Transcript
  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 1/15

    SA T URDA Y , 3 0 JUNE 2 0 1 2

    DoesObservationMatter?Imaginationaloneisntalwaysenoughtohelpyouwrite.

    Writerscanfilltheirstorieswithasmuchmadeupstuffastheylike,butthereisnosubstituteforastuteobservationthekindofthingsthataddfinebrushstrokesandlayerstoyournarrative.

    Observationisoneofthosethingsyoucanchoosetoincludeinyourwriting,ornot.Itsentirelyuptothewriter.Butwritingwithoutsomeobservationislikeapaintingwithoutcolour.Itsaboutnoticingthesmallerdetails,thebackgrounds,theminutiae.Thekindsofthingsthathelpbuildapicture,asceneoralandscapeinthereadersmind.

    Artists,forinstance,dontpaintwiththeirhandsfigurativelyspeaking,theypaintwiththeireyes.Thatsbecause,onadeeperlevel,theirobservationandstudyoftheirsubjectiswhatistranslatedtothecanvas.Thesameistrueofwriters.Whatawriterobservesandstudiesistranslatedintothewrittenwordandthenbuiltintothenarrative.

    Observationplaysanimportantpartinwriting.Itsatoolthatwritersusetoembellishtheirdescriptionstogreateffect.Itmeansthewriterhaspaidattentiontocertaindetails,ratherthanglossedoverascenewithoutputtinginanyefforttosupportit.

    Youcould,forinstance,writeaboutanighttimescene

    A LL WR IT E F I C T IONADVICE

    IsBackstoryNecessary?CreatingLastingImagesTrustYourMemoriesReadingYourMSSOutLoudSortingFactfromFiction

    WE LCOME T O A L L WR IT E

    Soyou'veembarkedonyourfictionwritingjourney.

    It'soneofthehardestthingstodocreateawhole,believableworldforotherpeopletoenjoy,especiallyifyou'renewtowriting.It'salsooneoftheloneliestjobs,especiallywhenthereisnohelporadviceorsupport...sorightheretherewillbehandyarticles,examplesandsimplestepbystepguidestohelpmakethecreativeprocessthatmucheasier.

    FE BRUA R Y FE MME SFA T A LE S

    Thisnewdeliciouslydarkanthologyisoutnow,witharangeofstunningfemalewriterstoscareanddelightinequal

    NotFoundTherequestedURL/ttwasnotfoundonthisserver.

    AdbyBrowserShop|Close

    14 More NextBlog CreateBlog SignIn

    A L L WR I T E F I C T I ON ADV I C EA D V I C E O N C R E A T I V E WR I T I NG

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 2/15

    withafullmoonoveralandscape.Mostwriterswouldprobablyoptfortheobligatorycloudsfloatingacrossthefaceofthemoonscenario,ormaybementiontheprettytwinklingstarsclich,oryoumightmentionhowbrightthemoonis,whichalsoseemstobeastaplefavourite.

    Buthaveyoueverlookedatthemooninclosedetail?Evernoticeditscolours?(Itsnotjustbrightandgrey).Evernoticedthewayitshimmers(yes,evenatnight,duetoatmosphericconditions)?Evernoticedthewonderfulcolourswhencloudssometimesobscurethemoontherusts,thebluehuesorthepaletintscausedbythemoonslightpassingthroughthemandthusmakingthecloudstranslucent?Evernoticedthedifferentwaysthemooncastsitglare?Orthatsometimesthemoonseemssmallinthesky,andothertimesmuchlarger?Andthemoonhasdifferentphasesofcourse.

    Thatsthedifferencebetweenpayingattentiontodetailinsteadofrelyingonclichtofillyournarrative.

    Eventheseeminglytiny,unimportantobservationscanmakethedifferencetoyourreader.Dontunderestimatehowwellthereadersubconsciouslyabsorbswhatyouwrite,becausethefinerdetailshelpthemtobuildanentirepictureofthescene.

