Why Revolutions are Hard to Write

Summary

This video script delves into the complexities of revolution in storytelling, exploring the interplay of characters, ideologies, and the tension that arises from conflicting goals within a revolutionary context. It discusses how narratives can be enriched by focusing on the personal struggles of characters, the transformation they undergo, and the challenges of maintaining a coherent vision post-revolution. The script also touches on the importance of realism versus mythic storytelling in conveying the depth and impact of revolutions.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the complexities of writing about revolutions, emphasizing the need to show personal struggles with injustice, alienation, and desperation.
• 🌐 It highlights the importance of understanding that characters and their relationships are interconnected, creating a web of tension that drives the story forward.
• 🤔 The video script suggests that while historical accuracy can add depth, the mythic and symbolic aspects of revolution in storytelling can be just as compelling.
• 🎭 It points out the common trope of focusing on the aftermath of a revolution, exploring the challenges of maintaining order and realizing utopian ideals.
• 👥 The script touches on the character dynamics that can arise from disagreements over revolutionary methods and the management of post-revolutionary societies.
• 🧩 It illustrates how the tension between ideology and reality can lead to characters questioning their beliefs and the morality of their actions.
• 📉 The video mentions the 'head of the snake' fallacy, where killing a single figure is believed to bring down an entire system, which is often not the case.
• 🌟 The script encourages writers to consider the personal growth of characters as a reflection of the revolution's impact, whether it leads to heroism or tyranny.
• 📖 It provides examples from literature and media, such as 'Les Miserables' and 'The Hunger Games', to illustrate how different stories approach the theme of revolution.
• 🔄 The video script emphasizes the cyclical nature of revolutions, suggesting that they are not single events but ongoing processes that require constant adaptation and struggle.
• 💡 Lastly, it encourages writers to think about the psychological aspects of revolution, including how characters reconcile with their past and the identity they once had within an oppressive regime.

Q & A

What is the main analogy used in the script to describe the interconnectedness of elements in a story?

The main analogy used is a cork board with points connected by strings, where characters, objects, and places are all interconnected, creating tension as they pull in different directions.

How does the script relate the concept of a 'revolution' to the dynamics within a story?

The script describes a revolution in a story as a situation where characters have conflicting ideologies and desires, which, when pulled taut, can lead to a breaking point that propels the narrative forward.

What does the script suggest as the common theme explored in stories of revolution?

The script suggests that stories of revolution often explore themes of struggle, sacrifice, injustice in society, wealth and power dynamics, and the exploration of individual agency and cycles of history.

How does the script use 'Les Misérables' as an example to illustrate the concept of tension in storytelling?

The script uses 'Les Misérables' to show how characters like Jean Valjean and Javert have opposing views of justice and morality, which creates tension that builds up until it reaches a breaking point.

What is the significance of the 'story web' mentioned in the script?

The 'story web' is significant as it represents the complex interplay of themes, character arcs, and plot points that create tension and drive the narrative of a story, especially in the context of a revolution.

Why does the script mention the importance of showing 'Injustice, alienation, and Desperation' in a story about revolution?

The script emphasizes these elements because they are common reasons that motivate people to join a cause or fight against a system, providing a visceral and relatable foundation for the revolution in the story.

How does the script differentiate between realistic and mythic approaches to writing about revolutions?

The script differentiates by stating that while realistic approaches focus on the complex factors and logistics of actual revolutions, mythic approaches can be more symbolic, inspiring, and focused on the aesthetic of revolution to explore themes like sacrifice and loyalty.

What is the 'head of the snake' fallacy mentioned in the script, and why is it problematic?

The 'head of the snake' fallacy refers to the idea that killing the leader of an oppressive regime will automatically bring down the entire system. It's problematic because in reality, such actions often lead to a splintering of power among competing factions, which may be equally bad.

Why does the script suggest that focusing on what happens after a revolution can be just as important as the revolution itself?

The script suggests this because the aftermath of a revolution often involves significant challenges, such as reorganizing society, dealing with competing interests, and managing the psychological and physical costs of war, which can provide rich material for storytelling.

What advice does the script give regarding the portrayal of character arcs in revolutionary stories?

The script advises that the way characters change over the course of the story can significantly influence the thematic meaning of the revolution, whether through positive growth into heroism, disillusionment, or the descent into tyranny.

Outlines

00:00

🧵 Story Webs and Revolution Dynamics

This paragraph discusses the complex interplay of characters, ideologies, and events in revolutionary narratives. It uses the metaphor of a cork board with points connected by strings to illustrate how elements in a story create tension and conflict. The paragraph highlights the importance of character disagreements, especially in a revolution setting with factions like the regime and the resistance. It also touches on the idea that characters may have different visions for the future, leading to a tangled web of relationships and motivations. The sponsor of the video is introduced, emphasizing the community's role in the content creation process.

