This past Sunday night, our family watched Elf. I know. It’s a Christmas movie. But one of the many joys of Mother’s Day is being able to pick a movie without any sighs from my children. I chose the movie Elf because it makes me laugh. But during this viewing, I noticed that it also teaches some excellent lessons on writing.
1. Characters are shaped by their pasts.
Buddy isn’t like other people. Because no other human being has had his unique experiences. Being raised at the north pole by Santa’s elves shaped his view of himself, and everything around him. The same is true for the characters we write. They see the world through the unique lenses formed by their experiences.
2. Characters grow through their choices.
Buddy could have stayed at the north pole indefinitely. But he didn’t. He walked to New York City. And we’re glad he did. Not only because all kinds of hilarious things happen when he gets there, but because his choices give him room to grow and the plot room to develop. Likewise, our characters need to make choices. Not only do a character’s actions tell us a lot about her, and give her room to grow, they fuel a good plot.
3. Humor adds to almost every story.
There’s a reason Shakespeare included comic relief in his dramas. Not only is humor relatable, it’s often a welcome change of pace for heavier stories. There are times when a writer’s purpose is to maintain a high level of intensity, and humor doesn’t fit in those cases. But most stories benefit from a little well placed humor.
4. Stories need closure.
Buddy’s father Walter signs off on printing a picture book that is missing the last two pages of the story. Not surprisingly, kids are not pleased. Why? Because they want to know what happens to the pigeon and the puppy. (No, I have no idea how those two animals ended up together). The kids wanted closure. We all do. Which is why every story needs resolution. (And for kids’ books and most others, some sense of satisfaction).
5. Write what you know.
At the end of the movie, Buddy publishes a book about a human raised by elves who leaves the north pole to travel to New York City and find his biological father. Now the fact that dad owns the publishing company certainly helped with the sales pitch. But there is also something wonderfully authentic that comes through when people write about their passions.