One day, years ago, I thought to myself: it really is hard to write the perfect story. How does one balance writing something beautiful and original with something accessible to everyone? To create this would-be masterpiece, you would have to write a story that's simultaneously generic and unique. As I pondered that oxymoron, I invented a fake book summary that illustrates the "perfect" book. I've edited it a little here:
The beginning explodes, and out of the fire flies a dragon with a unicorn horn, then a zeppelin. The dialogue is great, and it's motivated. You meet rich characters who look perfect to you—they're just the way you like it. Now it's the middle of the story. BOOM. But touching. Just the way you like it. The characters are perfectly motivated and you get them completely like they're your brother, or your Siamese twin, or you. The end is great. You cry and laugh and scream all at the same time, touching you deeply. You'll remember this story as long as you live. You buy a zeppelin. It was that good.
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Well done.
P.S. watch Star Trek: The Next Generation. Now there's a show that was on point.
While on the surface our summary reads like a joke, it is merely tongue-in-cheek because the message is on point. As writers we are tasked with making this impossible story: a beginning that blows our readers away but is also done tastefully. If there's romance, your job is to make that romance both unique but also ordinary enough for the general consumption. The middle has to be exciting but continue to keep you invested in the core characters. You have to answer all the questions and leave nothing out, without tarrying. And the ending should be really good, both satisfying and clever.
Notice any similarities to one of our first tips? That's right: finding the Middle Way. It really is what writing great fiction is all about. Seek such a balance when writing your story, and see if you can make the seeming-absurd a reality!