05:01

🎭 The Revolutionary Storytelling in Les Misérables

The paragraph delves into the narrative structure of 'Les Misérables,' exploring how the story uses personal struggles and societal injustices to depict the broader theme of revolution. It discusses the character arcs, such as Jean Valjean's quest for redemption and the tension between his beliefs and actions, culminating in a pivotal moment that challenges the status quo. The summary also covers the portrayal of classism and the futility of the characters' struggles, emphasizing the gap between revolutionary ideals and their practical implementation.

10:01

📚 Writing Revolutions: From Desperation to Change

This paragraph examines the common starting points for revolution-focused stories, such as the realization of systemic failure or the involvement of a disenfranchised individual. It stresses the importance of grounding these stories in the visceral experiences of injustice, alienation, and desperation. The use of evocative writing to convey the characters' day-to-day struggles is highlighted as a method to engage the reader and illustrate the necessity for change.

15:02

🌐 The Complexities and Aftermath of Revolutions

The paragraph explores the complexities of revolutionary stories, discussing the challenges of depicting repression and the reasons why people might not rebel. It contrasts the narrative of 'The Handmaid's Tale' with other revolutionary stories, emphasizing the importance of understanding the experiences of those living under oppressive regimes. The paragraph also touches on the potential for stories to explore the consequences of revolution, including the moral dilemmas faced by characters and the potential for utopian visions to devolve into new forms of repression.

20:02

🌪️ Character Arcs and the Evolution of Revolution

This paragraph discusses how character development and change can shape the thematic meaning of revolution in a story. It uses examples from 'Dune' and 'War and Peace' to illustrate how characters' arcs can reflect the descent into tyranny or the disillusionment with revolutionary ideals. The importance of understanding the conflict characters face and how their experiences can inform the reader's perception of the revolution is emphasized.

25:04

🌿 The Mythic Nature of Revolutionary Stories

The paragraph addresses the mythic and inspiring aspects of revolutionary stories, arguing that they don't need to be realistic to be meaningful. It discusses the head of the snake fallacy often seen in stories, where the defeat of a single figurehead is mistaken for the downfall of an entire system. The paragraph also highlights the importance of stories that focus on the power of individual action and the potential for optimistic science fiction to inspire change.

30:05

🔄 The Chaos of Post-Revolutionary Worlds

This paragraph delves into the chaos and complexities that arise after a revolution, discussing the potential for in-fighting among factions with differing interests. It uses examples from 'A Song of Ice and Fire' and 'The Dispossessed' to illustrate the challenges of reorganizing society and the gap between utopian ideals and their execution. The paragraph also touches on the psychological aspects of post-revolutionary worlds, exploring how characters might reconcile their loyalty to a past regime and the moral ambiguities of their actions.

📘 Summary: Crafting Compelling Revolutionary Narratives

The final paragraph summarizes the key points discussed in the video script, emphasizing the importance of showing personal injustices, character arcs, and the mythic nature of revolutions. It also highlights the significance of exploring post-revolutionary worlds and the complexities of maintaining a society after the fall of an oppressive regime. The summary encourages creators to consider the tensions and conflicts in their story web, ensuring a rich and engaging narrative.

Keywords

💡Revolution

Revolution in the context of this video refers to a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system. It is the central theme, with the video exploring the dynamics of revolution in storytelling, such as the tensions, conflicts, and motivations behind such upheavals. The script uses 'revolution' to discuss character arcs, societal change, and the complexities of post-revolutionary periods.

💡Tension

Tension, as used in the script, describes the emotional and narrative strain within a story, particularly in relation to a revolution. It is the driving force that propels characters toward conflict and change. The transcript mentions 'tension' in the metaphor of a cork board where strings represent the connections and conflicts between characters, places, and events.

💡Character Arcs

Character arcs are the personal journeys and transformations that characters undergo throughout a story. In the video, character arcs are linked to the theme of revolution, showing how individuals evolve in response to the struggle, sacrifice, and injustice they face. The script illustrates this with examples from 'Les Miserables,' where characters like Jean Valjean and Javert experience significant changes due to their involvement in the revolution.

💡Injustice

Injustice is a core concept in the video, representing unfair treatment or behavior that often sparks the desire for revolution. It is depicted as a personal experience that affects characters on a day-to-day basis, motivating them to seek change. The script cites 'Les Miserables' as an example, where the injustice of the justice system is a catalyst for Valjean's actions.

