Flying High Concept
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 See how I did that? Like on Wheel of Fortune where they do before and after?
Anyhoo.
So this weekend, I'm presenting a seminar at the Grub Street Muse and The Marketplace conference about high concept fiction, and today, I'm putting together the presentation. I was hoping that you guys might help me shape it...I've never really spoken on this subject, and it's something that's sort of innate to me, so...I'm not entirely sure what the most helpful things are to touch on.
Obviously: what high concept fiction is, some examples, why it's important. But that doesn't cover an hour and change. :) We're doing a pitch session, in which people toss out their ideas for their novels, and we work together to make them more high concept, but still...I feel like there are probably a lot of questions out there that I'm just not realizing, and I'd love to open up the blog to this discussion.
So, anyone willing to share his or her own ideas of high concept fiction and/or offer up your questions about the genre? Or want to offer examples of what books you think ARE high concept and why/why not? Please, help me help you! (Or the attendees of the seminar, anyway.) :) Thanks in advance!
Craft
Reader Comments (8)
I'd always thought high-concept was best typified by 1980s comedies in which a parent and teenage child switch bodies -- but recently read Yoko Ogawa's The Housekeeper and the Professor, which I believe fits the bill (it's about a man whose memory resets every eighty minutes, and his growing friendship with the housekeeper who comes to take care of him). I thought the challenge with this book was how to elevate the relationships and the action above the conceptual into the real, avoiding the trap of writing down to the concept, allowing it to limit the story, if that makes sense.
LOL to the Wheel of Fortune bit. I mean, it's more a sympathy laugh than anything else, but... I heart you?
In terms of "high concept," I wonder, Is there a spectrum? Or is it like being pregnant: you either are, or you aren't?
Recently I've read what I think would be considered high concept YA books, like HUNGER GAMES and UGLIES. I basically think HUNGER GAMES is perfection, and the UGLIES series was quite fascinating (if not a bit heavy-handed). So I guess I've become a fan of high concept books -- or I was already one and just didn't know it.
As a result, I've been exploring a couple high concept ideas in my own writing, but I'm still incredibly moved by "regular" people going about their "regular" lives. I love finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. So I think where I want my stories to live is in a middle ground between the two -- kind of like what Susanna was saying, I don't want the concept to take over or becoming limiting.
Allison, I think you do a great job balancing that in TIME OF MY LIFE, and I would expect the same in THE ONE THAT I WANT. :)
I still can't quite figure out "high concept." Don't know if I have one or not. I hope you'll share some of your insights with us here!!
It's my first blog comment in a loong time! But fwiw, someone told me once that "high concept" can be defined as when you can truly get at the heart of the book in one sentence (as opposed to, say, 20). That helped me to wrap my head around it...a little.
Allison,
I will be presenting at GRUB this weekend, as well! Looking forward to meeting in person!
Trust me, the hour will fly by...the writers attending are FILLED with questions and it is such a wonderful and inspiring event.
all best,
Jocelyn
Allison, while I really don't think I can offer much to a discussion on high concept, I'd like to jump in and ask if you'd be willing to do some follow up on this after the seminar and pitch session. I would love to hear how the session takes people's concepts and works them into something high concept, and whether it results in great alteration of the work.
If you have the time, of course :)
Jocelyn-Great! Can't wait to see you and thanks for the reassuring words. I'm nervous!
Hayley - yes, happy to!
I'm with Hayley! I would love to hear how it goes in your session so we can all "discuss" it here. Thanks, Allison!