Posted December 7th, 2011 under Craft, Writing
Craft Tip: Surface Problem vs. Story-Worthy Problem (And Why You Need Both)
I mentioned in a couple of ROW80 updates that I’m reading the craft book, Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton. It’s all about how to write an effective beginning, and I highly recommend it.
One of the things I learned from the book is the difference between Surface Problems and Story Problems. Every story needs both.
Edgerton says:
“The opening scene features the inciting incident, which is the dramatic event that creates the initial surface problem and set ups the introduction of the story-worthy problem, which is the reason d’être for the entire story.”
Before reading this book, I didn’t realize the surface problem and story-worthy problem were two different things. I thought if my protagonist had a problem to solve at the beginning of my story, that was enough.
Turns out, it’s not enough. Here’s how they differ:
Surface problems are the bad situations your protagonist gets into. It relates to his immediate goal. For example, in Holes by Louis Sachar (a book I also highly recommend), Stanley’s surface problem is that he needs to find a way to survive at Camp Green Lake. His surface goal is to escape and return to his family.
The story-worthy problem goes even further. It’s a bigger psychological problem that greatly affects the protagonist and makes him want to change. Basically, it’s what the story’s really about. Holes is about more than a kid trying to escape a camp. It goes much deeper than that. His story-worthy problem and goal are to overcome his family curse and not be a victim anymore. Being at Camp Green Lake (his surface problem) is just one manifestation of his story-worthy problem.
I’ll admit, the difference between these two elements was difficult for me to grasp at first. But now that I understand them, I see how you can’t have a book without both. Simply having a protagonist in a bad situation isn’t enough to keep readers reading. There needs to be a bigger issue to solve.
Luckily, though I didn’t know the terms when I was writing, my WIP has both elements. Now as I revise, I need to work on strengthening my story-worthy problem.
Edgerton goes into much more detail about these and the other elements that make a strong beginning. He provides a ton of examples, using books and movies. If you’re looking to improve your story’s opening, check it out!
Have you read Hooked?
