Director's Notes – 153 – The Heist, Part 1

(NOTE: As always, Director's Notes contain spoilers)

One of my weaknesses as a writer is plot. I'm not terrible at plot. I simply don't value it as a reader/listener/viewer nearly as much as I do character or language or mood. Saying this also doesn't mean that I don't think plot is worthwhile. Quite the opposite, plot is the heart of every story ever told.

But I've learned about myself over time that I tend to use plot as a secondary or supporting device to grow a character or tell a joke or convey an opinion. And I'd like to work on this part of myself. To grow my confidence in crafting a tight story, to find the fun in writing intricate twists and turns in a story's direction. 

So I set out to do just that, to play around with plot as central component, to take seriously the details of the storyline and to make it all tie back together. And what better subgenre to challenge myself with than the heist story. 

In this 3-part "Heist" storyline, I wanted to create action, mystery and suspense, and more than anything plot. I was feeling inspiration from our third Night Vale novel (which we will have an big announcement for on September 15!) This book was plot-heavy. It explores in great detail the rich backstory of a familiar (and beloved?) Night Vale character. It has betrayal and murder and politics and intricate schemes that fail and succeed. 

It was incredibly difficult to write, but it was the most personally rewarding writing I've ever done. I couldn't be more proud of it. And I don't mean the general sense of pride, but the kind of pride that makes you want to stare at something over and over. I wanted to email the damn manuscript to everyone I knew. 

So now I'm like that guy who just discovered kale or motorcycles or Crossfit. I just want to write plot all the time, which is pretty exciting for me.

Hope you enjoy this plot for the next few weeks. It was super fun to write.

- Jeffrey Cranor
September 5, 2019

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