380: Digging Deeper to Find the Heart of the Story

Guest

None today; just me reflecting.

Summary

In this episode, I reflect on lessons I’ve drawn from Robert Redford’s film adaptation of A River Runs Through It and how they support my growth as a writer. At first, I loved the film for its beauty, but as a writer, I later returned to it as an instructional tool: how to go beyond the surface story of familial love to convey Maclean’s more profound meaning.

The scene where Norman Maclean’s father insists he cut his drafts in half taught me that “thrift” is about essence, not just length. Like Norman, I struggle in my early drafts to move past surface storytelling and uncover what I am truly trying to say. With encouragement from my writing coach, Cindy House, and insights from writing instructor Jeannine Ouillette, I’ve learned to revise until I reach “aboutness”—the story’s heart that sits between the story’s plot and its themes. For me, digging deeper means discovering not just what happens, but what emotions I’m feeling that I want my readers to feel.

The Bob Ross painting I refer to in the essay.

Related Media

In Episode 240 of the podcast, “Teaching—The River That Runs Through A Life,” I speak with John Dietsch, who choreographed all the fly fishing scenes in the film.

Watch the scene where young Norman learns to write.

Watch the emotional last scene in the film.

Read this beautifully constructed review of Norman’s teaching and writing.

For a related and highly informative podcast, listen to April Vokey’s interview with Rebecca McCarthy, who wrote an intimate portrait of Norman.