me hooked.
Basically, she taught us that what makes a novel great is this simple formula. I wondered what her class would be like HERE. Now I know.
Our main character must have a great desire, one main thing that comes from their strongest virtue. This virtue must drive the main character. Conflict comes through the form of the character's biggest weakness, or sin. The character must be tempted away from their goals (something heroic deriving from their virtue) by their very own sins/lusts/flaws.
She used the example of Scarlett O'Hara, who loves her home Tara and wants to protect it at any cost. She does horrible things but the reader forgives her because we understand her driving need is heroic. Even her love for Rhett is a conflict, because it clashes with her virtuous passion to save her beloved Tara.
Another example was Julie Lessman's character Faith, in A Passion Most Pure. Faith desires to be Godly above all else, but she's also in love with her sister's boyfriend. Talk about major conflict.
What do you think? Does your conflict pull at the moral fibers of your main character? Have you pitted the MC's sins agains his or her main Moral goal? What's your favorite story and how does this formula play out in it?
Basically, she taught us that what makes a novel great is this simple formula. I wondered what her class would be like HERE. Now I know.
Our main character must have a great desire, one main thing that comes from their strongest virtue. This virtue must drive the main character. Conflict comes through the form of the character's biggest weakness, or sin. The character must be tempted away from their goals (something heroic deriving from their virtue) by their very own sins/lusts/flaws.
She used the example of Scarlett O'Hara, who loves her home Tara and wants to protect it at any cost. She does horrible things but the reader forgives her because we understand her driving need is heroic. Even her love for Rhett is a conflict, because it clashes with her virtuous passion to save her beloved Tara.
Another example was Julie Lessman's character Faith, in A Passion Most Pure. Faith desires to be Godly above all else, but she's also in love with her sister's boyfriend. Talk about major conflict.
What do you think? Does your conflict pull at the moral fibers of your main character? Have you pitted the MC's sins agains his or her main Moral goal? What's your favorite story and how does this formula play out in it?
Comments
I hadn't commented in a while so I just wanted to let you know that I am still here, "visting" you.
smooches,
Larie
Hi Donna, I remember you liked Phantom. Thanks for sharing how the formula works in that one. I hadn't thought of it, but you're right. Readers/viewers commiserate with the phantom because of his love (twisted as it is).
It was good because I was fascinated by it, but I'll warn you upfront that her voice was almost gone. I felt so bad for her.
I was in that workshop too. I think hearing it again would help it sink in. You know how you (I should say I) have to hear certain things repeatedly so they can take hold.
It really made me think about that relationship of opposing traits, and the great tension that comes from that inner struggle. So much of writing seems to be about letting plot and character stew in our brain!
It would be great for me to hear it again, I think.
Now all I gotta do is figure out how to show this in all my stories. Ugg.
Thanks for the advice, Jessica. I'm learning more and more from you each day!
This is very evident in the book I'm reading right now (The Help by Kathryn Stockett), which takes place during the Civil Rights Movement. There's a lot of this sin/virtue tension, and what's so great about it is, there's an extra layer of tension because society has changed so much since then, and we feel that difference.
I LOVE Julie Lessman's books! I think all of them demonstrate this concept, but A Passion Most Pure was probably the most gut-wrenching because of Faith's moral dilemma.
I wonder, how did authors like Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and Margaret Mitchell know how to write such incredible novels? Did they have training "back then," or did people read more so they picked up on the nuances of a story, character development, etc.?
Any ideas?
I'm going to try to keep that in mind.
Now, if only it was as easy to apply as to listen to. Sigh.
LOL Candee. Very true. :-)
Hi Cindy, goals are hard for me. Good luck with that! ;-)
Hi Jennifer, you might do it instinctually too? You never know. I'm trying to remember your heroine's goal. Hmmm
Hi Warren, I think many things are instinctual for a writer. Different stuff for different writers though. No doubt there were writers whose manuscripts have been lost to history because they weren't as strong as some of the classics. But maybe those classical authors had trusted friends and literary teachers read their work? Offer advice?
Hi Sarah, I love her books too! :-)
Hi Janna, wow, that sounds interesting! So it's a historical? I'll have to look that author up.
Kate, I was completely fascinated. :-)
My main character is me, and my conflict is I sometimes want to run away from being an angelic pw and be a "normal" person, whatever that is. Not bad or wicked, just not involved so much in every meeting, not so up front all the time.
We'll see how I unravel all the knots...
Thanks Jessica, I needed that!
Cheers~
Love the title of today's post. The important thing for me is to remember to make my honorable characters sin a little.
Natasha Kern's simple (but not simplistic), get-to-the-point explanation helped a lot. I'll have to remember that equation and apply it to my own work.
Blessings,
Susan :)
*sigh* It is a very tricky thing. We must write simply but keep it fresh and not derivative. It's so, so tricky to get right. I'll keep tryin' though!
If something is well-motivated a lot can be forgiven.
Hi Tamika, nice summary. Sometimes it really is us, and not others, that prevents us from reaching our goals (I know, awkward sentence)lol
Hi Nancy,
In the class I don't remember thinking of gmc, but it seems this is striking a chord with you guys as gmc. Interesting. :-)
Hi T. Anne,
You're so nice. :-) Thanks. The class, even though it was just Kern talking for awhile, blew me away. I think this is a really powerful way to write a novel, and like you I'm totally thinking things through.
Hey Angie,
Yeah, sin keeps them real. LOL I try to answer stuff when I can. Not sure if it's because I'm nice or because I'm addicted! LOL
She can explain it so much better than me! LOL
Hi Gwen,
You know, I don't think everything has to be in the reader's face. I like when there's some mystery to a story. I think the important thing is that the author eventually knows the goals,etc, even if the character doesn't. :-) And I'm sure your manuscripts aren't muddy! LOL
Hey Jessie,
Yeah, can't forget the sin! LOL
Hi Keli,
This is definitely changing how I've looked at things. I realized that in my last manuscript I did this without knowing it, but in this one I really need to strengthen the conflict and then maneuver things so that everything the heroine wants is affected by what the hero wants, not just their tangible goals, but their emotional/spiritual ones too.
I always enjoy your warm comments to other bloggers and had to stop by. What a great, educational post today. I may have to rethink my MC to stoke up the passion. Really made me think, many thanks.
- Julie
My main character has a noble goal and pit falls working against it, but looking into this has opened a new way to look at plot structure for me...I'll look into it and report back on what I've learned! :)
Thank you for stopping by! :-) As soon as I heard the title of that class, I knew I wanted to go. LOL It really did help me see some things more clearly.
Julie,
I've never read the book but I absolutely love the movie! Talk about conflict and sins and virtues clashing! Thank you for commenting. :-)
Kara, Wish I could say I came up with it. LOL
Penny,
The book Natasha Kern used for much of this is called the Moral Premise. Maybe you can find it online? Really, super interesting stuff in Natasha's talk and in her post on the Seekers blog. Definitely pass on anything you learn! :-)
I'm sure I'll have it more specific as I write the story but that's what I have so far for Miyuki :)