💡Alienation

Alienation in the video script refers to the feeling of being isolated or disconnected from society, often due to systemic issues. It is a reason that drives individuals toward revolutionary action, as they seek to break free from societal constraints. The transcript discusses how characters in revolutionary stories often feel alienated by the system they live in.

💡Desperation

Desperation is portrayed as a powerful motivator for characters in revolutionary stories, stemming from extreme circumstances that leave them with no other options. The video uses the example of Cormac McCarthy's writing to illustrate how desperation can be depicted in a narrative, showing characters driven by hunger and the constant struggle for survival.

💡Propaganda

Propaganda is discussed in the context of how it shapes public perception during times of revolution. It is a tool used by both the regime and the revolutionaries to sway opinions and control the narrative. The script mentions the power of media narratives in 'The Hunger Games' series, where propaganda plays a crucial role in the revolution's success.

💡Mythic

The term 'mythic' is used to describe stories that have a legendary or symbolic quality, often transcending realism to convey deeper meanings or themes. In the video, 'mythic' is applied to revolutionary stories that may not be realistic but still hold significant messages about struggle, sacrifice, and societal change.

💡Post-Revolution

Post-revolution refers to the period following a successful revolution, where the challenges of rebuilding society and addressing the aftermath become the focus. The video script discusses the complexities of this phase, including the potential for internal conflict, the struggle to realize utopian ideals, and the psychological impact on individuals.

💡Utopian

Utopian in the video represents an ideal society or community, often envisioned as a goal of a revolution. However, the script also explores the challenges and potential pitfalls of trying to achieve such a society, including the gap between ideals and reality, and the conflicts that can arise from differing interpretations of what constitutes a utopia.

💡Dystopian

Dystopian is used in the script to describe a genre of fiction that portrays a society characterized by oppression and control, often serving as a backdrop for revolutionary stories. The video discusses how dystopian settings can be used to explore themes of resistance, sacrifice, and the struggle for freedom.

Highlights

Cork board stories can be imagined as points connected by strings, creating tension as events unfold and characters pull in different directions.

Revolution stories often involve characters with conflicting ideologies and methods, leading to a tangled mess of interests.

The tension in stories can be released through a revolution, where characters' disagreements and struggles culminate in significant change.

Historical revolutions are not unified fronts but a complex mix of interests, which can be reflected in story writing.

The author discusses the importance of character dynamics in revolution stories, such as disagreements over methods and visions of the future.

Les Misérables is highlighted as an example of a story where personal redemption and societal justice intersect, creating complex character motivations.

The gap between ideology and reality in revolution stories is a common theme, with characters often grappling with the consequences of their beliefs.

The author emphasizes the importance of showing the visceral impact of injustice, alienation, and desperation on characters to make revolution stories compelling.

The Handmaid's Tale is presented as an example of a story where revolution is not an option due to the extreme repression and lack of autonomy.

Dune is discussed as a cautionary tale about the dangers of following a messianic leader in a revolution, highlighting the potential for liberation to become a new form of repression.

The Hunger Games is praised for its exploration of media narrative and propaganda in shaping the perception of injustice and revolution.

The author stresses the significance of character arcs in shaping the thematic meaning of revolution, with examples from War and Peace and The Hunger Games.

Revolution stories can be mythic and inspiring, not necessarily needing to be realistic to hold meaning or be compelling.

The post-revolution world often presents its own set of challenges, as seen in stories like The Dispossessed and Red Rising, where characters must navigate the complexities of a new order.

The author discusses the psychological impact of revolution on characters, including the struggle to reconcile past loyalties with new realities.

The summary provided encapsulates the key points on crafting compelling revolution stories, emphasizing the importance of personal impact, character arcs, and the mythic nature of such narratives.

Transcripts

look at this cork board stories Can Be

Imagined like a bunch of points all

connected by string pulling on each

other tugging because characters and

objects and places they're all connected

they all relate to each other in some

way creating tension as events unfold

and and characters pull in different

directions till eventually

something snaps something breaks and A

revolution is perfect for this kind of

makeup you've got characters on opposite

sides the regime versus the resistance

but maybe you've got characters who

believe in the regime and that it can be

changed from within While others demand

more radical methods

I'm using hijack Peter you've got

characters disagreeing over

revolutionary methods and then everyone

agrees on bringing down the regime but

not what comes after a symbolic Hunger

Games

historically revolutions haven't always

been a unified front of ideologies but

often a tangled mess of the rich wanting

power or workers wanting rights and

Liberation uh foreign countries wanting

concessions and agreements of

politicians and Elites wanting more

control of the system ideologues you

know having visions of the future that

are going to be difficult if not

impossible to implement and maybe all

the strings between these things are

loose while they're fighting the regime

while they have a common goal but once

that's over these strings are going to

get Tighter and Tighter and Tighter till

eventually you've got your characters

pulling in a thousand different

directions

and something comes apart so let's talk

about revolutions

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foreign

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see I've been doing all these books and