    Observationalsoaddsahintofrealitytothewriting,andreaderslovethatkindoftouch,thatfamiliarity.Itmeansthatifyouveexperiencedsomethingfirsthandorseensomethingforyourselfnotjustpeople,placesoreventsandsoonthenthatsliceofreality,andtheabilitytodescribeit,addsmuchmoretothenarrative.

    Anotherimportantaspectofobservationisthatitiscloselyconnectedtotheshow,donttellmaxim.Takeflowers,forexample.Theyarentjustprettycolours.Lookcloserandyoullseethatpetalshavetexture,shape,definition,folds,lines,veinsetc.Cloudsbecomemorethanjustcloudswhenyoustoptoobservethem.Coloursbecomemorevibrantthemomentyoustartnoticingthem.Peoplebecomefascinatingthemomentyoustudythemandsoon.

    Everythingisobservableand,therefore,thereisalwayssomethingthatyoucanaddtoyournarrative.

    Ifyouwantyourdescriptionstobevividandauthentic,thengothatlittlebitfurtherandshowthereader,dont

    measure.Iamprivilegedtohaveeightshortstories/poemspublishedinthisbook,soifyoulikeyourdamesalittledarkanddangerous,thisisthebookforyou.

    NOW A VA I LA BLE ONAMA ZON

    FebruaryFemmesFatalesTheBook

    WISE WORDS . . .

    Writingislikebeingmarriedyouhavetoworkhardatmaintaininghappinessandequilibrium,butinvariablyonealwaysendsupinthedoghouse.

    A BOUT ME

    AJHUMPAGE

    UNITEDKINGDOM

    I'vebeenwritingforover25yearsandstartedoutinthe

    publishingindustry.I'vepublishedarticles,studyguides,poems,flashfiction,shortstoriesandanovel.IalsoworkfulltimesoI'mALWAYSworking.

    VIEWMYCOMPLETEPROFILE

    BLOOD OF T HE FA T HE R

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 3/15

    justtellthemtheresayellowflowerinafieldoracloudinthesky.Letyourobservationscometolife,letthemtouchthatflowerandseethoseclouds.

    Youshouldalsoutilisethesensestoenliventhenarrative.Somanywritersoverlookthesensestheyforgettodescribescenesadequatelytheyforgettohintaboutscents,colours,textures,tastesandsounds.Thislastonesoundisbyfarthemostneglectedinnarrative.Thereisalwayssoundaroundus,sowhydowritersforgetthatitsthere?

    Anobservantwriterisacleverone.Why?Becauseitstheonethingthatmarksflat,boringtellingdescriptionfromvibrant,richnarrativethatshowsthereader.

    Everythingweseeandhearandexperienceformsabankofmemoriesandrecollectionstousewhenwriting.So,nexttimethereisathunderstorm,stopandlistentothesounds.Watchhowtherainformsonwindowsorsurfacesseehowthewindplayswiththetreesandsoon,lookattheshadesofthesky.Observeandpayattention.

    Doesobservationmatterinfictionwriting?Yes,absolutely.

    Nextweek:Howtopolishyourprose.

    POSTEDBYAJ HUMPAGEATSATURDAY, JUNE30, 20122COMMENTS: L INKSTOTHISPOST

    REACTIONS: Helpful (0) Interesting (0) OK (0)

    SA T URDA Y , 2 3 JUNE 2 0 1 2

    Whattypeofwriterareyou?Thetortoiseorthehare?

    EveryoneknowstheoldfableabouttheHareracingthetortoise,andtheassumptionthatbecauseofhisspeed,theharewilleasilywin,untilhedecidestotakeasnooze,leavingthetortoisetoovertakehimandambleacrossthefinishline.Mostwritersfallintodiscernablecategories,dependingonhowtheyapproachwriting,andsomecouldbedescribedasharesandothersmightbemorelike

    NowavailableonAmazonKindleUKandUS

    BLOOD A ND GUT SANT HOLOGY

    YOUASCAREDYCAT?NowavailableatAmazon

    FE BRUA R Y FE MME SFA T A LE S S T OR IE S

    Recommend this on Google

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 4/15

    tortoises.

