Kurt Vonnegut said that a reason for a lot of unhappiness was that people have been conditioned by novels, films and TV to expect their life to be like a story, in which everything builds to a satisfying conclusion, and of course life isn't like that at all.

Life is a story that unfolds in real time every day, hour by hour and day by day. The catch is that we only get one draft.

Very interesting question! I do feel that way, and I actually find it comforting. At least SOMEONE knows what's going on. ;)

The climax of interest when the conflict is most intense when the consequences of the actions of a character become inevitable, when all the key plot points of fusion.
Motorcycle Parts

I really want to meet that dude who writes the novel of my life and tell him to read a god damn book or take a novel-writing seminar. Because his writing sucks. It's boring, depressing, sparse of dialogue and supporting characters. If that novel is through I hope nobody will ever let him write one again.

Yes we thought of this one years ago - except we assumed it was TV then we wondered what genre we were in...

Now we realise we were in an early attempt at Big Bang Theory. (Honestly, we know a Sheldon.)

Hi Scott
I have just discovered your blog tonight and subscribed. I found you via a search for "Pixar Story Department" after watching "Up" again. I love what you blog about. I'm an Australian children's book author and it is so cool to discover such a rich source of information and thinking on Story. I look forward to delving further back into your writing and watching the rest of your journey unfold. Thank you.
Tristan.

yes

From May 2007 nytimes, interesting piece on how folks create narrative structures for their lives, even drawing on those notions for guidance unaware they're doing so.

Absolutely.

Sounds like the plot to that Wil Ferrell/Emma Thompson film: Stranger Than Fiction.

Have not seen it yet.

Scott--
I have a question. I've recently stumbled upon an interesting story idea that would rely heavily on news reports/articles for research. When working on an historical fiction, how is that classified as "original" or "based on a true story/facts"? Is it okay to proceed with creating characters but also incorporating information on actual events into the fictional part? Using a character like the President/Vice President and other actual people quoted in journalistic articles? Do you need permission? I'm not even sure I'm asking the right questions here.

I tried searching your blog for answers but it was tedious...I guess I'm not sure how to search on blogger effectively.

Anyway, thanks for letting me ask.

@Atlanta: Holy crap, that article dovetails precisely into my theory about stories as psychological journey. Many thanks! BTW, would you mind emailing me? I have a question for you.

@januaryfire: Could I take that up as a GITS reader question? Perhaps post an answer for you this weekend or early next week?

I would be thrilled if you took up the question(s) any way you can, any time you want.

I've been taking the NYCMidnight.com screenwriting challenge/contest--48 hours to write a 5-page script with an assigned genre/location/object. This last round I drew historical fiction and stumbled across a story idea set in the last 3+ decades that could be a compelling feature.

I actually have quite a few historical fiction ideas brewing...

Some say we choose our own parents so that we may choose a certain experience for this life.

Nah, that would mean that we're all God.