stories and revolution is a Trope right

it's not a story by itself and when

we're writing stories of Revolution

we're really telling stories about

struggle sacrifice Injustice in society

how to organize ourselves wealth and

power why people fight the exploration

of feminine agency cycles of history the

shape of tyranny and dangers of

ideological utopian Pursuit and what the

revolution is really about comes through

in the story web you make where these

threads of tension pull your characters

is what your story is about Les

Miserables which is not about the French

Revolution but the 1832 June Rebellion

is my favorite musical and it's not just

about Revolution right you've got

Valjean trying to redeem himself and

pursuing him with this black and white

morality asking what Justice Means and

how the law can be unjust all coming to

head when they confront each other and

Belgian doesn't kill him and javer is

left asking why what reason does he have

to spare me is this tension between you

know theme what jivia believes about the

world this black and white morality and

what Jean Valjean does in the story and

it stretches and stretches till it gets

too much and

foreign

snaps then there's all these characters

stuck and squalor like Fontaine and

eponine trying to get out but unable to

till that eventually kills them too

pulling these strings in such a way to

expose how classism locks people into

positions in life then when the

revolution comes along and all of them

die basically and pointlessly and

achieve nothing empty chairs

and it's because the stories about the

gap between ideology and reality and how

we can get caught up in it like Javier

who was left questioning whether the

criminals might actually have a point

but if they do have a point then I'm the

criminal and in the end the poor die

because of rich people's greed and

grante Aaron and harlas disagreeing on

how to handle the revolution that's them

pulling pulling these characters going

in different directions then dying

together

this web is the Revolutionary story of

Les Miserables it's what gives meaning

to the story and it's why it hits home

because it keeps stretching those things

till eventually it snaps and we spend

all this time in the story weaving these

strings so we know where the emphasis

and point of it is if you want your

Revolution your story to explore

something it has to come out here you

know and importantly you actually may

not realize what your story is exploring

right let me explain how like part of

the reason that some revolutionary why a

dystopian novels kind of fall flat is

that so many of their strings all return

to basically a love triangle right or

some other kind of like into character

drama that doesn't have a huge amount to

do with the themes that they were

supposedly discussing these sort of

triangles were often shallow but so much

time was spent on them so many things

were dependent on this point of tension

connect to it via these strings that

that was the point of the door that was

a New Zealand accent would that was the

point of the story look at what you're

actually putting time into in your story

what you're showing the reader what

you're foreshadowing where the tension

actually is because that's what your

story will become no matter what you

tell us a little scene at the end over

in the corner here not really connected

to the center with only a little tiny

pluck the reverberations of which aren't

felt throughout the rest of it well that

matters less when you spend all of your

time I'm stretching these plot points

over here it's hard to talk about War

and Peace of the same breath as

divergent but we will and we're also

going to talk about why the Hunger Games

keeps getting better with time part one

Injustice alienation and Desperation a

lot of Revolution focused stories start

one of two ways and this is not to say

it's realistic but these are the story

Frameworks we tend to return to over and

over we find compelling one the 1984 way

someone inside the system realizes the

system is broken and wants to bring it

down usually realizing a lot of what

they've believed is a lie or two The

Hunger Games someone disenfranchised by

the system gets wrapped up in a

revolution to bring it down But

whichever it is I found that a lot of

these stories the best ones really

grounded themselves viscerally in those

three things Injustice alienation and

Desperation common reasons for people to

join a cause Les Miserables shows Jean

Valjean suffering at the iniquity of the

justice system

fontaine's desperation to give her a

child being forced to sell herself in

her here for pennies and there's this

whole underclass of society who have

been constantly alienated by the system

for years and when you feel outside the

system when you feel that your problems

cannot be solved inside it there's this

realization that you are not

incorporated into the system then you

have every motivation to change it

simply telling me help help I'm being

repressed but not show me how it affects

people on a day-by-day level just

doesn't work as well on a line by line

level you've got to work at capturing

emotions like desperation so have a

listen to this from cormet McCarthy in

the morning they went on desolate

country a bar had nailed to a barn door

ratty wisp of a tail inside the bar and

three bodies hanging from the rafters

dried and Dusty among the one slats of

light there could be something here the

boy said there could be some corn or

something let's go the man said mostly

award about their shoes that and food

always food in an old badboard

Smokehouse they found a ham gambled up

in a high corner it looked like

something fetched from a tomb so dried

and drawn he cut into it with his knife

deep red and salty meat inside rich and

good they fried it that night over their

fire thick slices of it and put the

slices to simmer with a tin of beans

McCarthy's writing is incredibly

