High Concept Interrogation
The buzz is going around about High Concept stories again. So I'm looking my story in the face and asking it, "Are you High Concept?" "Yes," says my story. "I'm about Immortals fighting Death. Can't get more High Concept than that." "Yeah." I bounce my head in a shrug-nod. You know the kind I mean, where your shoulders are hunched and your nose is wrinkled. Your head bobs up and down, but the bob means maybe not more than maybe ."But -- don't get offended -- is that obvious in the first couple chapters of the book?" Pause. "No..." admits my story. "Is it even obvious in Book One at all?" My story shuffles its feet. "Lots of other cool stuff happens in Book One. It's Dirty Dancing meets Dances With Wolves!" "What is that even supposed to mean ? C'mon, story. You can do better than that." "The hero catches the heroine dancing without magic. He must choose between killi...