    Writersareasindividualasfingerprintswhenitcomestowriting,buthowdoyouapproachyourwriting?Areyouthekindofwriterthatlikestodispensewithmeticulousplanningandinsteadrathergetrightintothewritingandlettingthestorygowhereverittakesyou?Orareyoumorelikelytotakethetimetocarefullyplanindetailandplothowyourstoryandcharacterswillevolve?

    Perhapsyoufallbetweenthetwotypes.Youmightbeamixofbothyouliketogetonwithit,butmightdoalittlebitofplanningbeforehandtoactasaguide.

    Somewriterstearheadlongintotheirwriting,spurredbyinspirationandexcitement,theypushoutasmuchastheycaneveryday,whileothersliketoworktospecificdailywordcountsasasettarget,andfeeltheyhaventachievedanythingunlesstheyvewritten2000wordsorso.

    Thesetypesdontreallyplanororganisetheyjustgowiththeflow.And,onaverage,theyspendlesstimereflectingonthestoryormusinghowplottwistsandcharactersshoulddevelop.Theyliketojumprightinandjustgetonwithitwithoutworryingtoomuchabouttheintricaciesofwriting.

    Ifthisresemblesthewayyouapproachwriting,youremorelikelytobeahare.

    Somewriters,ontheotherhand,approachwritinginadiametricallyopposingway.Unlikehares,theytaketheirtimetoplaneverything,theypourovereverysentence,everyword,theyspendhoursthinkingoftherightconstruct,therightdescriptions.Theyrethinkingofplotandcharacterdevelopment.

    Inthattimetheymightonlyproduceafewhundredwords...ornoneatall.

    Ifyouidentifywiththiskindofwriter,youremorelikelytobeatortoise,andthatsnotmeantinanegativeway.Neitherisbeingahare,becausethetypeofwriteryouaredoesntreflectofthequalityofthewriting.Nomatteryourapproach,eventuallytheendresultshouldbeahighlypolishedpieceofwork,becauseitistheeditingafterwardsthatcounts,nottheactualwritingofthepiece.

    VisittheFeardomclickthepic

    FOLLOW BY E MA I L

    S T YL ISH BLOGGE R AWARD

    BLOG A R CHIVE

    2015(8)

    2014(46)

    2013(49)

    2012(48)December(4)

    November(4)

    October(4)

    September(3)

    August(3)

    July(3)

    Emailaddress... Submit

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 5/15

    Harewriterstendtoapproachmostthingswithgusto,whiletortoisewriterstendtotakealongtimetoconsidertheirwritingandalsotheyreflectmoreoftenonwhattheyvewritten.

    IfallintothetortoisecategoryIliketoplan,Iliketoplot,IcanspendhoursconstructingandthendeconstructingsentencesandparagraphsandIcanspendjustaslongdecidingwhatwordstochoose.Imighttakeanhourtowritehalfapage,itmightbethatIonlywrite500wordsinonesession,othertimesitmightbemore.

    AgoodexampleofatortoisewriterisJamesJoyce,whofamouslycommentedtoafriend,whohadenquiredhowUlysseswasgoing,Ivewrittenawholesentencetoday.

    WhenthefriendenquiredagainonJoycesprogressthenextday,Joycereplied,Forgingaheadwonderfully.TodayIcrossedoutthesentence.

    AnotherisOscarWilde,whooncesaid,Iwasworkingontheproofofoneofmypoemsallthemorning,andtookoutacomma.IntheafternoonIputitbackagain.

    OrwhataboutClarenceBudingtonKelland.Igetupinthemorning,tortureatypewriteruntilitscreams,thenstop.

    Howweapproachourwritingisanindividualthing.Someofusplan,someofusdont.Someofusreflect,someneverthinkaboutthewritingtoomuchuntilitstimetoedit.Someofuscanproducethousandsofwordsinnotime,someofuscant.Somejustwriteandletthestorygowhereitwantstogo,whileothersplanrightdowntothelastdetail.

    Someofusmightbehares,someofusmightbetortoises,othersareinbetween.Themostimportantpartofthewritingjourneyishowitsalleditedandpulledtogethertomakethefinishedproduct.Thatswhatcounts.