evocative he spends no time dwelling on

any single instance of desperation

because there is no time to feel it for

these people as soon as we read one

problem another is found only if they're

horrifically disturbing images to be

dropped in the middle a normal everyday

thing for them stopping only to dwell on

the food they find this is showing us

hunger and Desperation from our

character's perspective where their mind

is really at where they have the

bandwidth to think there's the

Simplicity to his writing that doesn't

even leave room for the normal horror

you would feel this sort of writing

helped helps us understand

why change needs to happen now this is

not a revolution story but this sort of

writing could definitely appear in it

you know those same feelings are being

channeled it helps us understand the

stakes that are at hand for the

characters on a very personal everyday

level and that is really important all

the time one of the reasons a lot of why

a dystopian Revolution stories don't

work that well is because the Injustice

or alienation just wasn't that

convincing or it was really contrived

because we're left asking who would even

organize a society like this what is the

point of it you're telling me that

everyone has to wear a mask based on the

size of their toes why whereas I know

exactly what the Injustice is in a world

like Les Miserables how that comes to be

it channels familiar angers and feelings

the scenes of Injustice desperation and

alienation are often the inciting

incident and these sorts of stories

because they give characters on tense

emotions that motivate them to act now

again this is really about Revolution

stories where our main character is the

boss who's gonna go and you know

fight it all out right the handmaid's

tale is kind of an antidote to a lot of

revolutionary writing and dystopian

writing Alfred is the object of

alienation Injustice and repression but

Revolution isn't really presented as an

option because the other side of

revolutionary stories right you've got

the stories where people rise up but the

other side is stories of repression and

the experiences of those under it of the

victims Revolution happens around Alfred

but she is not an agent in it lack of

autonomy and choice is fundamental to

the themes of the story to understanding

what it means to be repressed and why

Revolution is not an option for so many

Edward's writing is full of Genius

little turns of phrase that capture

offer its desire to Rebel but inability

to feel she can because of course we

love to think that we would Rebel and we

would fight for what's right that we are

not offered but a lot of us would be and

a really compelling way to explore the

desperation and alienation and effects

of your regime is to show

why people don't Rebel put this in your

story web and then you've got Alfred

story narrowing in on her conflicts with

a Serena Joy talking about how women are

pitted against each other in in

patriarchal systems put all these

together and you've got a really tight

bit of tension for why revolutions might

be something that other people do that

you just don't have the bandwidth for it

exposes the optimistic hope that

everyone can stand up for what they

believe in when they can't part two

Revolution as character arcs

cataracts are the lenses through which

we understand the tropes of our story

and spoilers by the way for Dune and the

full series skip to this point if you

don't want to see them but it is

actually a revolutionary story about the

dangers of following radical Chosen One

Messianic leaders even with the

admirable goal of overthrowing the

Imperial corrupt system Paula trades

becomes a religious zealot consolidating

power in himself and taking a

marginalized group The Freeman and

turning them into a conquering Force he

got some fantastic Charisma rolls and is

using them for all the wrong reasons

Liberation easily becomes repression

when you ruling becomes inevitably

better than your enemy and so a tradis's

desire for justice and peace and and

forging the empire together into

something better this desperation turns

into something horrible utopian Visions

can Galvanize a movement but they can

also justify atrocities Paul's negative

character Arc has slowed descent into

tyranny shapes the meaning of the

Revolution and the impact the story

leaves on us it's a filter for us to

understand and think about Revolution as

a theme and as a real force in the world

consider how your characters change

across the story and how their change

colors the meaning of revolution

thematically positive arcs where

characters grow into their heroism and

learn the importance of individual

action and societal change matter but

War and Peace sees Natasha rastava start

out with a romanticized view of the

French Revolution till eventually she

becomes more and more disillusioned and

loses her innocence and understands the

brutality of a revolution of the

violence it entails that ideas and

heroism and belief aren't enough and

they're also not what is put through the

fires of War but I hear you say but my

Lord I object

not all revolutionary stories say that

and I would say correct young man see

you've got to think about what conflict

the characters actually face and what

that says about the revolution just like

how how the characters change will color

the meaning of revolution right this is

the framing of the revolution

is pretty optimistic it's about a

marginalized people rising up for

Liberty equality and fraternity

the main obstacle Eevee Encounters in

the story is when V basically kidnaps

and prisons and torches her to harden

her into a revolutionary who never gives

up I know that sounds bad

it is bad you could call him an

anti-hero it takes up a significant part

of the plot but while she's imprisoned

she is given these letters about the

life of two women in love before the

autocracy kicked in there's this

