Trimming the Iceberg

I've seen stories represented as icebergs, the concept being that what the reader eventually sees is only a very small portion of what the writer knows. I have to admit, the more time I spend with my stories and characters, the better I understand the iceberg representation. Even stories intended to cover only a limited amount, or a few characters, are built upon tremendous amounts of information. To create organic characters and conflicts, each must have a backstory. 

Delving into a story really means traveling to and exploring a whole world. To watch the story unfold, its author needs to take up residence within that world. In the process of one story, one adventure, so many more are revealed. Every character, however seemingly minor has a life and tales all their own. Learning about each and every one of the moving cogs is necessary to understand why the story moves the way it does. 

The hardest step however is not discovering the story, or even rooting out its deeper motivations. The most challenging part of writing a story is channeling that knowledge. We writers have spent time in other worlds, lived other lives, but we face the daunting task of shaping and trimming that knowledge in order to tell the story. When and where do we share the feelings of our characters? How do we hint at or reveal the causes of pivotal, plot altering actions and conflicts? 

Ever since I first saw the analogy of the iceberg, I like to think of this process as "trimming the iceberg." I have to limit what portion of the story remains above water. Though it takes a lot to create the foundation for a successful story, not all of that information needs to be told. Too much information will muddle the plot and weigh down the adventure. Too little information can leave the story line disjointed, and limit the readers' understanding of the characters and their emotions. 

Finding this balance is a delicate act, and sometimes hard to accomplish alone. I know so much about my characters and their histories that I am literally their biggest fan. It's hard not to share their thoughts and emotions, to sometimes let their actions remain unexplained. Then again, I also face difficulties providing enough information. Strange to imagine, perhaps, but true nonetheless. Writing a story is a bit like walking through a dream. The story can play out easily for me without trudging again through any back story. The understanding and knowledge I have make it surprisingly easy to leave out critical information. 

This is why having an editor, or preferably multiple editors, is so important. I ask them what they take away from the plot point, or a particular scene, to make sure I provided enough information, and clearly enough. One of my editors I've turned into my confidante. I've tried to share with her much of what I know about the story and the world. Meanwhile I keep one of my other editors strictly away from any knowledge not presented in the writing itself. I think it helps for their extra eyes to see from multiple perspectives. I may be the one trimming the iceberg, but they're the ones who make sure I'm doing my job well.