episodes

[marycatelli]

"Of simple plots and actions the episodic are the worst. I call a plot episodic when there is neither probability nor necessity in the sequence of episodes." -- Aristotle

sigh

I look at my ideas for the story: a clockwork dragon, a traitor in the party, a character who is interested, however sympathetically, with another character's powers and history that she wants to keep secret, a prisoner sitting on a chest to keep it safe and more bound by that than by the locks and walls. . . .

And now I got to forge it together. Or hammer it. Or jerry-rig more likely, in such a way to put in cause and effect and story structure from initiating event to climax so that it looks like I imagined them as connected. . . .

Comments

[nodrog]

Harry Stottle was unacquainted with story arcs.  Not surprising, as they’re a new invention made possible by changes in TV network practices.  For decades TV show episodes could be aired in any order, particularly during summer re-runs, so every episode had to be modular, completely self-contained.  Even two-parters were rare birds.  Of course this created obvious story problems; every situation had to be resolved and reset in 48 minutes and no change or development could carry forward.  Threats to characters were thus laughable, as no lasting change could happen…

But you're not writing Star Trek or Lost in Space; you can gun Chekhov down as you like!  “Say, remember that thing I picked up in Chapter II?  Golly, I wonder if it’s crucial to the climax, here…?”

[vakkotaur]

And that might be part of why I've given up TV - I now *HAVE* to commit to a season. Not gonna bother.

[marycatelli]

Like committing to a book series.

[vakkotaur]

That very much depends upon the author and the series - also, the book series is generally easier to deal with as finding the right 'episode' isn't on the vagaries of broadcasters. That said, I have avoided some books that were mere (TRUE) trilogies [Asimov], and sought out some that were undefined series [Pratchett].

[marycatelli]

Authors can be a lot less predictable on the next episode than TV.

[marycatelli]

I can only remodel it once I at least get the scaffolding up.