Our
suggested theme for the month is “the one writing rule I break.” I thought
about it, and I break them all, especially the one “Write consistently every
day.” Life and the necessity of making a living intervene.
So, what
the heck, I’ll break another rule. Instead of utilizing the prompt, I’ll expand
on the suggestion I made at the last meeting: that a great story or novel
should be as carefully orchestrated as a well-written, well-arranged,
well-performed song.
As an
example, listen to Garth Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls.” http://en.musicplayon.com/play?v=102875 Written by Garth and Pat Alger, the song
opens with just the gentle rolling sound of thunder from an incoming
thunderstorm. Yet the sound creates tension; you know more is coming. Then a
single guitar picks up a simple melody. The story immediately jumps into the
setup: time, setting, senses, foreshadowing (There’s a storm movin’ in), then
the hook that gives a hint of the conflict to come (He’s headin’ back from
somewhere That he never should have been).
With
foreshadowing, the thematic continuity appears: the thunder rolls, repeated,
with music going downscale. The
opposing main character appears in the second part of the first verse creating
a clear character picture, with further foreshadowing of the conflict (Hopin’
she’s not right Prayin' it's the weather
That's kept him out all night). Both characters are caught in the beginning of a
thunderstorm, indicating the same timeframe, symbolizing the impending
conflict.
The
music rises to a crescendo in the chorus, hinting at the heart of the conflict
and the level it will achieve. (the
lightnin' strikes, Another love grows cold On a sleepless night. As the storm
blows on Out of control Deep in her heart The thunder rolls).
The second verse brings the conflict.
The husband arrives home, the wife is overjoyed. Just when you think the issue is settled (Thankful
he’s alive), a complication arises (But on
the wind and rain A strange new perfume blows). The lightning flashing in her
eyes continues the analogy of a stormy relationship. You just know, due to the foreshadowing,
that the conflict isn’t over. The chorus repeats, with more thunder, holding us
in suspense as to the nature and outcome of the conflict.
The commercial version of the song
ends here (with a VERY long guitar riff). However, at the urging of Tanya
Tucker’s producer, Garth and Company wrote a third verse that is seldom heard,
but completes the conflict and ends the story. Or at least lets us know what
the final conflict will be. Tucker recorded the song, but never released it, so
Garth did. This is the version of the song Garth usually performs in concert.
The video has also raised funds for victims of domestic violence.
In this case, the artist controlled
every aspect of the story (characters, theme, conflict, pacing, setting) just
as writers should. This is where careful plotting and rewriting come in, to
ensure that every word pushes readers into the story we want them to feel.
“The Thunder Rolls”
Three thirty in the morning
Not a soul in sight
The city's lookin' like a ghost town
On a moonless summer night
Raindrops on the windshield
There's a storm movin' in
He's headin' back from somewhere
That he never should have been
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls
Every light is burnin'
In a house across town
She's pacin' by the telephone
In her faded flannel gown
Askin' for miracle
Hopin' she's not right
Prayin' it's the weather
That's kept him out all night
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls
Chorus
Not a soul in sight
The city's lookin' like a ghost town
On a moonless summer night
Raindrops on the windshield
There's a storm movin' in
He's headin' back from somewhere
That he never should have been
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls
Every light is burnin'
In a house across town
She's pacin' by the telephone
In her faded flannel gown
Askin' for miracle
Hopin' she's not right
Prayin' it's the weather
That's kept him out all night
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls
Chorus
The thunder rolls
And the lightnin' strikes
Another love grows cold
On a sleepless night
As the storm blows on
Out of control
Deep in her heart
The thunder rolls
She's waitin' by the window
When he pulls into the drive
She rushes out to hold him
Thankful he's alive
But on the wind and rain
A strange new perfume blows
And the lightnin' flashes in her eyes
And he knows that she knows
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls
Chorus
And the lightnin' strikes
Another love grows cold
On a sleepless night
As the storm blows on
Out of control
Deep in her heart
The thunder rolls
She's waitin' by the window
When he pulls into the drive
She rushes out to hold him
Thankful he's alive
But on the wind and rain
A strange new perfume blows
And the lightnin' flashes in her eyes
And he knows that she knows
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls
Chorus
The thunder rolls
And the lightnin' strikes
Another love grows cold
On a sleepless night
As the storm blows on
Out of control
Deep in her heart
The thunder rolls
And the lightnin' strikes
Another love grows cold
On a sleepless night
As the storm blows on
Out of control
Deep in her heart
The thunder rolls
The not always heard last verse:
She runs back down the hallway and through the bedroom
door
She reaches for the pistol kept in the dresser drawer
Tells the lady in the mirror he won't do this again
'Cause tonight will be the last time, she'll wonder where he's been
She reaches for the pistol kept in the dresser drawer
Tells the lady in the mirror he won't do this again
'Cause tonight will be the last time, she'll wonder where he's been
