tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post4536166875822186494..comments2024-03-29T00:39:54.374-04:00Comments on The Alchemy of Writing: Dreams From My Father (With Apologies to the President)Bryan Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-77020150877038362712009-04-06T12:51:00.000-04:002009-04-06T12:51:00.000-04:00And Wanu, of course, prefers fluffy pink bunnies. ...And Wanu, of course, prefers fluffy pink bunnies. Everywhere. I mean, seriously...<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>;)Bryan Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-91600549775763335772009-04-06T08:27:00.000-04:002009-04-06T08:27:00.000-04:00Well, I will admit that writing styles and specifi...Well, I will admit that writing styles and specifially the placement of details is a bit like interior decorating. Some folks enjoy cluttered, overwrought decor--others prefer more spartan, almost utilitarian fare. It's all in what the story requires, I suppose.Bookworm1605https://www.blogger.com/profile/12545092958160012589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-75112254550860044352009-04-03T09:30:00.000-04:002009-04-03T09:30:00.000-04:00Here's interesting. I agree with the smooth narrat...Here's interesting. I agree with the smooth narrative point, in that it's best not to jerk the reader's attention all over the place, but I think inclusion of detail that may seem extraneous to some is a style choice. <BR/><BR/>I'd say that there are many, many instances in published work where a scene, or chapter/s even, don't bind tightly to a streamlined progression. I tend to read the 'Narrative' Story of the Week because subscription was free. They're only short stories, but there's a lot of fluff in them. It's obvious the editor's preference is to have nice flow and beautiful language rather than tension and drama, or even resolution in some cases (hence the name 'Narrative' I guess), but I think that shows the variance in subjectivity of reader response, and even market response. <BR/><BR/>I like the simple test: does the scene progress the plot, and/or show character? (and the subsequent answer: if not, cut it). With the character question, a lot can ride through. Authors are always going to disagree on whether certain character-revealing scenes are necessary, especially if the scenes in question are about secondary characters. <BR/><BR/>I always moan about David Eddings' loooooong segues of journeying, or short term challenges that pop up between the hero and the climax. That style of storytelling frustrates me, but for others it's fine. <BR/><BR/>I think it's best not to lose sight of those differences in reader response when we start to edit a story against an ideal template. I'm getting better at chopping and changing, but it's always with an awareness that I've read plenty of books that meandered a little. Some of them meandered a lot.Wanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05731486848251527379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-51838831796023404342009-04-02T21:14:00.000-04:002009-04-02T21:14:00.000-04:00History was one of my favorite subjects. I think i...History was one of my favorite subjects. I think if I hadn't become a business tycoon I'd love to have been a history professor.<BR/><BR/>The devil is in the details, they say, especially for a writer. I think it's vital to know all the details, from the superfluous to the innocuous, but the real trick in cooking up a good narrative is choosing the right details and when to reveal them. It's all about timing. OK, maybe not all, but timing is important here. The steady leaking of important details to the reader, being careful to avoid the dreaded info-dump.<BR/><BR/>And it's key to be parsimonious (ha! I came up with my very own -ous word!) in the doling out of these details. I wonder what the ratio is of the proper amount of details to reveal in a story versus the total amount of detail a writer creates as a part of worldbuilding. I bet it's crazy, like 20-80 or 10-90.<BR/><BR/>And I get the 'looking at real details' bit, too. I'm a people watcher. I love to just sit in public places and watch people and their antics, give them backstories and such.<BR/><BR/>I know, I know. I should take up a sport or something that doesn't make me look like a stalker.<BR/><BR/>What can I say? I'm a writer.Bookworm1605https://www.blogger.com/profile/12545092958160012589noreply@blogger.com