It's Like...a Bad Analogy

We humans are good at using comparisons, but not necessarily at using good comparisons. As I'm shaping and revising book #2 (whatever I end up calling it), I try to give people some idea of its character compared to book #1. So I say "it's the 'Empire Strikes Back' of the trilogy," which, as any Star Wars fan knows, means it's darker and more serious than the other two. It's a handy point of reference--like saying something is such-and-such on steroids--but not really very insightful (or accurate, for that matter.) It works, though, and the conversation moves on.

I suppose it's understandable that we try to define the unknown in terms of the known, but as creative individuals we run the risk of selling our work and ourselves short with such cookie-cutter comparisons. Of all people, we should be the ones who have more original explanations of our projects. If we put that much effort, heart, soul, sweat, etc., into what we're doing, we ought to think of better ways to convey its essence.

Got to go now. I'm watching a good movie. It's like "Citizen Kane" meets "The Godfather"...on steroids.