The Purification of Storytelling

People have flaws. And your characters should have them too.

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I often refer to fiction as “heightened reality.” While journalism, by design, must be as accurate and unbiased as possible to contribute to a healthy, functioning democracy, storytelling requires a sense of drama to engage readers.

In fiction, there’s a promise that what you’re experiencing — whether through watching, reading, or consuming — is not real. As an artist, you have an obligation to fulfill this promise based on the genre you’re working in.

However, as you strive to craft a perfect (or as close to it as possible) story, you encounter several challenges — boulders trying to crush your creative endeavor. These challenges include meeting audience expectations, navigating creative differences within your team, and adhering to project timelines.

One of the most significant challenges is finding a balance between creating authentic characters that reflect real people and still evoking a sense of wonder and excitement in your audience.

Isn’t it ironic how a corporation can disrupt all of this arbitrarily?

To clarify, my critique isn’t directed at any specific corporation; rather, it’s a commentary on the general approach that the new generation of…