The Other POV
by Bethany Maines
Tis the season again.
The political season that is.
And Washington State being Washington State we’re facing a couple of
contentious issues, including gay marriage, marijuana legalization for everyone
over 21, and that old chestnut, the Presidential race. Although, it should be noted that since
we are Washington State the REAL hippies are against the marijuana legalization
initiative because it doesn’t go far enough.
I strongly believe in our democracy and I do my best to
learn what I can about the issues and cast my vote accordingly. But I have to say it’s a bit of childhood dream dashed to
discover that frequently both sides of an issue have points in their favor.
What happened to absolute certainty and knowing which way to go?
Who wants to grow up and see the other guy’s point of view? It makes me want to curl up on the
couch and watch Rio Bravo (or Eldorado, really doesn’t matter which) because
you know where you’re at with a John Wayne movie.
learn what I can about the issues and cast my vote accordingly. But I have to say it’s a bit of childhood dream dashed to
discover that frequently both sides of an issue have points in their favor.
What happened to absolute certainty and knowing which way to go?
Who wants to grow up and see the other guy’s point of view? It makes me want to curl up on the
couch and watch Rio Bravo (or Eldorado, really doesn’t matter which) because
you know where you’re at with a John Wayne movie.
Although, it has recently come to my attention through this great blog entry by Anne Kreamer for the Harvard Business Review that my mother
may have ruined my ability to see the world in black and white. By encouraging
me to read fiction my heartless mother was teaching me to how to be empathetic
and how to build a “theory of mind” (the ability to interpret and respond to
those different from us). What was
she thinking? Oh wait, I can
totally understand what she was thinking because I have the skill to see the
world from her perspective. Why,
Mom, why??!!!
may have ruined my ability to see the world in black and white. By encouraging
me to read fiction my heartless mother was teaching me to how to be empathetic
and how to build a “theory of mind” (the ability to interpret and respond to
those different from us). What was
she thinking? Oh wait, I can
totally understand what she was thinking because I have the skill to see the
world from her perspective. Why,
Mom, why??!!!
While being able to think from another point of view may
have ruined my black hat/white hat theory of politics, it has served me well in
writing. One the tricks I find
most useful for teasing out a plot tangle is to write out a synopsis of the
story from the Villains point of view. With all my attention being focused on
the hero or heroine sometimes I’ll make the error of simply moving my Bad Guy
off stage. For all intents and
purposes he’s just out there in the wings, twiddling his thumbs, and waiting
for his cue to come in and twirl his moustache and chew a bit of scenery. But when I write the story from his POV
I realize that those plot holes have been holes because I haven’t been giving
the Villain a chance to actually be a person. Real people have goals and
motivations beyond moustache twirling and the story only gets better when I let
my Baddy show there’s more to him than an awesome moustache. And although moustaches are great, I
think we can all agree that no one will ever really be able to compete with Sam Elliot, and my Villains probably shouldn’t even try.
have ruined my black hat/white hat theory of politics, it has served me well in
writing. One the tricks I find
most useful for teasing out a plot tangle is to write out a synopsis of the
story from the Villains point of view. With all my attention being focused on
the hero or heroine sometimes I’ll make the error of simply moving my Bad Guy
off stage. For all intents and
purposes he’s just out there in the wings, twiddling his thumbs, and waiting
for his cue to come in and twirl his moustache and chew a bit of scenery. But when I write the story from his POV
I realize that those plot holes have been holes because I haven’t been giving
the Villain a chance to actually be a person. Real people have goals and
motivations beyond moustache twirling and the story only gets better when I let
my Baddy show there’s more to him than an awesome moustache. And although moustaches are great, I
think we can all agree that no one will ever really be able to compete with Sam Elliot, and my Villains probably shouldn’t even try.
Bethany Maines
is the author of Bulletproof Mascara, Compact With the Devil and
Supporting the Girls. Catch up with her at www.bethanymaines.com or check out the new Carrie
Mae youtube
video.
is the author of Bulletproof Mascara, Compact With the Devil and
Supporting the Girls. Catch up with her at www.bethanymaines.com or check out the new Carrie
Mae youtube
video.
Well, I certainly can't argue about Sam Elliot's moustache. It's a classic.
I do try to flesh out my villian's motive and feelings and such but I've never tried seeing the story from his POV. Nice idea. Thank you.
Rio Bravo was much better than Eldorado. No comparison.
I don't know… I go back and forth. I love Dean Martin, but there's something fun about the young James Caan in BBE (Before Bald Era). Good movies, both!
Love this, Bethany! It always surprises me when others can't see any of what motivates the other side. I call it "playing angels and devils."
And yes on Sam Elliott's mustache!
Yeah… Sam Elliot. Moustache awesomeness incarnate.
🙂 I love stories that fill in those villainous plot holes, when the villain isn't all bad, and the good guy isn't all good.