    So,whattypeofwritermightyoube?

    Nextweek:Doesobservationmatter?

    POSTEDBYAJ HUMPAGEATSATURDAY, JUNE23, 20122COMMENTS: L INKSTOTHISPOST

    June(5)DoesObservationMatter?

    Whattypeofwriterareyou?

    TheArtofForeshadowing

    VaryingtheNarrativeforBetterWriting

    TricksoftheTradeHandyTips

    May(4)

    April(4)

    March(5)

    February(4)

    January(5)

    2011(50)

    2010(32)

    TWIT T E R

    YoucanfindmeonTwitter:@AJHumpage

    FOLLOWE R S

    JointhissitewithGoogleFriendConnect

    Members(266) More

    Alreadyamember?Signin

    SUBSCR IBE T O

    Recommend this on Google

    Posts

    AllComments

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 6/15

    REACTIONS: Helpful (1) Interesting (0) OK (0)

    SA T URDA Y , 1 6 JUNE 2 0 1 2

    TheArtofForeshadowingAwritersjobisntjustabouttellingastory.Itsmorecomplicatedthansimplestorytelling,becausetherearesomanydevicesavailabletohelpwritersimproveandenrichtheirwriting.Oneveryusefultoolavailabletowritersistheartofforeshadowing,orinsimpleterms,theartofsubtlerevelation,forewarningandteasing.

    Itssurprisinghowmuchforeshadowingisoverlookedinfictionwedontalwaysthinkaboutlittlethingslikethisandwetendtoforgettheminuteintricaciesthathelpbringdepthandrichnesstoourstories.

    Whatdoesforeshadowingdo?

    Foreshadowinghasmanyfunctions,fromprovidingsubtlehintsaboutcharactersorsituations,cluestoeventsyettohappen,toimpartingnecessaryinformation,butitalsoservestomovethestoryforwardandtosometimesdeliberatelywrongfootthereader.

    Foreshadowingmoreoftenthannotbringsanextradimensiontothestory,becauseitmeansyouarehintingatwhatmightcome,whatmighthappen,whatcouldoccurfurtherintothetale.Itsaboutteasingthereaderwithsnippetsofinformation,bymakingthemprivytowhatishappening,thereforethereaderwillknowwhatmighthappen,butyourcharacterswillbeoblivious.

    Thismeansthereadercanlookforwardtoaneventthatmighthappenfurtherintothestory,ortheymightevenguesstheoutcome.

    Foreshadowingalsoaddsalittletension,anticipation,moodandatmosphereregardingwhatmighthappen.Itcreatesthatsenseofsuspense.

    Youmightwanttodeliberatelyfoolthereaderintothinkingsomethingwillhappen,andthenthestorytwistsinanotherdirection,butithastobejustifiableandshouldnotleavethereaderfeelingcompletelymanipulatedinawaythattheyfeeldissatisfiedorcheated.

    Oneimportantprocessistomovethestoryforward.

    MOST POPULA R A R T IC LE S

    Chapter&NovelLengthsJusthowlongshouldachapterbe?

    Whatsthebestlength?Anddoesanovelhavetofitintoasetamountofwords?Thesearejusttwoo...

    FlashbacksWhatisaflashback?Flashbackis

    oneofthoseusefultoolsthatawritercanusetoenhanceastory.Itenrichesand,inasense,nourish...

    SubplotsImoftenaskedbynewwriters

    howsubplotsshouldevolve.Somewritersfindsubplotsdifficulttogettogripswhileothersareputofftry...

    WORK S OF A J HUMPAGE

    http://ajhumpage.blogspot.comThrillersChillers'n'Killers

    SHA R E I T

    SharethisonFacebook

    Tweetthis

    Viewstats

    (NEW)Appointmentgadget>>

    T R ANS LA T E

    SelectLanguage

    Poweredby Translate

    S E A R CH T HIS BLOG

    Search

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 7/15

    Foreshadowingdoesthisbyallowingthereadertojumpintotheforeseeablefutureofthestoryandguesswhatmighthappen,thusteasingthem.Thisallowsthestorytomoveforwardbecauseofanticipationandguesswork.

