Digging Deep: The Psychology of a Layered Story

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Humans like complexity; puzzles, questions,
layers. It fascinates us. My guess it���s because there are so many complex
systems in nature that our brain needs to navigate successfully. Ecosystems,
weather systems, the tax system���But the one that has the most influence on our
evolution are social systems.

Our relationships were vital to our
survival. Throughout the ages, fellow humans have been our friends��� the ones we
collaborate and cooperate with to gain more resources, and our foes���our
competitors who can hold the power of whether we live or die. These
relationships gave rise to social systems: rules, expectations, and norms. These
same social systems are enduring but constantly changing, strongly connected
but disjointed, adaptive but counter-intuitive (like, why do I bother asking my
sons if they���re hungry?). As writer, what���s important to know, is that the
minute evolution finds something that enhances our survivability, it lights up
our neurons and makes it pleasurable (think calorie rich cheesecake or gene reproducing
sex).  

So it���s not surprising the brain is drawn
to complexity (think about a piece of art that caught your attention���did it
have layers?), is curious about complexity (did you spend time wondering and
pondering?), and attends to complexity (how long did you stand there, wondering
and pondering?).

It���s why complexity in stories also
attracts us, and I���m going to hypothesize that a significant proportion of
best-selling novels capture complexity in their pages. As I think of the novels
that I loved, the ones that stayed with me, they all had complications,
intricacies and layers. They were complex.

And I don���t just mean a complex plot.
Complexity isn���t all about the whoa-didn���t-see-that-coming. It���s more than
that, and to explain it, I���m going to use permaculture. For any
non-horticulturalists out there, permaculture is the development of
agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient. How
does it relate to writing? Well, you���re either about to learn a valuable
strategy for writing awesome scenes, or you���re about to wonder about the
convoluted mechanics of my brain���

One of the principles of permaculture is
that any element in your garden needs to perform more than one function.
Chickens? Yes, they produce eggs. But they���re also scrap munchers, manure
makers and little walking tractors. Feed them your left over lunch, then use
them to turn over old garden beds, and fertilize them in the process. The eggs
are almost a bonus! A grape vine growing on a trellis? At the right angle, it
can provide shade from the hot afternoon sun for a bunch of veggies, it can
provide a nice little micro-climate for the strawberry bed beneath, oh, and its
fruit and leaves are edible.

A good scene will do the same. It works on
more than one level. Through careful consideration and design (just like a permaculturalist),
you add more value for your reader, more experiences and emotions and
information for your reader to devour. You���d already have an idea of the
function of your scene  ��� usually moving
the plot forward. Here are some ���layers��� you can add to a scene to add
complexity:

Deepen characterization

Let your readers learn something about your
character they didn���t know. Let their quirks shine through, slip in a little of
their backstory or their wound or their strengths. As they learn about how the
plot is evolving, let them learn about this person they���re journeying with.

Explore theme

Use a little symbolism or metaphorical word
play to explore the deeper question, worldview, philosophy, message, moral, or
lesson your book is probing.  You could
slip it into dialogue, the setting, or your secondary characters.

Explore a secondary character

Your secondary characters are a great way
to explore theme, but they can also be a juxtaposition or complement to your
main character (and/or antagonist). Use them to elicit emotion in your reader ���
whether it���s empathy for them or for your hero. Expand the focus of your scene
to include interesting and valuable information about them, too.

Foreshadow

I do love some nice foreshadowing, both as
a writer and as a reader. Foreshadowing elicits intrigue, which in cognitive
terms, means curiosity. Whilst entrancing and educating your readers about
what���s happening right now, you can give them a taste of what might be coming���

Deepen setting

Your setting is a character in itself. It
can help your hero, or be a major roadblock (either literally or
metaphorically). It can set the mood, provide context (e.g. the culture or the
historical period) and denotes the passage of time. Weave it into your scene like
a best-selling author.

Show off your writing talent

Sprinkle a little purple prose or a few clever
metaphors. Implement those literary devices or challenge the ���rules��� of
writing. As you take your reader on this ride, do it in style. Most importantly,
do it your way.

So, if you have a scene that you think
might be a little ���flat���, or if you���re looking to jazz one up so it has more
impact, I recommend engaging your green thumb and employing this handy little
permaculture principle: every scene must perform more than one function.

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TamarSloan is a freelance editor, consultant and the author of PsychWriter
��� a fun, informative hub of information on character development, the
science of story and how to engage readers. Tamar is also an
award-winning author of young adult romance, creating stories about
finding life and love beyond our comfort zones. You can checkout Tamar���s
books on her author website.
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