I had a follow-up thought to my post on Monday about NEWNESS. So consider this a companion-post. This thought occurred to me as I was watching probably my third episode of NCIS in a row on USA. This has turned into a weird habit of mine lately, probably because it's easy to have on in the background, but mostly because it's nice to know what to expect sometimes. So here's the thought:

Formulas are not a bad thing. Formulas in fiction can and should work.

We already said there are no new stories. And I still believe that. So there's clearly nothing wrong with familiarity in story arcs and plot and general structure. I mean, there's a reason kids series like Goosebumps or Nancy Drew or Baby-Sitters Club can go on for 80+ books (clearly much much more in the case of Nancy Drew). Or why CSI has been on the air for YEARS only dealing with murder cases. And don't even get me started on mysteries. 

The details change between books and episodes. The plots don't. (For the most part.)

Sometimes you do get those jewels where the formula has been altered in some brilliant way. Where the author has played with form, or non-linear timeline, or alternating points of view--and it works to amazing effect. But then you also get the disasters.

So here's the rub: You only get to break rules once you learn them and master them. First, (and I'm begging here) learn the formulas! Know when plot rises and falls. When the action builds, when the twist comes, when the character's thoughtful introspection should appear. When to have the dark night of the soul. When to up the ante. Get it right. Then, and only then, play with formula.

But not too much. We like the familiarity, we like trying to guess what's next--because we kind of already know. (Example, have you ever noticed that most famous guest star in an episode of Law and Order is always the killer? Sorry if I just ruined that for you.) Stories have to have structure to work. It's the details (voice, character, setting) that really suck us in.

I'm not telling you to write the most formulaic, predictable novel. No one wants to read it. But I want you to understand those formulas and why they work before you try to venture outside them and break any molds. Craft first. Then art.