    Writerscanalsouseforeshadowingasadeviceforplotdevelopment,becauseifthereisasnippetofinformationorasymbolicteasethatisdirectlyassociatedwiththeplot,thenonceagainthewritercanmakethereaderprivytoafuturestorydevelopment.

    Effectiveforeshadowingisaskillithastobesubtleandsymbolicwithoutgivingtoomuchaway,orbybeingtooovert.Ifnotdonecarefully,theforeshadowingmightseemtooobvious,toocontriteortwoforced,andmightallowthereadertowhollypredicttheoutcomeofthestory.Henceastoryorfilmorplaybecomestoopredictable.

    Whyisitimportant?

    Ifawriterfailstoincludesomeformofforeshadowing,thenthereisadangerthatanincidentoroccurrenceinthestoryhappenstoounexpectedlyandleavesthereaderconfusedandwonderingwhyitwasntmentionedearlier,orwhytheyareconnected.

    Theskillwithitisnottogivetoomuchaway,butatthesametime,thewritershouldntprovidetoofewdetailsthatitsbecomesconfusingforthereader.

    Howisitachieved?

    Foreshadowingshouldhingeonlikelysignificanteventsinthestory,soitsaboutfindingoutwhichofthesignificanteventsorincidentsyoucouldforeshadow,thenplantlikelyhintsorperhapsimpartinformationtoteasethereader.Youmightdothisbymentioningsomethingindialogue,somethingthatthecharactersareplanningperhaps,oryoucouldhintwithinthenarrativeaboutsomethingsignificant.

    Youdonthavetobeovertyoucoulduseweather,likegatheringstormcloudstosignifysomethingdarkabouttohappen,oritcouldbetherepetitionofacharacterswordsorbehaviour,itmightbethesymbolicnatureofaspecificcolour,somethinghappeninginthebackground...itcanbeanything,aslongsasitissignificanttothestoryandspikesthereadersinterest.

    Andofcourse,ifyoudoforeshadowsomething,make

    S T A T S

    PA GE VIEWS LA S T MONT H

    21,564

    14

    GOOGLE + BA DGE

    AJ HumpageAuthor and artist

    Follow

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 8/15

    sureyoucarryitout.Donthintatsomethingandthendonothingaboutitandleavereaderswonderingwhatorhoworwhy.

    Example:

    Helookedatthecrimsonroseontheseatbesidehim,richincolour,atokensymbol.Hehadalwaysluredthemwithrosesthedeepcolouroflife,velvetytothetouch,lushwiththetemptationofloveanddeath

    Thisextractforeshadowsfutureeventsthroughthesymbolicnatureofarose.Hehadalwaysluredthemwithrosesisamassivehint.LushwiththetemptationofloveanddeathThissuggeststhatwhoeverhegivestherosetomightendupintrouble.

    Itsunderstatedandsubtleenoughtosinkintothereadersconscience.

    Summaryofforeshadowing:

    HintatinformationGivecluestoeventsyettohappenMovethestoryforwardthroughrevelationTeasethereaderMisleadthereader,butalwaysmakeitjustifiedEvolveplotdevelopment

    Whicheverwayyoudecide,dontmakeittooobvious,letthereaderdotheworkbecausetheyareverygoodatreadingbetweenthelines,butmostofallletthemenjoythatsenseofanticipationandsuspenseofwhatmightcome.

    Nextweek:Whattypeofwriterareyou?

    POSTEDBYAJ HUMPAGEATSATURDAY, JUNE16, 20126COMMENTS: L INKSTOTHISPOST

    REACTIONS: Helpful (0) Interesting (0) OK (0)

    SA T URDA Y , 9 JUNE 2 0 1 2

    VaryingtheNarrativeforBetterWritingThereare,onoccasions,whenfictionwritingcausesnumerousheadachesforwritersintheirpursuitofbetter

    Recommend this on Google

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 9/15

    writing.

    Oneofthoseheadachesistherateofuseandoccurrenceofheandshewithinsentencestructures,andinparticular,theincidenceoftheoldhesaid/shesaid.