juxtaposition of the dark reality she

now faces and the colorful life this

other girl lived and it gives Evie

something to cling to so that she never

gives in but the reason the story

doesn't focus on how a revolution could

be corrupted or the true violence

required and how dark and and brutal it

really is is because the story is so

much more about the importance of

individual action of sacrifice and

individual resistance and The Virtue

that is found in that it's about empathy

for others there's an optimistic view of

the world and Human Action in that the

revolution isn't one with a bloody war

and ugly consequences it's one with

individual action the choices of one per

person at a time human empathy those are

the forces that overcome Injustice and

alienation and Desperation that's the

Thematic messaging of the film in The

Hunger Games Candace and Peter have to

contend with the power of a media

narrative and propaganda how it frames

The Narrative of Injustice in the world

and in turn how it can be used to spark

Revolution one of the things that I

actually keep coming back to that I

really appreciate in the series is how

it frames the illegitimate anger of the

oppressed that is mahogany that

oppressed peoples are not allowed to

exhibit anger and rage and Desperation

because it's not polite it's not good

Society manners you know and the rich

and the powerful use that as an excuse

to dismiss your concerns well if you're

not going to be reasonable to talk about

oh well I'm not going to listen am I

this is sometimes called respectability

politics so Peter understanding this

figuring this out he rolled high on

Deception pulls out an Ace card if it

weren't for the baby

this is something that does play by

those rules but because of how Collins

chose to present Revolution because of

the obstacles to it that she gave

Katniss and Peter we see how the poor

and marginalized are forced to refine

themselves for the rich and Powerful

Revolution is about controlling a

message you know the regime wants to

convince people that these are just

thugs destroying the streets and all

that right but the revolution wants

people to believe that they are a just

Fighters fighting for Liberation and

then there's character conflict on top

of this stories thrive on failure we all

know this they're what make the eventual

successes meaningful right Candace

failing to save her sister Prim in the

end in the final book after volunteering

to protect her in the first is a great

subversion I I really like that because

it brings her into conflict with Gail

someone who played a role in the bombs

that did kill her in the end there's

this horrific redundancy to the

revolution that says a lot manifesting

realities about your revolution in

character conflicts with real

consequences brings it down to earth and

you might be saying ah yes the love

triangle at the heart of The Hunger Game

string Gail and Peter and Kenneth but

not really like that's there technically

but it's really quite secondary and the

conflict between the characters isn't so

much about like them falling out of love

or anything like that it's about

disagreements over methods of Revolution

and the conflicts that come out of that

and the redundancy of her decision in

the first book so Gail's character Arc

of joining the revolution ties into

Katniss's decision at the beginning

which ties into the themes of the story

and how as President Snow is not

wasteful in his character development

it's all very connected in an

interesting way so yeah maybe two

characters disagree on methods and that

drives a wedge between between them or

it even leads to betrayal maybe they

disagree on what Society should look

like after the revolution or their

experiences in the war drive them apart

with one becoming cynical and the other

remaining an optimist or being inflicted

with PTSD Revolution gives the

opportunity for a ton of fascinating

character Dynamics the leader faced with

moral dilemmas the follower getting

disillusioned the noble confronting

their role in the horrors of before the

Optimus made cynical the afraid turned

hero so to bring it back to our story

web it's not just about where these

strings go and kind of how different

things connect but how they change over

time how different points of tension

become related to certain characters or

scenes or or plot points as characters

change and it changes the nature of all

that pulling because part of a story

part of what makes it interesting is

that the stuff that drives the story at

the beginning the tensions that are

there at the start are not necessarily

the ones at the end a character might

start out loyal to their Homeland but

slowly become disgusted by it those

strings changing right or the strings

might stay the same throughout the book

but grow more complex deeper and full of

knots they're loyal to their country but

they have to question who and what

they're loyal to exactly is it the

ideals the government or the people one

figure out the strings of tension where

they go and start and two figure out how

they change how they grow more tense and

where they get redirected then look at

the meaning your readers will derive

from this if you want your story to say

something it'll come from the scenes

that have the most time from the

character conflict that you spend time

on part three do revolutions need to be

realistic writing revolutions is hard

right because it is easy to dramatize

Injustice and personal vendettas think

the innocent girl shot by the police

state a black and white narrative but

less so Collective action and Logistics

and international support even though

I've find all of those fascinating all

of which are fundamental to realistic

revolutions go check out my video on on

World building them in the dictator's

dilemma that is a lot of information

you'll find relevant collectively

studies kind of point out these five

things are critical to realistic

