A working definition: “Event” is what happens that is outside of the main character’s control (something that happens to the main character), or an action of the main character that doesn’t affect the dramatic direction of the narrative.
A working definition: “action” is what the main character does that affects the dramatic direction of the narrative.
“Action” is opposed to “event.”
The Greek word that describes what many people refer to as the “tragic flaw” of the hero of Greek tragedy, hamartia has a complex meaning which includes “sin,” “error,” “trespass,” and “missing the mark” (as in archery–missing the bull’s-eye). The “mistake” of the hero has an integral place in the plot of the tragedy. The logic of the hero’s descent into misfortune is determined by the nature of his or her particular kind of hamartia.
The reversal of the situation in the plot of a tragedy is the peripeteia. According to Aristotle, the change of fortune for the hero should be an event that occurs contrary to the audience’s expectations and that is therefore surprising, but that nonetheless appears as a necessary outcome of the preceding actions.
Anagnorisis is the recognition by the tragic hero of some truth about his or her identity or actions that accompanies the reversal of the situation in the plot, the peripeteia. Oedipus’s realization that he is, in fact, his father’s murderer and his mother’s lover is an example of anagnorisis.
According to Aristotle’s Poetics:
In the trajectory of a tragic plot, the complication extends from the beginning of the play to the moment of peripeteia and/or anagnorisis–the turning point of the plot. The denouement includes this turning point and extends to the conclusion of the play.
In the trajectory of a tragic plot, the denouement follows the complication, beginning with and including the moment of peripeteia and/or anagnorisis–the turning point of the plot–and extending to the conclusion of the play.
Seven agents answer questions on the health of selling SF and fantasy manuscripts.Includes Donald Maas, of Donald Maass Literary Agency; Andrew Zack, of The Zack Company; Joshua Bilmes, of JABberwocky Literary Agency; Lucienne Diver, of Spectrum Literary Agency; Shawna McCarthy, of The McCarthy Agency; plus Jack Byrne, of Larry Sternig & Jack Byrne Literary Agency; Eleanor Wood, also of Spectrum Literary Agency; Nanci McCloskey, of Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.
Check it out to see who sounds like they might be reasonable representation for your next novel.
Shawna McCarthy gets my vote for someone who understands. She clearly “gets it.”
“Publishers are so desperate to feed their bottom lines that they’ll even resurrect the dead to keep a best-selling author’s work coming out. See Louis L’Amour, or the Flowers in the Attic series.
“You see slots on the SF shelves being filled by books with ISAAC ASIMOV in great big letters on the cover, and in much smaller type below it is revealed that this is a living writer working in Isaac’s universe. I am and have always been one of Isaac’s biggest fans, but books like those are taking up space and money that might be spent on living, growing, talented new authors.”
Darryl Murphy wonders why the same old names appear every year, and where some of the fine fiction semi-prozines, such as Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet, Aurealis, Say…, Talebones, and The Third Alternative are.His comments have already stimulated a small-press self-promotion group. But ultimately it is in the hands of the readers to appreciate, nominate and vote for these fine fiction outlets.
In the opinion of this editor, the small presses are where all of the interesting things are happening. Please support their efforts. Here at FutureTense, we’ll remind our subscribers how to nominate and when to vote. Please register, so we can notify you.
Not your father’s Irish band….From Ireland, Dervish offers traditional Irish music with zip. Try “The Fair Maid” off of their Harmony Hill album: an upbeat song of a young woman who joins the British Royal Navy.
Or “Hills of Greenmore,” a wistful song about the otherworldly dangers of hunting.
Or “The Ploughman,” a young woman’s infatuation with a field hand.
Beautiful voices, strong instumentals, especially for those who love the mandolin. See the Green Man review for more.