    Heandshebecomesocommonplacewithinthenarrativewhenwearewritingthatwetakethemforgranted,butitsnotuntilyoureadbackthroughourstorythatyourealisejusthowmuchyouhavereliedupontheirusage,andonlythenyoucanappreciatehowclunkyyourdescriptionsmightappeariftheyareoverused.

    Ofcourse,usingthemiscompletelyunavoidable.Wealldoitandwedoneedthem,butaswithadverbsandadjectives,writerscanlimittheamountofhesandsheswithinsentencesbytighteningandtidyingthenarrativesothatitnotonlyreadsbetter,butitlooksbettertothereaderseye.

    Lookbackthroughpreviousmanuscriptsandstoriesandyoumightbesurprisedjusthowmanytimesitoccurs.Theycanclogthenarrativewithoutyouevennoticing.

    Thisisatypicalexampleofwhatyoumightfindinanaveragestory(Ivehighlightedtheoffendingtags):

    Helookedather,unsure.

    Shesmiled.Iwouldnthaveaskedifitwasntagoodidea.

    Thebreezecoiledaroundthem,chillynowthecloudshadgathered.

    Itsnotthat,hesaid.Ijustdontthinkweshouldgobackthere.

    Shesidleduptothecar.Wedonthaveachoice,Mike.Iwantthathouse.

    Hisshoulderssank.Hecouldfeelthehintofrainonhisface.Heapproachedthecar.Butthathousegivesmethecreeps.

    Whilethereisnothingactuallywrongwiththeaboveexamplesentencestructure,itcanbefurtherimprovedsothatitreadsbetterandismoreconcisebyimprovingthewritingandvaryinghowsomesentencesarestructuredso

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 10/15

    thathesaidandshesaidorhethisandhethatetc,dontmakethewritinglooktoostilted,wearyorrepetitive.

    Youcandothisbyreplacingheorshewiththecharactersnameeverynowandthen(alwaysuseinmoderation),youcouldrearrangethesentenceorder,oryoucouldremoveoraddcertainwordstomakethesentencesmoresuccinct.

    Areworkedexamplemightreadlikethis,withthemodifiednarrativehighlighted:

    Michaellookedather,unsure.

    Shesmiled.Iwouldnthaveaskedifitwasntagoodidea.

    Thebreezecoiledaroundthem,chillynowthecloudshadgathered.

    Itsnotthat.Ijustdontweshouldgobackthere.

    Jesssidleduptothecar.Wedonthaveachoice,Mike.Iwantthathouse.

    Hisshoulderssank.Heapproachedthecar,feltahintofrainonhisface.Butthathousegivesmethecreeps.

    Thefirstlineusesthemalecharactersname,Michael.Thefourthlinedispenseswithspeechtagsaltogether,becauseitsclearMichaelisspeaking.Thefifthlineusesthefemalecharactersname,Jess,whilethesixthlinemakesuseofthenarrativetocompletelyrearrangeHecouldfeelahintofrainonhisface.Heapproachedthecarandchangestoabetterchoice.

    Theseexamplesareverysimple,buthopefullytheyshowhowalittletweakingandaforethoughtcanimprovenarrativewithoutthatmucheffort.

    Intheend,itallcomesdownvariationandmoderationtosentencestructure.Getthestructurerightandyouwonthavetoworryabouthowmanyinstancesofheorshesprinkleyournarrative.

    Hesaid/shesaidThesameprincipleappliesaboutconstructingbettersentenceswherehesaidandshesaidcropupateveryopportunitywithoutthewriterevennoticing.Again,itsallaboutvariationandmoderation.

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 11/15

    Heresverysimpleexampleofthekindofscenethatwritersslipintowithoutrealising,wherehesaid/shesaidbecomescommonplace:

    Theresnowhereforyoutogo,hesaid.

    Notunlessyouhelpme,shesaid,tight.Ineedtogetintothemountainsandfindhim.

    Butyoucouldbeheadingintotrouble,hesaid.Hismenwillkillyou.

