Embracing Dark Matter ...
Astronomers believe in something they cannot see. In that belief, in their discovery, there are lessons for all fiction readers and writers.
Based on the gravitational effects on "ordinary" matter (matter that we can see with telescopes), we now believe, we must believe, that there is Dark Matter in the universe. Dark Matter makes up a quarter of the universe. It is unseen, it is dark, but we have no doubt it is there.
Dark Matter, with its gravitational pull, drives the universe toward structure. Dark Energy, on the other hand, which makes up even more of the universe, works against structure, driving ordinary matter farther apart as the universe expands.
For a good 16-minute video explanation of Dark Matter, look at particle physicist Patricia Burchat's talk that is featured on NPR's site.
Reflect for a moment on the fact that most of the matter that makes up the universe is invisible. We see only its effects. Now take that and apply it to the stories that we create and the stories that we read. Soon you will be seeing elements of fiction in a new light.
For example, a fiction writer often starts out thinking about "back story," the invisible history of the characters before the visible short story or novel begins. Most of this back story, or even all of it, will not be visible to the reader, but its effects on the characters will be, like the gravitational effects of Dark Matter. I don't know any person, or any fictional character, who exists in a vacuum, without a personal history.
If the fiction writer has a good understanding of the back story, the visible story benefits. Much as Dark Matter drives the universe toward structure, a solid back story will help produce a pleasing narrative structure.
Visible, "ordinary" matter is a small percentage of the matter in the universe. Fiction writers can learn from this. Don't tell too much. Don't even show too much. Leave much to the imagination of the reader. Let the reader complete the story. A few good descriptive details go a long way. Let the reader infer the existence of the story's Dark Matter, the mysterious unknown.
Embrace the Dark Matter of the story. Leave some mystery. Loose ends? Not necessarily a bad thing. I like to read mysteries, but I don't want everything explained to me.
As for Dark Energy, driving objects in the universe farther apart, working against structure, I'm not sure how that corresponds to fiction. I do know that plotting a novel is a Herculean challenge for most of us, and I suspect that all the Dark Energy in the universe is working to pull the story apart and destroy structure.
I'm much more comfortable plotting a short story, where I can write two or three scenes, imply a large amount of invisible back story, build a nice little solar system, and invite the reader to spend a few minutes helping to complete the story before Dark Energy pulls us all farther apart.
Tags: astronomy, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, fiction
