On Cliches and Forcing the Story
I've been thinking about the idiot plot turn that Paolini pulled with Eragon's parentage. I can rather understand why he did it, but it didn't work. All the same, it reminded me of experiences I've had with my own writing.
I've either submitted it for criticism, or thought about it a lot. And I think that a certain scene, or phrase, or character is 'too cliched.' So I try to change it, but it doesn't work. It feels like I'm forcing the story. Its kind of like when you try to force two puzzle pieces together when they just don't fit. Sometimes, things just have to be one way for this particular story. The heroine has to be a warrior princess in love with a thief. The hero has to have a sword to defeat the dragon. The hero has to have an epic showdown with the guy who killed his father. They may be cliched, but for this story, they just feel right.
Now I don't pretend to know anything about Paolini's creative process. But I've got the feeling that Morzan was originally supposed to be Eragon's father, and he changed it to Brom because it was more original that way. (As well as the whole Star Wars thing, but if he hadn't made the rest of the story exactly like it except in a different setting that wouldn't have been a problem.) In fact, before Brisingr came out I assumed, due to some comments from Brom in book one, that he had loved Eragon's mother. He hadn't actually been involved with her, but his love for her was the reason he protected her son. But then the Black Brick came out with its crazy plot twist, and my theory was false. But I think it would have been better that way. And if Paolini could have come up with a more creative way to reveal it, instead of ripping off Star Wars (again), it would also have been a much better story. (Maybe he could find out before Murtagh gets captured? And then they fight, and are reconciled, and Eragon tries to rescue him when he gets caught. Murtagh could be used to lure Eragon in if they were actually close to each other. But alas for what has never been.)
I've either submitted it for criticism, or thought about it a lot. And I think that a certain scene, or phrase, or character is 'too cliched.' So I try to change it, but it doesn't work. It feels like I'm forcing the story. Its kind of like when you try to force two puzzle pieces together when they just don't fit. Sometimes, things just have to be one way for this particular story. The heroine has to be a warrior princess in love with a thief. The hero has to have a sword to defeat the dragon. The hero has to have an epic showdown with the guy who killed his father. They may be cliched, but for this story, they just feel right.
Now I don't pretend to know anything about Paolini's creative process. But I've got the feeling that Morzan was originally supposed to be Eragon's father, and he changed it to Brom because it was more original that way. (As well as the whole Star Wars thing, but if he hadn't made the rest of the story exactly like it except in a different setting that wouldn't have been a problem.) In fact, before Brisingr came out I assumed, due to some comments from Brom in book one, that he had loved Eragon's mother. He hadn't actually been involved with her, but his love for her was the reason he protected her son. But then the Black Brick came out with its crazy plot twist, and my theory was false. But I think it would have been better that way. And if Paolini could have come up with a more creative way to reveal it, instead of ripping off Star Wars (again), it would also have been a much better story. (Maybe he could find out before Murtagh gets captured? And then they fight, and are reconciled, and Eragon tries to rescue him when he gets caught. Murtagh could be used to lure Eragon in if they were actually close to each other. But alas for what has never been.)