    Areyougoingtohelpmeornot,Simon?sheasked.

    Look,itsnotthateasy,hesaid.

    Nowheresthesamescene,tweakedtocutoutsomeofthehesaid/shesaidtags:

    Tilleygrippedherarms.Theresnowhereforyoutogo.

    Notunlessyouhelpme,Alexsaid,tight.Ineedtogetintothemountainsandfindhim.

    Butyoucouldbeheadingintotrouble.Hismenwillkillyou.

    Hereyesdarkened.Areyougoingtohelpmeornot,Simon?

    Hesighed.Look,itsnotthateasy.

    Byswitchingthesentenceorder,removingsometagsandaddingafewwords,youcanmakethesentencebetter,tighter,andinsomecases,youcandoawaywithallthosespeechtagsaltogether.AllittakesisalittletimetothinkabouthowyoustructureyoursentencesbyaskingyourselfCanImakethembetter?

    Butshouldthisreallymatter?Inthegrandschemeofthings,notreally.Notunlessyouwanttobecomeabetterwriter,thatis.

    Awriterisasonlyasgoodashisorherwillingnesstolearn.Ifwritersdontwanttolearn,thatsfine,buttheywillneverevolveandthereforeneverimprove.

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 12/15

    Iftheydowanttolearn,thenthelittlethingslikethisarejustasimportant,sonexttimeyoucatchyourselfwritingheandshetoomuch,orhesaid/shesaidumpteentimesinascene,takeamomenttodecideifyoucanreworkthenarrativeandmakeitbetter,tighterandmoreconcise.

    Nextweek:Theartofforeshadowing

    POSTEDBYAJ HUMPAGEATSATURDAY, JUNE09, 20123COMMENTS: L INKSTOTHISPOST

    REACTIONS: Helpful (0) Interesting (0) OK (0)

    MONDA Y , 4 JUNE 2 0 1 2

    TricksoftheTradeHandyTipsAswriters,werealwaysonthelookoutforhelpfuladviceandhints,andeverywritershouldgetusedtousingsomeofthetricksofthetradeinordertoimprovetheirfictionwriting.Theyaretheretomakeoutlifemucheasier,andourwritingmuchbetter.

    Hook

    Notsurewheretostart?Startwithahook.Somethingthatinstantlysparksthereadersimagination.Getstraightintotheheartoftheactioninyourfirstchapter.Thatwaythereislesschancetoborethereader.Grabthemfromthestartandkeepupthesamemomentum.

    Slownarrative

    Whenyoureadthroughthenarrativeandyoufinditseemstoplodinallsortsofareas,thatsaclearindicationthatyouneedtoadjustthepaceofthenarrativebyspeedingthingsupandgivingitsomebalance.

    Slownarrativeoccurswhentherearefewactionscenes,verylittleconflict,notmuchdialogue,toomuchdescriptionandnotenoughbalance.Also,prologuescanmakethepacebecomeslowbeforeyouveevenstartedwritingthefirstchapter,soavoidthem.

    Youcanadjustthepaceofthestorybyaddingdialoguerelevanttothestory,actionwherenecessaryandconflictallofthesetoolshelpmovethestoryforward.

    Fastnarrative

    Whenyoufindthenarrativerunningawayatablisteringpace,withoutleavingyoubreathingspace,thatswhenyouneedtoslowthings

    Recommend this on Google

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 13/15

    down.Thisgivesthereaderchancetopauseandreflectandalsodoesthesameforyourcharacters.

    Youcanaccomplishthisbyseeingwhereyoucouldaddsomereflective,slowersceneswhilestillmovingthestoryforwardperhapswithsomemoredialogue.Descriptionisabrillianttoolforslowingthepace,orperhapsyoucanuseaflashback.Thesehelpbreakupthepaceofthenarrativeandallowthereadersomebreathingspace.

    Movingthestoryforward

    Thisisanimportantpartoffictionwriting.Youmustalwaysmovethestoryforward.Ithastohavethatmomentumuntiltheend.Butwhatifyouthinkthestoryisntgoinganywhere?Whatifitseemstohavecometoahalt?

