I thought this was pretty clever advice from Dwight Swain. The gimmick. To fully understand this post, you’re going to want to read last Wednesday’s post about writing the perfect ending.
What is a gimmick?
It’s a tool you can use to make your character’s choice believable. How will you make your reader believe that your character would really choose principle over personal gain? Enter gimmick.
The gimmick can be anything. A smell. An object. A food. A saying. Music. Anything. As long as it evokes a strong emotional reaction from your character and the emotion is linked to the principle at stake.
For example:
Billy’s father raised him to protect the innocent. Growing up, Billy’s father modeled this principle day in and day out. When Billy turned twelve, his father got cancer and died. Before he died, he gave Billy a medallion he earned while serving in the military. This medallion is the gimmick. Whenever Billy sees it, it reminds him of his father (emotional) and what his father stood for (principle: protect the innocent).
To make the gimmick work, you need to introduce it in the beginning of your story and come back to it at least a couple times throughout the novel. Too little, and the reader won’t understand why the gimmick matters at the end. Too much, and your reader will start rolling his eyes.
During the critical moment, when your character faces the choice between the easy way (personal gain) and the difficult way (principle) and he’s leaning toward the easy way, you bring in the gimmick. Character reacts emotionally and chooses principle. And the reader believes every minute of it.
Example continued:
Billy is in the middle of a bloody civil war in Uganda. Throughout the whole novel, Billy’s goal has been to escape to safety. The climax comes. Billy has the perfect opportunity to escape. It’s sitting right in front of him, ready to grab. But if he leaves, he’ll leave an orphaned boy unprotected. Billy’s so close to his goal. All he has to do is get on the helicopter. Shots ring out. Chaos is everywhere. The helicopter pilot is yelling, “Get on! Or we’re going to die.” Orphan boy is far away, but visible, caught in the midst of the chaos. Billy throws his bag into the helicopter, ready to get inside, but the strap catches on the chain around his neck, and the medallion his father gave him rips off and falls to the ground. He sees it. And he’s reminded of everything his father stood for. He reacts emotionally. He chooses to risk his life to save the orphan boy.
Questions to Ponder: Have you used a gimmick before? Have you read a story where the author uses the gimmick? Do you like this idea?
Gimmicks can be tricky to use. I think the key is to sprinkle it through the story in such a way that it isn't an obvious gimmick. If the reader sees the tool, it takes away from the masterpiece.
Tab – your comment made me smile. 🙂 Thanks for your support! I'm glad you didn't lose me either. 🙂
Oh, I am glad Sherrinda brought that up. I nearly had a heart attack when 'Brian Throw up' disappeared from my dashboard. I thought I had somehow accidently deleted it! I was relieved when I discovered you had just changed the title. I like it of course and I think it is a great idea, especially if you want to get your name out there more effectively, but boy was I glad that I hadn't lost you 🙂
Yikes, Sherrinda! That gives me a headache just thinking about it!! Ten hours gives me a headache too! Hope tomorrow is a little less….headachy, if that's a word. And I'm glad you like my new blog name. I was fond of Brain Throw Up as well, but I don't think it was very professional sounding, ya know?
P.s. I noticed the blog name change. Nice. (though I love the idea of brain throw up!)
I didn't use a gimmick in my WIP. I didn't even know what one was! lol I like the idea, but can see how it could be cheesy.
Glad your first day back was good. I worked 10 hours today with registration…ugh. Our teachers come back Monday and we start the 24th. Our rooms are all torn up because we had the ceilings replaced and had to cover EVERYTHING and all major furniture moved out. What a mess! The poor teachers are coming in to get their rooms back together this week before they report in next week. Aren't you glad you don't have to deal with THAT!
Hey everybody! Thanks for the comments on the gimmick. Sounds like a lot of people like them, a few don't, but most think they're a good idea as long as they're used well. Some of you made some excellent points, the main one being:
Don't make the gimmick cheesy. Subtlety is KEY!
Thanks for the discussion ladies and gents!
My first day back and work was good. I got lots done. The kids come on Wednesday, so tomorrow's crunch time to get everything ready. I sure missed my Brogy-boy today!! I'm starting to wean him from nursing too, which isn't easy!
I love the gimmick. 🙂
Congrats on getting back to work, though I'm sad that your summer went by so fast.
Oh, I think gimmicks are cool and absolutely work. The key part, I think is to plant them in the right way, as you said, not to subtle, to too obvious. And that’s the phrase I’ve seen used for it, planting.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
OOh must find a workable gimmick for my new WIP. Thanx for the challenge I've never done this!
I'm a sucker for gimmicks. I love the payoff at the end! I'm not sure if I've used one–I'll have to think about it!
I think I've used one, but not intentionally. The gimmick in this case was guilt over something, which in the end caused the MC to do the "right" thing, and not the "easy" thing. I think that counts…? LOL. It's not a tangible object, but it was reoccurring and influenced the MC's decisions…
Have a great day at work. Back to the gimmick. Yeah, I've done it, but I tend to go overboard like, "See! See that necklace!!" type of thing. So I have to scale back because my crit group is like, "We got it. She has a necklace from her dead grandmother already."
So yeah. Working on it.
thinking about you as you're back at work today. and i'll be thinking on gimmicks, too. 🙂 love you!
This was great! I haven't actually read about the process but when I think about it I've seen it used before. I think I might have used my MC's wedding ring as a gimmick as it shows up often and at the end it is there again.
Hope your first day at work went well. I have a feeling I've used many gimmicks but don't even realize it. Well now that I think about it I realize it, but I didn't at the time. Great Post.
Good luck back at work! I love the idea of a gimmick…I'm trying to think but I don't think I've really used on before. Interesting to think about.
I LOVE GIMMICKS!!! I try and use coffee as my gimmick … it works for me, why should it work for my readers lol 😉
Great post, Katie! 🙂
I've seen them used, both where they worked and where I think they didn't. I think it can add a lot of credibility when used properly. Great post!
This reminded me of the watch in Pulp Fiction!
I think a device can be useful, sure. If it's not overused, of course. It's much better than making your character act out of character for no reason.
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
I have to say that unless a gimmick is used really really well, I find them a bit tacky. I have read some books that used gimmicks and the synic in me is like, 'yeah… right!' I find some of them, especially if they are supposed to evoke teary response, too cutesy. But, a gimmick done well, then I am putty in the writer's hand.
I haven't yet used it in my writing. I'll be careful when/if I do.
Hope you have a great day Katie.
I had never heard it called a gimmick either, but I like them. I've seen those in stories before, and I've always liked them when they are used sparingly, like you said.
Have a good week at work!
You know, I don't think I've ever heard of this! I mean, I've noticed it but didn't think about what it was called or anything. I like this idea.
Have I used it? Hmmm, no, I don't think I have.
Ah Katie, back to work! Hope it goes well!
I love the idea of using a gimmick. I don't think I've used one before, but I can see how it would work if we set the groundwork throughout the book. Similar to the way we bring out a satisfying resolution to our climax.