tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post13701385239721071..comments2024-03-27T05:54:29.380-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: Fiction’s Ultimate ConcernRachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-90861271268005993902011-09-08T08:47:59.389-07:002011-09-08T08:47:59.389-07:00I think the way to do this is that big or small, m...I think the way to do this is that big or small, make the UC something that the MC cannot continue his or her life normally unless they solve it. :)<br /><br />Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-30256467490689767012011-09-08T03:47:43.866-07:002011-09-08T03:47:43.866-07:00Hi Rachna. I haven't come across the term '...Hi Rachna. I haven't come across the term 'ultimate concern' before, but it's an excellent concept. It's a bit like the 'key question' that David Baboulene refers to, but with more of an imperative attached to it. <br /><br />I think, in my WIP, the ultimate concern came about simply as it was the core theme of the book. Person A has to save person B from an undesirable fate. The plot development pushes the theme to the point where person A has no choice because the stakes have been raised too high. <br /><br />Interesting post. Thank you :-)Tony Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798586432645889182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-46496130339879326142011-09-07T02:39:43.928-07:002011-09-07T02:39:43.928-07:00The quote from Henry James is true enough, but you...The quote from Henry James is true enough, but you could write a whole thesis on "interesting". Fine post. I found it interesting...Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-28416238142528924092011-09-06T19:18:01.932-07:002011-09-06T19:18:01.932-07:00ooh, I love the idea of the ultimate concern. I ag...ooh, I love the idea of the ultimate concern. I agree with you, I think it's another name for the main conflict, but I like the way "ultimate concern" makes it much more a character issue than a plot one. I think having a concern that's truly ultimate requires excellent character development-- and plot development too. So many times they go hand in hand.Shalleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-59616783706002211562011-09-06T19:01:13.310-07:002011-09-06T19:01:13.310-07:00I just finished HP and the Deathly Hallows. I read...I just finished HP and the Deathly Hallows. I read all seven books in near record time, one right after the other. Awesome series. And I think my character is very similar. He is driven night and day to destroy a breakthrough scientific technology before mankind destroys themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-26449925685512424802011-09-06T17:15:56.154-07:002011-09-06T17:15:56.154-07:00Great post! My MC in Countless has a life or death...Great post! My MC in Countless has a life or death situation similiar to Harry's... so her ultimate concern is pretty clear - stay alive!alexiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122487552931794871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-7310245611587862552011-09-06T15:52:39.082-07:002011-09-06T15:52:39.082-07:00What a great question, Rachna. I think this is my ...What a great question, Rachna. I think this is my main problem with my current concept. Until I can find what the Ultimate Concern is for one of my major characters, I'm stymied. Sigh. Back to research.Victoria Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08978050059674596756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-56011075623316361262011-09-06T14:06:58.028-07:002011-09-06T14:06:58.028-07:00So true. I think about the universal messages in m...So true. I think about the universal messages in my writing and how they can be conveyed. Then I make sure they are woven in through dialogue and the characters' thoughts. Great post.Saumyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517289532769906489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-30833977469070865992011-09-06T12:15:13.807-07:002011-09-06T12:15:13.807-07:00I write what I propose should happen, Rachna. Then...I write what I propose should happen, Rachna. Then in revisions, the characters let me know if I was right or wrong and change it accordingly. I do love that expression. The ultimate concern. Because that is exactly what it is. Nice post.Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-9487106701526884042011-09-06T12:03:35.773-07:002011-09-06T12:03:35.773-07:00Humm. My mentor figure has one. To right the wro...Humm. My mentor figure has one. To right the wrongs in the time line. The hero doesn't have one in the first book really. He is going through his journey of adulthood and responsibility. One of the villains I have could qualify. Her ultimate concern is to "own" the love interest of the the Hero.SBJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10457239074744509487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-26456104803017482172011-09-06T10:50:47.378-07:002011-09-06T10:50:47.378-07:00I love that phrase, "the ultimate concern.&qu...I love that phrase, "the ultimate concern." Without it, I don't want to read on.Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-64503685252661146622011-09-06T10:38:04.619-07:002011-09-06T10:38:04.619-07:00Amen to praising the muse! I suppose what interest...Amen to praising the muse! I suppose what interests one reader may not interest another, but dealing with universal themes does tend to bag quite a large audience anyhow;) I view the idea of a "quest" int he narrative as a good way to get the protagonist going, but truthfully it can be much simpler or more complicated depending on the story.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-56245103800957452932011-09-06T10:03:58.767-07:002011-09-06T10:03:58.767-07:00Great question to raise, Rachna. I suppose Ultimat...Great question to raise, Rachna. I suppose Ultimate Concern is another way of saying "What's at stake for your MC?" But it feels more powerful, more driving, to think of it as the Ultimate Concern, so I like that term and will think of it that way from now on. I don't really decide on the UC for my characters -- or if I do at the beginning, they reveal it to me more in the story's progress, and then, of course, that means rewrites!Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-23462801547203135732011-09-06T09:52:58.813-07:002011-09-06T09:52:58.813-07:00Awesome post. I'm with Jim, my MC is telling m...Awesome post. I'm with Jim, my MC is telling me what her ultimate concern is as I write her story.Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-8236778649363883052011-09-06T06:47:46.734-07:002011-09-06T06:47:46.734-07:00Seems like "ultimate concern" is another...Seems like "ultimate concern" is another way of saying story--what does the character need, what will she do to to meet the need, what obstacles will stand in her way, etc. It does grasp her, and drives the story. Great post, Rachna. It helps to clarify our job--and our love for writing!Kenda Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972218446945404475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-23908686785830143062011-09-06T06:27:55.545-07:002011-09-06T06:27:55.545-07:00The Harry Potter novesl were also about ethnic cle...The Harry Potter novesl were also about ethnic cleansing, which is a powerful theme too.<br />Life and death is the ultimate concern and I guess any life-changing event becomes a huge concern to those who are experiencing it and that is what provides the rich tapestry of plots and subplots in the novels we read. Very thought provoking post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-1661586892418512732011-09-06T02:08:10.737-07:002011-09-06T02:08:10.737-07:00I don't so much decide as discover it in the w...I don't so much decide as discover it in the writing.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-26950043465265183372011-09-06T01:03:28.571-07:002011-09-06T01:03:28.571-07:00Often my characters tell me what their ultimate co...Often my characters tell me what their ultimate concern is. It is also something they come to realise over the course of the story until, like you said, it consumes them.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.com