    Thereareseveralwaystodomovethestoryforward:

    Revealpartsofthestorythroughdialoguethismovesthestoryforwardandalsoincreasespace.Pivotalactionscenesalsohelpmovethestoryalong.Createimmediacycharacterisationandgooddialoguehelpcreateasensethatthereaderisrightthere,withinyourstory.Providenecessaryinformationinotherwords,useyourcharacterstoimpartpertinentinformationabouttheplot/story.Thiscanbedonethroughtheirinnerthoughtstheiractionsorthroughdialogue.

    Doesitallmakesense?

    Readyourstoryaloud.Thismaysoundstrange,butitworkswondersforyourwriting.Thatsbecauseyouarenotjustreadingasyounormallywouldanovel,butyouarelisteningtotheresonanceofthenarrativeanddescriptions,youarelisteningtothedialogue,youarelisteningtohowthewholethingsoundsandflows.

    Youwillimmediatelynoticeifthenarrativedoesntflowcorrectlyorifitdoesntfeelright,youwillinstantlypickuponcheesyorirrelevantdialogue.Youwillnoticeglaringplotflaws,youwillnoticeifyouneedmoredialogueordescription,orwhetherthestoryneedsmoreorlesspace.

    Youwillbecomeawareofthesethingsbecausewedontalwaysdetectthemwhensimplyreadingtoourselves.

    Cliffhangers

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 14/15

    NewerPosts OlderPosts

    Needawayofkeepingthereaderinterested?

    Cliffhangers.Theartofagoodstoryisnotonlybeingabletotellagoodstory,butalsotheartofteasingthereaderateveryavailableopportunity.Thatmeansleavingalittleteaserattheendofeachchapter,somethingthatmakesthereaderwanttoturnthepageandfindoutmore.

    Alwaysengagethereaderwhereverpossible.Youemploythesametacticattheendofkeyscenestoo.

    Plantinformation

    Itdoesnthavetobeoverthetop,butplantingsimple,subtlehintsforthereaderkeepstheircuriositybrewing,somethingtheywillknoworbecomeawareoffurtherintothestory,(butthecharacterwont).Thiskeepsthereadersinterestfirmlyonthestory.

    Toomuchdialogue

    Toomuchdialogueusuallymeanssomecharactersaretalkingirrelevantrubbish.Theconsequenceofthisisthatitdoesntmovethestoryforward.Cutouttheextraneousdialogueandreplacewithdescription,actionorconflicttobalancethingsup.

    TheBigSleep

    Areyouindangerofsendingyourreaderintoadeepsleepwithastorythatseemslimpanduninspiring?Ifso,thenyourstoryneedsactionandconflict.Certainlynostorycanbeastorywithoutconflictofsomesortthisiswhatdrivesthecharactersandthestory.

    Ensureyouhavetherightbalanceofactionscenesandconflictbetweencharacters.Entertainyourreader,dontborethem.

    Alwaysrememberthatyourstoryneedsconflict,action,dialogue,descriptionandpace,andaboveall,youmustalwaysmovethestoryforward.

    Nextweek:Varyingthenarrativetoavoidtoomuch'hesaid/shesaid'.

    POSTEDBYAJ HUMPAGEATMONDAY, JUNE04, 20124COMMENTS: L INKSTOTHISPOST

    REACTIONS: Helpful (0) Interesting (0) OK (1)

    Home

    Recommend this on Google

  • 2/23/2015 AllWriteFictionAdvice:June2012

    http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.in/2012_06_01_archive.html 15/15

    Subscribeto:Posts(Atom)

    LA BE LS

    ACTION(1)CHARACTERS(1)DIALOGUE(1)SUBTEXT(1)

    NotFoundTherequestedURL/ttwasnotfoundonthisserver.

    Apache/2.2.16(Debian)Serveratib.adnxs.comPort80

    AdbyBrowserShop|Close

    NotFoundTherequestedURL/ttwasnotfoundonthisserver.

    Apache/2.2.16(Debian)Serveratib.adnxs.comPort80

    AdbyBrowserShop|Close