LifeLines - January 2006

Baggage Matters

by Bernie Ross

Some ‘Baggage’ definitions:-
Impedimenta; Superfluous or burdensome practices, regulations, ideas, or traits.

Remember or imagine this scenario: you meet someone who’s potentially ‘special’. Something clicks, passion flares, you don’t know why; it feels like a chemical or spiritual magnetism. Your intrigue is heightened; you can barely wait for your next date. It feels so special you hardly dare to imagine everything is as perfect as it feels. (Perhaps you’re dating someone who’s wanted for murder?)

You get on so well that you’re soon swapping histories. “Murder, good heavens no! Married with kids.” Your heart sinks, imagination paints an unhappy future . . . The embittered spouse will be interfering from day one; there’ll be a premium on time, money, love to go around . . .

“But we’re divorced and we have a good arrangement with the children.” Already your heart is singing again. Love is in the air and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. You even want to meet the kids.

Writing a story is like that, speeded up. There’s attraction. There are hurdles. The plot thickens, as they say. Your characters’ baggage dictates the outcome if only because it influences where they want to go. Think of Batman: he became a bat because his parents were murdered and the bat could see in the dark. Instant sympathy.

If your characters in fiction share similar baggage to that of your readers in reality then there’s a good chance the book or short story will go down well. It will ‘hit a warm spot’ with its readers.

Flashbacks, in the popular recent TV series ‘Lost’, go into pre-plane-crash incidents to show us the historical relevance of conflicts and hang-ups that scourge the characters in their fight for survival. Like a screenwriter you should know it and be able to show it in flashback, but don’t think you have to tell it to make sure your reader understands. There’s a difference.

Baggage is relevant in relationships between the writer, his characters and the reader, because it’s through knowing the baggage - emotional history and issues they face – that the writer can give accurate descriptions using similes and metaphors that are specific and spot on.

© Bernie Ross 2005

~ ~

Short Editorial
In a constant plight to meet the needs of students, writers (including myself) and writing life students, it’s evident to me that the Message Board doesn’t particularly serve much purpose. Perhaps WL students don’t need a private board to themselves because they know they can ask me and get a quicker reply. Before abandoning the facility altogether I’m planning to open it up to ‘anyone’. Not just for the sake of it but with a particular aim in mind. I won’t go into it now but I wanted to tell you privately first before announcing anything on the mailing list that goes to those who’ve shown interest in the WL site but not necessarily paid for the course. Your thoughts about this ‘opening up’ are welcome . . . to me or on the message board!

Bernie

~ ~