Karl Whitney: A story is a deal but a book is not an aubergine

Conventional story structures often feel tired and even off-putting, but writing can be so much richer

Characters in stories are always struggling to overcome obstacles to achieve their goal, in a similar way that Tom Cruise and his crew of airmen dodge enemy missiles to bomb an underground nuclear site in an unnamed country in 'Top Gun: Maverick'.

You know when the Daleks from Doctor Who are a little disturbed — perhaps the Doctor has spilt his Martini on their circuits — and sort of bop around off flimsy scenery like clunky pinballs? (It’s a while since I’ve seen Doctor Who.) 

There’s no obvious trajectory and there’s an anxiety generated in the viewer by the uncertainty of their malfunction. A bit like life, isn’t it?