Narrative Device: 3-Part System to Write a Book Readers Will Love

[@WritewithKali]

Ski max guy is nuts! I love him already. The rom-com bandit.

[@sontology]

This has to be one of the most useful, most insightful and workable explanations I've come across. Lightbulb moment!

[@theCLDavis]

Exactly

[@JohnRichmon]

Now I get SAM. Finally! Thanks.

[@PhoenixCrown]

Awesome. I'm having some trouble with the author part. My SAM is my younger self, in the rat race, working away, doing what I was told was the smart, right thing to do, and becoming slowly disillusioned with my institutions, career, and overall life, asking "Is this it?" My problem is how do you trust your institutions, or should you, along with class, wealth, vocation, culture... (Probably needs some tweaking.) Who is my author? Am I just a wiser SAM? This makes sense, because that would also make me an older, wiser, protagonist, and he's going to drive the story. Thanks for the video!

[@stevejones3662]

Very useful indeed. Thank you!

[@heathermalmberg4750]

This was a very helpful "dialing in" on the SAM concept -- though I've seen it discussed and mentioned, it finally really clicked in my brain. Thanks!

[@suzanneshobe7949]

I can use this! I envision a single person sitting in front of me and this is so helpful as I was envisioning at HUGE audience. Nope, that's not helpful. I will use this in the Story Grid course I'm taking right now. Thanks!

[@judithbarnes4390]

Great and compact reminder. Will pass it along to my SHEG.

[@personmcpersonperson2893]

Great advise 👍🏻

[@tonwandnorth]

Explanation rocked. Helpful video.

[@tomlewis4748]

I think I've been doing this all along, even if subconsciously, but I'm not sure. My approach to SAM is that I think that is who we write for. What we write should be us gifting something to them. The fact that it is also satisfying to us as an author is secondary. We get a lot out of it, too, but concentrating on it being something we do for the benefit of SAM seems to make everything work better. For example, am I writing this post for me? For my ego? No, for all the SAMs out there who might be listening. I also believe in conversational writing. I write in 1st-P primarily, and this is typically constructed as a (one-way) conversation between the MC and SAM, although there are no actual non-subtle 2nd-P statements, and there is no non-subtle breaking of the 4th wall. It's more the MC allowing SAM access to their thoughts than anything. They are assumed to be 'present' by the MC. IOW, the MC knows who he/she is telling the story to and why, the way two friends might tell stories over a beer. It is not a voice speaking out into a void not knowing if anyone is listening or can hear them. I think this makes SAM feel welcome and loved, and allowed to hear the story, rather than just being an eavesdropper. It also aids identification, which is important to bond SAM to the character. If they trust and admire the character, they will look to them to get examples of how to deal with similar challenges of their own. Problem? Yes, I agree that every scene should be a character dealing with some challenge. Author? I believe that the author needs to develop and use a strong, unique voice, yet in 1st-P, I try to keep the author completely invisible. But the author voice is what comes out in my MC's voice. Think Holden Caulfield. It's his voice, but it really is J. D. Salinger's voice, and Salinger is completely invisible. So I'm not sure if this jives with this advice about narrative device or not. I may not have a narrative device as you describe, but what I have is a method for dealing with SAM, problems, and author voice, so maybe I do. All I know for sure is this plan, this method, is what makes my writing work.

[@theimaginarium]

Absolutely brilliant. Thanks.

[@inaede]

How might one come up with the SAM?

[@johnfrost5268]

So... does the Author change during the course of a story or is the Author always the same per book? Same for the SAM

[@lynnodonnell4764]

"NUTSO" huh ? Dude your not stuck eating lunch everyday at a Church Mission !!! 😅 Talk about a Modern Wild West- stealing some bloke's bicycle is like stealing his 🐴 This attirude pretty much follows... "where's the NEAREST TREE "

[@dogstick12]

Nice triangulation here I would call it narrative triangles

[@HardKillaz]

Me listening this while I am working on a story where the MC is called Sam is wild.