Hey, writers. I love the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.  Today, let’s talk about the Fifth Habit:  Seek First to Understand then to be Understood.

This is one of those habits that makes me think, “If only everyone in the world did this then the world would be a better place.” I love this habit for my writing and I believe it is a guideline for everyday living.

Hit the jump, writers, and let’s discuss.

Say there was a gruff guy and he cut in front of a good guy. Well the good guy could snap at the gruff guy…but why?

First, I will always encourage non-violent solutions. Second, the good guy might be less upset if he knew the gruff guy had just lost his job…and lost his wife…and kids… And home…yesterday.

For me at least, that would instantly change my outlook on someone.

In terms of writing, I think about genres. Be it popular genres like romance/horror/mystery or custom groupings or divisions like Monster in the House or Golden Fleece (shout-outs to Blake Snyder and Save the Cat). There’s always more to a story.

I’ve heard more than once that a movie reviewer doesn’t like the big fight scene at the end of an action movie. I always shake my head at the sentiment. The complaint is generally that it’s an “obvious” AKA expected scene.

Of course it’s expected!

I love action movies and I eagerly await a big fight scene in an action movie. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Every genre has tropes as well as the trite. We writers walk a fine line with every word we write. The distinction is important however. Imagine an action movie with zero punching and zero kicking and zero eye lasers or what have you. I would feel very cheated if I paid for that movie ticket.

One day I plan on changing genres completely just for fun. One I’ve considered was mystery. My good friend Peanut Butter knew it inside and out and he gave me some tips but I know better than to just dive in.

I know that I’ll need to know the tropes and to use them while avoiding the trite before moving forward.

Today’s quick tip comes from some books I read on TV script writing:  If you’re going to dissect something, dissect at least three examples.  If you focus on only one then you run the chance of missing the big picture.

In Color

Writers, I dissect stuff all the time.  It’s…ridiculous. 

My friend, Moon, was making fun of me a long time ago, but he was right.  We were talking about movie then a video game I think.  I explained that I was doing research.  Then he said, “Everything is research!”

It was a burn, but a very accurate burn.

Part of me wants to break down how I dissect things and what I do…but that’ll probably be a seven part article collection all on its own.

So I’ll just say it again because it’s that important:

When you’re dissecting something make sure you dissect at least three.  It solves a lot of problems and it’s just more data.  It’s a win-win.

So my question:

Is there a book/movie/show that you want to dissect?  Why that particular project?

Sound off in the comments! 🙂

Aloha,
Alvin

Habit #1. Be Proactive. Do Thank You Letters as well as Query Letters.
Habit #2. Begin with the End in Mind. Create a logline for your stories.
Habit #3. Put First Things First. Utilize the Daily Dose.
Habit #4. Think Win-Win. Try NaNoWriMo!
Habit #5. Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood. Dissect at least three.
Habit #6. Synergize.
Habit #7. Sharpen the Saw.