The Map is not the Territory
Over at Writer Unboxed is a post on Writer’s Journey by Chris Vogler. Like McKee and many others, Vogler is big on ‘dramatic structure’ — organizing a story into acts, sequences, and scenes. While this is sure to be helpful for most writers, it inevitably raises the question of formula. Writers who are not big on structure or organization will be quick to label something like Vogler’s mythic structure as formulaic in a derogatory fashion, implying that stories made from it are cookie cutter and unoriginal.
It is useful to point out to the formula naysayers, as well as those on the opposite side of the spectrum who might take the stages of the Writer’s Journey too literally, that the map is not the territory. What does that mean?
It means that an abstraction like a map is not the same as the actual thing it is describing. A map of New York City is not actually New York City… it’s just a drawing on a map, a symbol, a representation. While this is fairly obvious, it is easy for people to forget — even easier for those of us who spend all our days working with symbols, metaphors, words, and other representations of things.
“The map is not the territory.” is a useful expression for writers to remember, because although we are masters of creating metaphor, we are also sometimes fooled by metaphors about our own work and what writing is all about. To take something like Vogler’s mythic structure of a story, and copy it directly into a story would be mistaking the map for the territory. We would be taking the metaphor too literally.
At the same time, rejecting structure out of hand is like the driver who doesn’t believe in maps. Eventually you will get lost, and if you’re like most drivers who shun maps, your pride won’t allow you to admit you are lost. This means it will take you much longer to find the right road and reach your destination. It may even prevent you from ever finding that road at all.
It is best to strike a balance. We need maps to find our way, but we must remember when it comes down to the nitty gritty, that the map is not the territory.
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November 17th, 2006 at 6:31 am
A formula to me is like a coat hoot. They can be plastic, wood, and come in a billion shapes and colors. But, you still need a coat to hang on it. Making the coat is harder than making the hook.
Storytelling.
November 19th, 2006 at 2:03 am
I agree with your point about balance.
If the formula provides a structure, this often liberates the writer. How? Since the basic framework is already in place, the writer doesn’t need to worry about constructing it. Then their creative energies and time can go into making their story details rich, the characters more lively.
Most houses are built the same way, yet no two are alike because of what the people who live in them put into making their habitats their own.
I’d never heard of this book before, but I’m definitely interested in taking a look at it.
November 20th, 2006 at 5:14 pm
I feel the same way about structure. Where it is often villainized as confining, I see it as liberating for the exact reasons you mentioned. With a framework in place, I can focus on the locations, actual events, characters, and all that other good stuff.
And you nailed the house analogy perfectly. Structure should not be confused with the contents of structure. Just because your house shares bare rectangle rooms with the rest of the houses in the world, doesn’t mean you can’t make it your own somehow, hang a few pictures, put your personal touch into the space! The same is true for a story, of course.