Knowing particular circumstances and how they would possibly play out, helps us write better stories.

 

Considering what I saw:

I was watching how lions and other animals the other day on Nat Geo TV. That is: How they hunt and how they lost out on catching their prey.  Most times they didn’t bring down their prey, it was because they weren’t observing and using the right procedures. 

Somehow it led me to think about how we could write better posts and stories. 

Let’s look at how lions hunt:

While they’re young their mothers train them how to hunt. But they don’t always understand the finer points of hunting until they have to take part in a hunt or hunt for themselves. 

Their mothers were so good at hunting. It looks so easy to do, that the youngsters think they can just rush up and grab the prey. No problem! 

• So when they are eventually allowed to go hunting with the grownups, they `spook’ the herd of buffalo or buck, by rushing in too quickly without thinking out the situation properly. The result: everyone in the lion pack missed having dinner! 
• Also they didn’t take cover behind tall enough grass, to be able to creep up close enough to the herd without been seen.  
• Also they need to select the easiest target. Not an animal too big or strong for them to bring down successfully.  
• They have to be careful they don’t get hurt by the buffaloes horns or be trampled underfoot by the sharp hard hoofs. Once badly hurt they are not able to fend for themselves and don’t live much longer after that! 
• · Lions usually work as a team. Everyone has a part to play in the  strategy of hunting. They fan out and set up a network to catch their prey. Who does what and when? So everyone must know their place and what to do at the right moment.  
• Adult lions are so clever… they consider all the possibilities. And have plan B and C in place if things don’t go according to their first plan of action. 

Now back to us as writers,

We can’t just rush in and post any old thing. It’s knowing what people want and how they will react, before you write your blog. 

And if we are writing a book, we have to strategize our moves: 

• To plan our story’s plot we need some ideas of what we want to write about. If it’s an adventure story or thriller, what type of drama would take place in the setting you have chosen? 
• What type of characters will play those types of parts? Which characters play which parts, and how the story will pan out? 
• If we want our book to be authentically successful, we should consider what factual elements in our story will get the most effective results? 
• If we decide on a dramatic situation, what knowledge do we have of a situation like that? For instance, if it’s about boats, you’ll need nautical knowledge. 
• What are the finer things, to round off our story, to make it a fantastic read? The in between stuff that holds the story together is just as important. How will we link the circumstances, to make the story exciting and run smoothly to a fantastic end (successful conclusion)? 
• And what about having a `twist in the tale’, another unexpected end to our story? If you know something about life, you may be able to think of other ways (using plan B or plan C !!!), of ending your story well. 

Learning behaviour patterns!

If we aware of how people generally behave and re-act in particular circumstances, we will have a better idea of how to write up those different types of settings in your own stories. 

• How do angry or bad people behave and what would be the results of their behaviour? 
• What are characteristics of a hero or heroine? And how will you get them to save the day? 
• The timid or funny person, how would they re-act to what’s happening? 
• And if you were in that same situation, how would you react? 

Like the lion mother…

You train and groom (prepare) the actors in your story and decide on the parts they’ll play. 

But after a while, you’ll find the personality of the characters take over the story. They start to lead the way. 

And that’s when it gets interesting and exciting for you as the writer. And you as a producer of the story have to play the part of director of the production. That means controlling the plot to its happy ending. 

Have I given you a lot to think about?

And nothing is straight forward. If you `read between the lines’ of things you read, you’re bound to discover a lot more information.