revolutions and though Injustice is one

of them Injustice tends to actually be a

moral framework that gets attached to

pre-existing Community instability

economic social political with

instability and opportunity being a far

bigger motivator and often not for great

reasons you know see Wagner's weird-ass

coup that happened in Russia recently

and then there's the question of what

the hell is injustice people are going

to disagree and you've seen how easy it

is to convince large groups of people

that someone deserved to be shot by the

police because that is something that

people believe for some reason Studies

have shown villages in Vietnam were more

likely to support once side or the other

during the Civil War depending on

whoever happened to be bombing them

which you know fear we get caught up in

ideological motivations when we're

writing stories like this but most

people just want to grill revolutions

are a storm of complex factors that all

come crashing together at once where

pre-existing instability means choosing

now between two different types of

instability the status quo or the

revolution but okay

this is a big point for me and it's the

point that you see in so many stories

revolutions don't have to be realistic

you don't need to get fixated on that

they can be Mythic and inspiring and

optimistic and they can use the

aesthetic of Revolution or dystopia to

talk about other things

1984 is a ridiculous world it is absurd

it is baffling it doesn't make any sense

it never made any sense that's the point

of it right but that is intentional

stories like Arcane or snow crash or

Star Wars are meant to be Mythic and

hopeful and legendary even if they

explore real world things like sacrifice

and found family and loyalty well snow

crashes meant to be a horrifying and

bizarre projection of human weirdness

these are still stories about people in

Revolt they can still be compelling and

that's just fine it's awesome I love

these stories well Arcane and Snow Crash

list Star Wars but this does often

manifest in the head of the snake

fallacy ending with killing the person

at the top like Emperor Palpatine brings

down the whole system when in reality I

mean it just Splinter into a mess of

competing factions probably equally as

bad it's one of those stories that even

in those Mythic revolutions right people

are getting a bit tired of it and

they're kind of looks like you know you

didn't put in that much effort not to

mention it's often connected to the if I

kill you I'll be just the same as you

which is I mean obviously for the most

part that's a terrible false equivalency

still in these stories the biggest

conflicts are about uh winning battles

and resisting the the urge to the dark

side and and giving inspirational

speeches and inspiring others and and

actually accessing and controlling your

full Powers those will turn the tides of

the war but people love this stuff right

Doctor Who has been doing optimistic

science fiction for like this for

decades when someone doing the right

thing in the face of tyranny can turn

the tides of War and these sort of

stories there is a power in that stories

do not need to be realistic to hold

meaning and they certainly don't need to

be realistic to be compelling part 4

chaos and Revolution now of course

revolutions they're all about Breaking

Chains of Oppression and and

establishing a new free liberal order

right well in theory yes in practice

see we have a romanticized view of

Revolution especially those of us who

grew up in the why a dystopian teen love

triangle everyone is divided into

arbitrary category zero or fiction a

hero is plucked from the messes to

overthrow the oppressive regime in the

name of equality Liberty and fraternity

with nothing than a schlocky

determination and probably a dead sister

or something the reality is though a lot

of revolutions tend to be a lucky

Collision of a lot of different groups

at the same time whose interests are

compatible in bringing down the existing

regime but not necessarily in what comes

after especially given revolutions

attract well more radical politics but

that is why a lot of stories focus on

what comes after the revolution George R

Martin famously said A Song of Ice and

Fire after Robert's Rebellion that was

the righteous Rebellion against the evil

King who was murdering people and there

was this final Mythic showdown between

our hero and antagonist on the Trident

it was cinematic Robert and rhaegar but

that's because George R Martin was more

interested in what came after how do you

reorganize Society how do you keep it

from falling back into chaos revolutions

naturally attract radical religious

economic ethnic ideologies and when the

common enemy is gone those Clash I've

already mentioned Dune but ursuluguen's

the dispossessed is a fantastic look at

a post-revolution world anaris is this

Anarchist Society founded on supposedly

a quality communal living Corporation

but it struggles with sustainability

with forging a cohesive identity for

itself with isolation and trying to

realize lies these ideas and our

characters are forced to choose as they

experience more of the flaws of these

utopian ideas looking at that Gap that

can develop between the aims of the

Revolution and how to get there here's

the thing Revolution isn't just

something that happens once and then

it's done it has to keep happening to

adapt and be flexible and utopian ideas

often aren't Revolution is a constant

process full of growing pains not a

single moment and you can use that to

create tension between your characters

famously Katniss chooses to kill prison

and coin instead of President Snow

because she fears coin will become a

dictator starting another Hunger Games

and you know what she was right

autocracy is less complex a system than

democracy so it's easier for autocracies

to rise out of instability than

democracies PS Brown's Red Rising does

similar in exploring how revolutions can

