Writerly Lessons from Person of Interest
post by Michelle Griep
My name is Michelle, and I am a binge-watcher. There. I said it. Out loud even. And if there is a ten-step program for this addiction, forget about it. Admitting my addiction is as far as I'm willing to go.
My latest binge was Person of Interest season 4. Mmm-mmm-mmm. That is some fine drama, if you don't mind violence. And if you do, don't worry. I've fallen on the sword for you by watching it in your stead. Oops. I suppose that's a little violent as well. But never fear. I've created a handy-dandy list of takeaways from POI to kick your writing up a notch . . .
Writerly Tips From Person of Interest
Take Risks
A few of the shows in this season took some fantastic plot risks that really paid off. Here's an example . . . one of the shows put the characters into what looked to be an impossible situation, then played out a possible solution to that situation. One of the main characters ended up getting killed. Then it rewound and replayed the same situation with a different solution--and one of the other main characters got killed. It replayed again, and again, until the end turned out to be satisfactory.
Leave 'em Hanging
One thing the writers of this show really nail is cliffhangers. Is Shaw dead? Will the machine survive? Are Reese and the psychologist going to have a relationship or not? Yeah, every writer knows you need to keep the reader guessing, but you don't always have to accomplish that via physical or tangible means. Emotional or relational cliffhangers are just as powerful.
Keep Your Villains Complex
Bad guys can't be all bad. Elias (kingpin crime lord in New York) was a despicable fella, but doggone if you don't root for him when Dominic (another crime lord) goes after him. Why? Because Elias wasn't only evil. He had good points about him too, such as keeping boundaries, maintaining a relationship with the good guys, even playing chess with Harold. There's got to be something human, a basic connection with the villain, to make him believable.
Make 'em Think
One of the main characters in Person of Interest isn't a person. It's a machine. It's all knowledgeable, is benevolent, and orchestrates the things of the world to do it's bidding. Kind of like God, eh? No, the analogy isn't perfect, but there's enough of a similarity to make a person think . . . and that's the point.
Watching movies or shows isn't always a waste of time, especially if you look for techniques to apply to your own writing.
My latest binge was Person of Interest season 4. Mmm-mmm-mmm. That is some fine drama, if you don't mind violence. And if you do, don't worry. I've fallen on the sword for you by watching it in your stead. Oops. I suppose that's a little violent as well. But never fear. I've created a handy-dandy list of takeaways from POI to kick your writing up a notch . . .
Writerly Tips From Person of Interest
Take Risks
A few of the shows in this season took some fantastic plot risks that really paid off. Here's an example . . . one of the shows put the characters into what looked to be an impossible situation, then played out a possible solution to that situation. One of the main characters ended up getting killed. Then it rewound and replayed the same situation with a different solution--and one of the other main characters got killed. It replayed again, and again, until the end turned out to be satisfactory.
Leave 'em Hanging
One thing the writers of this show really nail is cliffhangers. Is Shaw dead? Will the machine survive? Are Reese and the psychologist going to have a relationship or not? Yeah, every writer knows you need to keep the reader guessing, but you don't always have to accomplish that via physical or tangible means. Emotional or relational cliffhangers are just as powerful.
Keep Your Villains Complex
Bad guys can't be all bad. Elias (kingpin crime lord in New York) was a despicable fella, but doggone if you don't root for him when Dominic (another crime lord) goes after him. Why? Because Elias wasn't only evil. He had good points about him too, such as keeping boundaries, maintaining a relationship with the good guys, even playing chess with Harold. There's got to be something human, a basic connection with the villain, to make him believable.
Make 'em Think
One of the main characters in Person of Interest isn't a person. It's a machine. It's all knowledgeable, is benevolent, and orchestrates the things of the world to do it's bidding. Kind of like God, eh? No, the analogy isn't perfect, but there's enough of a similarity to make a person think . . . and that's the point.
Watching movies or shows isn't always a waste of time, especially if you look for techniques to apply to your own writing.