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New Year’s resolution

Published by bryan | Filed under journal entries

Dec 25, 2006

In the new year, I’ve resolved to write a better story. By better story, I don’t mean the kind you write on paper, I mean the kind you write by walking and talking and breathing.

I’ve been studying a book by Robert McKee about the art of writing screenplay. The book, called Story, instructs on building good stories, creating fascinating characters, keeping audiences interested and so on. I used to think Hollywood stories were not like life because life is more boring. To some degree, of course, this is true, as stories are synthesized. But by applying the same principles an editor applies to a screenplay to our lives, our living and breathing stories become interesting.

So the question is, what principles make a story good? And can we apply these principles to our lives?

Here are some things to consider as we begin a new year, a new chapter in our stories.

1. Great stories include characters that want something. They have dreams and aspirations. Stories with characters that don’t want anything are nearly offensive. These characters have no appreciation for the gift of life, or worse, they refuse to take responsibility.

2. The dreams and aspirations of the leading protagonist are good for an entire community. They are inspirational dreams, or desires for justice, the character is kind and humble and wants for the good of all around him/her. The character does not think too much or too little of themselves.

3. The protagonist does not run from the forces that oppose him/her. A good story has its lead character facing their internal or external fears. They do not live out of their fears, they live out of their dreams.

4. The protagonist overcomes their fears in order to achieve their dreams. They “write” their story daily, because they know what their story is about. They take action.

5. Truly great stories include mystery and the power of providence. The goodness of God seems to reach in and help the character because God loves the protagonist. And the protagonist is good at receiving this love. We see this in the lives of Joseph, Moses, Joseph and Mary, Paul, Peter, Zacheus and so on…

Of course, there are many formulas for good stories, but this is a great one. In the past month, I sat down and wrote down my dreams, what I wanted, and I also wrote down my fears. I know now what I want, and what I have to overcome to get what I want. I know how to pray and I want to ask God to be with me on the journey. The story may not work out in the end. Many stories do not. But at least it won’t be boring….and by “it” I mean “life.” The one who burries his talents is scolded, afterall.

All the best to you as you seek to write a great story. All the best to you in the new year!

Don Miller

December 28th, 2006


18 Responses to “New Year’s resolution”

  1. ADR Says:
    December 29th, 2006 at 3:39 am

    Don,

    First of all, I want to thank you for your work. A great church community we hooked up with here in Lowell, Arkansas turned me on to BLJ a few months ago and have read TTPD and just finished TOAD. Your writing style is great, I drink in pages of the books at one sitting and they have played a large part in my reunion with Christ. Your stuff has also pushed me from the requisite side of the hump to the eager side in reading the scriptures and finding more of this out for myself. I’ve also referred BLJ to many folks I’ve met on planes.

    A lot of what I have been through recently is causing an irresistible urge to move back to Portland. The first time we moved there it was for self centered motives and void of God and we couldn’t get over the fears you mentioned above and tailed it back to Texas where we chased materialism with the best of them.

    Speaking of materialism, I’m in a life sucking role wrestling with that 900 pound guerilla that lives around here and realizing this isn’t my calling. So, the search has been underway on how I can get my family up there and after checking out Imago Dei’s website and the Belmont Foundation feel pretty strongly about getting my rear up there to help out. I’m also pretty sure there is a built in group to plant proceeding missions down here through a group called the Single Parent Scholarship Fund that is associated with a large number of boys without fathers.

    Oregon was once a part of our dreams that God gave us and we ran away from it. Well, we’re blowing the dust off of it and have a much stronger purpose for it now. The dreams also include owning a business that helps the community and I can’t help to feel it is all weaving together in large part to the reminders your work has given me.

    If you would be open to some more discrete dialogue on this, I’d welcome it. If not, I understand.

    Perhaps you could give me some advice on how to crash the gig you will be speaking at next week and maybe we could meet in person. Again, no hurt feelings if you decline.

    Thanks again for your works, I’m starting SFGKW next.

    Best Regards,
    ADR

  2. Larry Says:
    December 29th, 2006 at 7:20 am

    Thanks. I’ve been too busy, too unfocused, and that essay helped.

  3. Hannah Says:
    December 29th, 2006 at 12:44 pm

    Question:
    What if I just wanted to write Don a letter? Not a booking or a request for republication or anything like that, just a letter? Where would I send it?

  4. Jayme Says:
    December 30th, 2006 at 9:36 am

    Yeah, it’s settled…(as if I toiled over the decision), Don Miller is amazing.

  5. Michele Says:
    December 30th, 2006 at 9:25 pm

    that was very poetic…and inspiring. I’ve never thought of life that way. I respect your decision to write a story outloud instead of on paper, although i believe it will one day find its way onto one…or several of which i cannot wait to read, the adventures, the struggles, the heartache, the pain, the laughter, and the overwhelming joy of overcoming that which holds you back…

  6. Kerry Says:
    December 30th, 2006 at 9:27 pm

    A couple of months ago, I came across a passage by Smith Wigglesworth about how the Holy Spirit will make us epistles…and I loved the idea of being made into a letter to the world…that we are part of the story He’s writing…Here’s my blog comment:

    The Holy Spirit will make us epistles, ever telling out that Jesus our Lord is our Redeemer…

    Not that the Holy Spirit will create an epistle for us but that by the Holy Spirit we will become epistles. Wiggleworth’s chapter, Life in the Spirit, is based on Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 3:3: “…clearly you are an epistle of Christ…written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”

    I love that I serve the Author of Life and the Word Made Flesh. And I am thrilled that He’s allowed me to be even a mere character (as in the letter ‘k’) in the story He’s weaving. And, as in what Wiggleworth exclaimed, I also get to be a royal storyteller…I get to tell - I am sent forth to tell His story!

