Making It Make Sense

I like making things up.

Let's take the expression "right hand man". The expression is usually used to describe the head underling, the close assistant, the chief aid, etc. Now I'm not sure of the origin of the this phrase but...

Imagine soldiers in a line, sword in their right hand, shield in their left. The man to your right, shields you, as you shield the man on your left. Your right hand man guards you. You trust him with your life.

Now is that where the phrase really comes from? I honestly don't know. It might be - it seems to make sense. But guess what?

It doesn't matter. Because in my world, that's where it comes from now. In my books, that's the origin of the phrase. That's the beauty of fiction writing.

I like making things make sense.

I'll invent reasons why certain stories make sense, even if they aren't there. I'll add texture where it may not exist. I love to fill in the blanks.

Lets take the movie adaptation of Watchmen. If you watch closely, each character has a different fighting style.

The Comedian fights like a boxer, which fits the era he grew up in. In the 30's, you aren't learning oriental martial arts.

Ozymandais uses kung fu, (watch his flowing hand movements, especially in his first fight). In the graphic novel, he mentions in passing that he learned to fight in China and Tibet.

Silk Spectre uses a lot of roundhouse kicks, spinning kicks, and backfists. In the Watchmen Sourcebook (mayfair games published it for the DC roleplaying game back in the '80s), its mentioned that Bruce Lee trained Laurie. Sure, its more his move style than his real style, but this is a movie. (This also makes sense, he was still teaching in the early 60's, and taught celebrities like Steve McQueen, so he may have taught a celebrity's daughter).

Nite Owl uses straight karate - linear, powerful motions. He even chops a a guy out of the air. Makes sense for a rich, idealistic kid to take local karate classes.

Now was this intentional? Did they really put that much thought into it, or did I see what I wanted to see?

It doesn't matter. For me, its there.

Another example: The second Narnia movie, prince Caspian. The movie, not the book.

I love Peter in that movie. He's lived a lifetime in Narnia, but when he comes back, he looks 17. Here's a man, a king, with a lifetime of experience, and he's treated like a child. And you can see it gets to him. When he duels King Miraz, you're to think that Peter is in trouble, I mean he's a just a kid.

But me, I giggled. To me, Miraz doesn't know what he's getting into. He's a fighting guy older than him, way more experienced, in a young man's body. Maybe Miraz is physically stronger, but 17 year olds have sick cardio.

Now, did they intend this to be there? No clue. But in my mind, it's there and the story is better for it.

I could go on all night about this, and in the future, I may make note of what I see in stories. I'd like to know what you see. in them. I think those are great conversations.

Also, I love the idea that people see things in my writing. It just gives me a glow.

I love to make things make sense in my writing. It all fits together. You see the reason for everything. Make its a response to the real world, where we wish things made a little more sense.