I've read two stories so far, Monkey See, Monkey Deduce and the Plastic Soul of the note. I'm having a hard time determining which MICE quotient part each of these stories falls under.
It seems to me as though they are each character stories, but I have a hard time diagnosing idea stories, so they may be that as well. I'm reading Bottomless at the moment, and it seems much like a character story as well.
-ck
If, within a week, I can finish my first chapter, and anyone would like to read it please email me.
My name is mitch and email is:
mighty_mitch8@hotmail.com
First of all, it's important to remember that OSC's MICE framework is intended to help writers figure out where to begin and end the story so it leaves the reader satisfied. That doesn't mean every story will begin and end the way the MICE formula recommends.
So when analyzing a story using MICE, rather than writing one, often there won't be a clear-cut answer. Most stories have elements of all four kinds of stories within them, and so it may be possible to force a particular story into more than one category.
Therefore, I think the value of MICE in analyzing a story is not to figure out which one category to put it in. Rather, you should look at what the author did, if anything, within the four categories, and decide whether it was effective or not. Also, look at the beginning and ending and see if they fit together. Decide if the ending was satisfying -- and if not, why not.
That said, I'd say "Monkey See, Monkey Deduce" has strong elements of both character and idea stories. "The Plastic Soul of a Note" I think was mainly a character story. "Bottomless" I see as a milieu story.
(By the way, you can see a clearer, full-color version of the illustration for "Monkey See, Monkey Deduce" here.)
Bottomless, though, is quite confusing. I'm having a hard time visualizing and figuring out just what the Sun Thread is.
And using your method, Eric, I think I see now how the MICE quotient fits in with each story I've read so far. Thanks.
-ck
I checked your website, also, and any site with a Sports Night quote deserves to be bookmarked in my book. And so it is. :>