  7. Kerry Says:
    December 30th, 2006 at 9:28 pm

  8. Kerry Says:
    December 30th, 2006 at 9:30 pm

    “”A couple of months ago, I came across a passage by Smith Wigglesworth about how the Holy Spirit will make us epistles…and I loved the idea of being made into a letter to the world…that we are part of the story He’s writing…Here’s my blog comment:

    The Holy Spirit will make us epistles, ever telling out that Jesus our Lord is our Redeemer…

    Not that the Holy Spirit will create an epistle for us but that by the Holy Spirit we will become epistles. Wiggleworth’s chapter, Life in the Spirit, is based on Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 3:3: “…clearly you are an epistle of Christ…written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”

    I love that I serve the Author of Life and the Word Made Flesh. And I am thrilled that He’s allowed me to be even a mere character (as in the letter ‘k’) in the story He’s weaving. And, as in what Wiggleworth exclaimed, I also get to be a royal storyteller…I get to tell - I am sent forth to tell His story!”"

  9. Kerry Says:
    December 30th, 2006 at 9:31 pm

    Sorry for all the posts!..I kept getting an XHTML warning went I hit submit query and thought they weren’t going through!

  10. Aaron Donley Says:
    December 31st, 2006 at 2:01 am

    Hey Don, I’m sure you’re already aware of this but the movie “Adaptation” deals wonderfully with the themes you’re talking about. The book you’re reading “Story” is a focul point of the film as well. Anyway, I watched it a week ago for the first time and thought it was great.

    Thanks for the post.

  11. ramblings and such » Blog Archive » and thus begins… Says:
    January 1st, 2007 at 12:49 pm

    [...] Writer Don Miller wants to write a better story with his life this year. I found his thoughts pretty inspiring, you should check them out. [...]

  12. erika Says:
    January 1st, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    Don,

    I have recently returned to the States after living in the Middle East and working with humanitarian organizations for almost 2 years. While overseas, a friend recommended your book “Blue Like Jazz”. I began reading it last week. Your words have been very helpful in my ‘re-entry’ to American culture and community.
    I have enjoyed living in a society where people and relationships are central as a opposed to time and tasks. Although neither culture is whole, both have something amazing to offer the human experience and one’s understanding of the need for community for all people.

    I look forward to reading more of your works and the conversations that they inspire.
    erika

  13. Gigi Lynch Says:
    January 2nd, 2007 at 2:17 pm

    Just finished Dragon and really wish more women could get a chance to read it. I think they may not because it looks like it’s just written for men. Too bad because they are missing an incredible chance to more fully understand the men in their life. I never would have read it except it was recommended by a friend who had also given me Blue, which I devoured. On the next print run, maybe you could include a testimonial in the front from a well-known woman.

    Also agree that “Story” by McKee is one of the best books out there on any kind of writing.

  14. angela seagler Says:
    January 2nd, 2007 at 10:51 pm

    Don,
    I am in the middle of To Own a Dragon and have a prayer request for you and all the others out there reading this…I spoke with a single mom today who is a mother of one of my students. She shared with me that she is so troubled by how she knows that although she tries in every way she can, she knows she can’t fill all the holes that are left in her son by the absence of his father. She asked me to pray for men to come into his life so that he could get what he needs that she can never provide. I thought of you and your struggle. The neverending stream of men that have plopped into your life, many times offering more confusion than help. Please pray for my dear friend Debbie and her 15 year old son Joshua. You said praying comes easy for you, so I thought I would ask a praying man to pray about someone else that is walking the same path you have walked, and spiritually radio this young man some help through his choppy air.
    Thanks for the reminder about living your dreams…
    You are, you know…you have a great big audience who hangs on your every metaphor…keep writing and living…keep fighting through the fears…you’re a hero, I can tell, and your story has to have a happy ending…you’re too funny to end up tragic!
    Love and Light, Angela (greetings from Texas!)

  15. Wes Roberts Says:
    January 6th, 2007 at 8:15 pm

    Don…how might I be in touch with you about some insight on a major project I’m embarking on? Judy sends her best regards. …blessings to you in the new year! Wes

  16. Linda Carter Says:
    January 7th, 2007 at 7:56 pm

    Hi Don- I wanted to tell you that I was at Montreat for the college retreat this weekend and I enjoyed your talk. I am on the board of the Presbyterian Campus Ministry at Vanderbilt and work with Jennifer Fouse. She is an inspiration to me (I should say, I am on staff at Vanderbilt and am a 46 year old working mom). One thing I really took from your talk about story that is missing here is the idea of conflict. You allude to it here but I liked the way you described how important it was in the story of Joseph and how it is so important in a good life story. We talked a lot about that afterwards. Thanks for some though provoking material.
    Peace,
    Linda

  17. Dana Says:
    February 12th, 2007 at 10:33 pm

    I really think you should write a better story too, lets work on a romance novel in action…. one that includes walking and talking and coming to Chicago so you can actually have another half of your story. One that has the softer side. Also one about eating some crazy dish at some small little dive with a girl that would love to meet you. :)
    How embarrassing trying to flirt with someone when the whole world can see it…..now thats humility.
    Dana :)

  18. My Story - Your Story (Is it a good story?) « Attempting LIFE Says:
    March 29th, 2008 at 12:32 am

    [...] a post I found on a Donald Miller website that he wrote where he describes life and the choices you make to make your life a great story. New [...]

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