Coming from a different writing perspective, I was surprised by the vehemence of some writers to phrases like, "I wish we went with them," she groaned. The 'she groaned' is considered a saidism.
Now, I love these quick descriptive phrases. However, when I started to look at them from this new perspective, I found the challenge fun and the outcome of such worth that I love to work on them.
As a writer, they can pull you out of the story. To prevent that, I write the way I'm used to - then I go back in the edit phase and edit them. It's quite hard work - at the beginning - but when I'm finished, the piece is more vibrant, clearer, can take care of descriptive difficulties, and fills me with satisfaction.
I still use 'she groaned' and such, but with decreased frequency.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Lesson Learned - Again
I truly believe the best way to learn how to write is to talk and interact with other authors. When you bounce ideas off a friend, they can be helpful, but another author knows what questions to ask.
(See yesterday's posting) We sat at a table in Panera's as my friend told me her character was coming into a scriptorium. I 'saw' a huge room with a domed ceiling and lots of books and tables and chairs about. No. Her scriptorium was dark and small with only one tiny unshielded light bulb hanging from the ceiling. Wow! Now that's a big difference.
It screamed to me, 'description is important to get across the mood.'
We laughed a lot. She could 'see' my scenario and I could now see hers. Her character comes in and up to a table where a snake was at. I saw the snake on the table. She saw the snake sitting on a chair. Again - Wow! What a difference. I was thinking of where a 'real' snake would sit. She was thinking of where her character would sit.
We laughed some more. Then we got to the dialogue. Now that she knew what needed to be added and how her character was interacting with the other character, she knew what the dialogue had to be. It turned out to be so much shorter than she thought, which was a good thing. But the dialogue was also more forceful, more dynamic since she could 'see' the entire scene, see how the characters were standing/sitting, and what now had to be said.
A quiet afternoon turned itself into a great learning experience.
Life is throbbing.
(See yesterday's posting) We sat at a table in Panera's as my friend told me her character was coming into a scriptorium. I 'saw' a huge room with a domed ceiling and lots of books and tables and chairs about. No. Her scriptorium was dark and small with only one tiny unshielded light bulb hanging from the ceiling. Wow! Now that's a big difference.
It screamed to me, 'description is important to get across the mood.'
We laughed a lot. She could 'see' my scenario and I could now see hers. Her character comes in and up to a table where a snake was at. I saw the snake on the table. She saw the snake sitting on a chair. Again - Wow! What a difference. I was thinking of where a 'real' snake would sit. She was thinking of where her character would sit.
We laughed some more. Then we got to the dialogue. Now that she knew what needed to be added and how her character was interacting with the other character, she knew what the dialogue had to be. It turned out to be so much shorter than she thought, which was a good thing. But the dialogue was also more forceful, more dynamic since she could 'see' the entire scene, see how the characters were standing/sitting, and what now had to be said.
A quiet afternoon turned itself into a great learning experience.
Life is throbbing.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I'm Back
I can't tell you how great it feels to finally have those cords attached to my computer. Every now and again I swear I could feel them trying to wrap themselves around my ankles.
Though the computer`s been down, I haven't been. I met with a friend per her request. God bless her, for some reason she thinks I write good dialogue. We had a great session. She read a small part of her book where she wanted to put in dialogue.
This is what I told her and what I do. Hope it helps.
I envision the scene as if I were watching a play. I see where each speaking character is standing/sitting/whatever. I've got to have that straight because body language speaks, too.
Then I recall the personalities of the speaking characters so I have continuity. I can't write dialogue that they wouldn't speak.
Last, I close my eyes and let the Muse do the rest. Trusting my Muse is imperative. I've done the groundwork. I know my setting, my characters, and what needs to be said. It works for me. I'm sure others have techniques that work for them.
Though the computer`s been down, I haven't been. I met with a friend per her request. God bless her, for some reason she thinks I write good dialogue. We had a great session. She read a small part of her book where she wanted to put in dialogue.
This is what I told her and what I do. Hope it helps.
I envision the scene as if I were watching a play. I see where each speaking character is standing/sitting/whatever. I've got to have that straight because body language speaks, too.
Then I recall the personalities of the speaking characters so I have continuity. I can't write dialogue that they wouldn't speak.
Last, I close my eyes and let the Muse do the rest. Trusting my Muse is imperative. I've done the groundwork. I know my setting, my characters, and what needs to be said. It works for me. I'm sure others have techniques that work for them.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Surgery And Other Things
You know I would write if I could.
I had 'surprise' eye surgery on Wednesday and haven't been able to write here... let alone anywhere else.
The patch has come off. I have salivated for this day.
I also moved a couple weeks ago. Going through boxes and boxes of paperwork drove my nose to sneezes. Keeping the tissue box nearby, I went through another box today. It contained old stories. My gosh. I wanted to weep as I read them.
I know I've spoken of this before, but I cannot understand authors who cringe when confronted with 'old' writings. The stories I read today were all from seven to ten years ago. I still love them. I am not a doddering fool in that I refuse to see flaws in what I wrote (or put that in present tense). Their were definitely errors. The POVs were funny. The descriptions flaccid. But the stories overall still spoke to me. This hoard of old tales touched my heart. I wanted to weep and fly at the same time.
Life is incredibly good.
I had 'surprise' eye surgery on Wednesday and haven't been able to write here... let alone anywhere else.
The patch has come off. I have salivated for this day.
I also moved a couple weeks ago. Going through boxes and boxes of paperwork drove my nose to sneezes. Keeping the tissue box nearby, I went through another box today. It contained old stories. My gosh. I wanted to weep as I read them.
I know I've spoken of this before, but I cannot understand authors who cringe when confronted with 'old' writings. The stories I read today were all from seven to ten years ago. I still love them. I am not a doddering fool in that I refuse to see flaws in what I wrote (or put that in present tense). Their were definitely errors. The POVs were funny. The descriptions flaccid. But the stories overall still spoke to me. This hoard of old tales touched my heart. I wanted to weep and fly at the same time.
Life is incredibly good.
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