Through Lines - Writers Forum

selina kyle · 09-08-2005, 11:40 PM

I'm in the middle of writing my first novel, and lately I've been thinking that perhaps the through line I'm taking with it is wrong. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to jinx it, but here goes.

Say your novel follows a cult or a movement. Would you think the reader would be more interested in reading a story that goes through the whole inception and beginning of the cult right through to when it is at is peak, or would it be better to start when the cult is at its peak and weave in backstory through plot device? Either way, the characters within the story are all interwoven.

Does that make any sense at all?

mswietek · 09-08-2005, 11:46 PM

I think you need to give us a bit more about the story. Does it focus on a cult leader and how he comes to power? If so, then the rise of the cult is important. Is it about some poor schmuck who gets brainwashed and then tries to escape? Then start with it at it's height and fit in background detail as necessary.

Michael

Hodge · 09-08-2005, 11:47 PM

Don't listen to Ilyak. Ever.

Either way could work, it just depends on your style and what effect you want to have on the reader.

selina kyle · 09-08-2005, 11:47 PM

My first reply and it's from the board smart ass. *feels chuffed*

selina kyle · 09-08-2005, 11:48 PM

Thank you mswietek and Hodge, for the advice

Hodge · 09-08-2005, 11:49 PM

Quote:

My first reply and it's from the board smart ass.

You got the second part right...

Anarkos · 09-09-2005, 06:28 AM

Smart?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilyak1986

Anarkos, old adage here...nothing nice to say, don't say it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilyak1986

You make no sense at all, and I'm a hypocritical cunt.

And Ilyak, cults can make for wonderful tales. Try Chuck Palahniuk's Survivor or Iain Banks's Whit. Please stop pretending to be expert at something you clearly know nothing about, and please refrain from insulting new members.

Selina, welcome to WF. Please don't take Ilyak's ranting to heart. It certainly doesn't reflect the opinion of most on this board on, well, anything. I wish I could be of help, but your plot summary is very vague, and I am, perhaps out of my own ignorance, not entirely sure what you mean by "through lines".

However, I can offer a few simple pieces of advice. One, start with the conflict. If your climax is a conflict between two people, introduce that, directly or indirectly, in your first chapter. Two, start with some kind of action or hook. You want your reader to be drawn into your story from the first chapter. Three, don't start with exposition or history. Don't start at the start of the whole story; start at the start of the interesting part of the story.

So, applying this to a novel about a cult, you could go a number of ways. Presumably, the concept and characters you already have will determine at least in part which way you go. You could, as in Survivor, write about the aftermath of the cult's collapse, or, as in Whit, chart a cult members first real interaction with the outside world. Or, you could, as Hodge suggested, chart the development of the cult.

There are many options. You do, however, need to match your plot structure to your plot. If the novel's about the aftermath, starting at or near the end and filling in the gaps is perfect. If it's about the growth and development of the cult, staying in chronological order would probably be better.

selina kyle · 09-09-2005, 06:43 AM

Thank you so much Anarkos.

I know my plot description was very vague, but I am supersticious about putting it all out there in case I jinx it.

By through lines I just meant ways into the story, the same as a structure or linear line. If you went in chronological order, the structure would be a lot different than if you weaved differing time periods into it throughout. Does that make more sense? It sounds like crap to me, but hopefully it reads okay!

But thank you very much for your advice

journyman161 · 09-09-2005, 06:57 AM

I'd say write your story & fill in the background info as needed UNLESS you actually have a reason to write it like a non-fiction exposé or a boigraphical essay.

People read novels for the story & it'd limit your potential audience to only those with a prior interest if you simply write a history.

The plot is king here, & your through lines should point directly at it, not at some past events or organisational details.

Stewart · 09-09-2005, 07:01 AM

A few other possible angles; how the loss of a son/sibling affects the inductee's family or a document of someone's faith as they argue with themselves over the relevance of the doctrine to their life.

If I were to write a novel about a cult, I know I would use the Heaven's Gate incident as a template, punctuating it with aspects of the Order of the Solar Temple. It would give the cult a direction, something to aim for, and would provide an excellent conflict towards the end. Waco and Jonestown, also, would fit with this idea, too.

selina kyle · 09-09-2005, 07:16 AM

Thank you so much for the advice guys. I guess it is going to have to be a matter of going through the areas in which my material is strongest. If I did chronical the beginning of the cult, it would need to have dynamic characters and I would have to speak with enough authority to show that people could be swept up in a movement. I guess maybe that's what I'm nervous about writing?

And I have been researching into Heaven's Gate, Waco, The Family etc. It's really creepy but very insightful. And with all the awful events of New Orleans, you can unfortunately see human behaviour at its most desperate in the present time.

journyman161 · 09-09-2005, 07:21 AM

Just remember that NO is not solely about human depravity & fear; in every disaster there are those who suddenly show greater things than anyone thought them capable of - unfortunately those things aren't considered headlines but fodder for the sunday magazines.

I have been in both flood & fire extremes & in Oz at least, people involved in the trauma tend to lift above the common herd, while those not in danger tend to be the ones messing around & worried about costs or reputations etc.

EDIT: Sorry that may not be clear as to the link with your story. What I'm trying to say is the cult members will not be all of a type; there's some who will hand over their minds & 'believe' with all they have & some will be there for their own ends.
those in more desperate straits will tend to pin their all on the guru or message or whatever, while there will be some who join for reasons of their won.

selina kyle · 09-09-2005, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by journyman161

Just remember that NO is not solely about human depravity & fear; in every disaster there are those who suddenly show greater things than anyone thought them capable of - unfortunately those things aren't considered headlines but fodder for the sunday magazines.

That is very true.

journyman161 · 09-09-2005, 07:25 AM

Sorry, I edited my reply while you were reading it

CreativeThinker · 09-09-2005, 05:35 PM

Wow, Ilyak. Don't you think you're being a bit harsh??

Anyways, this is just me, but I like reading a book/story that starts at the climax, or at least right in the middle of big scene. It's more interesting to me, but it's not like I wouldn't read a book that doesn't start at the climax.