be poisoned by competing interests in

the various factions of a

post-revolution world thousands of

Augustus and the sons of Aries all have

ulterior mode is leading to devastating

consequences Darrow our main character

has to contend with them all what does

it mean to remain moral in a

post-revolution world how do you keep

people feared and working and deal with

chaos when you're finally in charge who

do you blame and how do you manage it

when the war tore the country apart and

destroyed so much of its infrastructure

that you no longer have what you need to

build the society you promised what do

you do about the groups who joined the

revolution but for different promises

for a trade deals you took support from

you know foreign interests and how do

you protect the rights of people who

might have been previously oppressive

and how do you deal with them there are

costs to war physical psychological and

sometimes no Victory heals all wounds

one last really interesting point is

that people

will idealize the past even oppressive

regimes because the reality is that

every regime is good for someone and

often more people than you think a 2019

poll found 59 of Russians felt the

Soviet Union took care of Ordinary

People 66 even regretted its dissolution

an undemocratic regime that repressed

over a dozen surrounding countries in

2011 56 percent of lithuanians felt

their standard of living had fallen

since the Soviet dissolution and even

though a majority in almost every

country except Russia believed the

Soviet Union did more harm than good

elderly people really did depend on the

Soviet Union's very generous pension

plan they worked to it their entire

lives and suddenly gone they they grew

up in that culture and it was taken from

them separating one's identity from a

critique of how that Society might have

run can be really really difficult for a

lot of people this again can create

conflicts between your characters in

that post-revolution world where people

people feel some loyalty to how things

might have been even if they kind of do

understand the problems with it that's a

really fascinating place to take your

characters psychologically how do they

reconcile their connection to a place to

a job to a regime with what they find

out it did or the things that maybe it

did but there's not enough evidence or

alternatively it might genuinely be

morally ambiguous as to whether the

regime was bad at all what are they

Justified of themselves and what do they

let go of all these questions and

tensions can create a really interesting

story web right in your revolutionary

world and the best ones always know

which ones to tangle and which ones

to snap let's bring all this together in

a summary but first go get my book I

mean if you've made it this far into the

video then this is the book for you if

you only want to get one of them that's

okay but I say get volume two I think it

has a better selection of topics but I

will say volume three coming later this

year is going to be the best of them all

I'm really happy with how it's turning

out and I'll put it out to a vote but

we'll be picking between these two kind

of cover Concepts before I send it off

to the artist to develop it more as said

these have all of the writing and word

building discussions I've had and More

in more detail expanded analysis and I

am astounded with how well it has sold

like genuinely like 80 000 copies or

something I expected 500 when I first

published these thank you so much from

the bottom of my heart and if you want

to check out my writing I recommend

reading two robots at the end of the

world that was published with Utopia

science fiction magazine I actually have

my first poetry publication coming this

month I've never really tried it that

much but I wanted to give it a hand and

yay thank you so much if you do there

are links down below keeps Channel life

keeps me having some faith in myself

thank you so much on to the summary

firstly revolutions are only as

compelling as the reasons to lead them

show the reader the Injustice alienation

and Desperation on a personal level

second the substance of your character

arcs and conflicts will color the

meaning and themes of the Revolution

itself thirdly realistic revolutions are

drawn from a complex mix of proximate

socioeconomic instability alienation

collapse the social order of elite

infighting and Justice and international

support some are harder to dramatize but

can make your story more grounded

fourthly stories don't need to be

realistic to be meaningful or compelling

revolutions are often Mythic however

this can also lead to the head of the

snake problem fifthly it can be equally

important to show the reasons why people

don't revolt and sickly many stories

focus on what happens after the

revolution in fighting the struggle to

realize a utopian dream and the gap

between ideals and execution all of this

can create a fascinating story web so if

you were to create your story and lay it

out kind of like this what is in the

center what points of tension which

characters what characters are doing

right what's in the middle what connects

what's out on the edges and which of

these strings do you tug on most

stay nerdy and I'll see you in the

future

who is this man what sort of devil is he

to have been caught in a trap and choose

to let me go free it was his hour at

last to put a seal on my face Wipe Out

the past and watch me clean up the Slate

all it would take was a flick of his

knife Vengeance was his and he gave me

back my life time to fall live in the

dead of a thief then if I yield at the

end of the chase I am the Lord and the

Lord is not mocked I am Hospitality

right back in his face there is nothing

on Earth that we share it is either Val

Jean nor Javier

how can I not allow the man how do I how

can I know allow this man hold dominion

over me this desperate man that I have

hunted oh my gosh