Thanks for your heartwarming words about my recent Substack post, Harvey. I had never before thought of myself as "Writing Into the Dark," but I'm now delighted to be member of the club!
Yep. Some who write fiction into the dark call it "discovery" writing. They "discover" the characters and the story as it unfolds around them. Then they only need to record it accurately, as opposed to laboring over trying to figure things out with their critical conscious mind. That quote I stole from you fit perfectly. :-) Oh, see KC Riggs' comment also.
I think this description of narrative and dialogue finally made it into my brain. I'd gotten parts of it before but it all clicked this time (and will hopefully stick). I'm going to go back right now and read it all again to help.
Thanks, Karen. Dr. Mardy and I were discussing only yesterday that sometimes folks need to hear something presented a little differently before the light bulb finally fully comes on. :-) That's the main reason I keep returning to older topics and saying them a little differently. Glad it helped, especially as good a writer and story teller as you already are.
I actually had a discussion with a fellow writer about this a few months ago. This post reminded me of it. The way I explained it to her is that we're writing in past tense. The character is telling us what already happened to them. He/she KNOWS what tone of voice someone used at that time. Just like when we talk about a conversation we had with someone. We KNOW what tone of voice they used in speaking to us and can relay that in the retelling. That made it click for her.
Thanks for your heartwarming words about my recent Substack post, Harvey. I had never before thought of myself as "Writing Into the Dark," but I'm now delighted to be member of the club!
Yep. Some who write fiction into the dark call it "discovery" writing. They "discover" the characters and the story as it unfolds around them. Then they only need to record it accurately, as opposed to laboring over trying to figure things out with their critical conscious mind. That quote I stole from you fit perfectly. :-) Oh, see KC Riggs' comment also.
I think this description of narrative and dialogue finally made it into my brain. I'd gotten parts of it before but it all clicked this time (and will hopefully stick). I'm going to go back right now and read it all again to help.
Good "of interest" also.
Thanks Harvey!
Thanks, Karen. Dr. Mardy and I were discussing only yesterday that sometimes folks need to hear something presented a little differently before the light bulb finally fully comes on. :-) That's the main reason I keep returning to older topics and saying them a little differently. Glad it helped, especially as good a writer and story teller as you already are.
I actually had a discussion with a fellow writer about this a few months ago. This post reminded me of it. The way I explained it to her is that we're writing in past tense. The character is telling us what already happened to them. He/she KNOWS what tone of voice someone used at that time. Just like when we talk about a conversation we had with someone. We KNOW what tone of voice they used in speaking to us and can relay that in the retelling. That made it click for her.
Perfect.