Literary Jenga
When you write a scene, you use building blocks of characters, dialog, time, place, emotion. You pick and choose and use them carefully (we hope).
But does the scene hold up if you remove one element? Or does the whole thing fall apart?
My thought is that everything in a scene, or a story, should be essential. The problem is, essential is subjective. I’m a big fan of cut-to-the-chase, and fill in where need-be. I don’t like a lot of lead in, description or meandering until, or if, I’m completely engaged in what I’m reading or writing.
I sometimes look back on a story and determine what was missing — but more importantly, if I missed it. In Time of My Life, I had a picture in my head of main character, Jillian, but what she looked like was much less important than who she was and what she was doing and thinking and feeling. I’m not sure if her appearance was ever clearly drawn with Scotch’s words. And I didn’t miss it. It didn’t matter. I only know this because I went all writer-007 on myself as I often do, to see how less is more and how one needs to credit the reader with enough insight and intelligence to fill in some blanks on her own.
When I read others’ work for the purpose of feedback and critique, I’m always careful to offer constructive criticism. And while the color of the sky might be beautifully described by the author, if the story is about shoes and shopping, do we lose anything by just saying that Genevieve hopped into her car, turned on the seat heaters and headed to the mall? No, we don’t, and that’s really what’s important. We know enough, in my opinion…it’s a cold day and Genevieve is going shopping. The real question is not, what is the color of the sky, but what happens next.
Self-editing is a tough gig. We love our words like our own children…but if you adopt a more-the-merrier philosophy your point may get lost in the process. Sometimes if I write something I then deem deletable, I “save” it — if I like what it says and what it means and the way it is written. Just because it isn’t right for one scene doesn’t mean it won’t fit perfectly when I am building something brand new — and then it may become the piece that holds everything together and stops it from toppling to the ground.
I completely agree with you Amy! Economy of words is necessary when engaging a reader. The art is in telling just enough to engage the reader’s imagination and once done, they fill in the picture. As a writer, I only use flowery language and extensive description if it’s central to who a character is. Early on, reading Proust cured me of my habitual use of lengthy narratives and addiction to adjectives. Anyway, how many ways can you describe something before it becomes redundant. An exercise in futility.
Where do you find your awesome graphics to accompany posts? Really enjoyed your thoughts on the writing process. Could I maybe link to your blog tomorrow in a post of my own?
Thanks, Amy. This is good advice especially for someone starting out as I am. Its fun to play with words and its easy to get carried away. I’ll definitely keep this advice in mind!!
So true! Sometimes, less is more. About a year ago, I read Confessions of a Fat Girl. What was brilliant about it, is that the author never said how fat the main character was. And it worked, because my friend struggling with 5 pounds connected with it, and me struggling with more connected with it. Less is very powerful, because it gives the reader more room to have their own reactions and use their own imagination.
I’m with you on not necessarily liking a lot of lead-in. It’s nice to get right into the thick of things, meandering worked in here and there. It’s too easy to lose a reader with a long build-up these days. But when you look at the novels of old, the build-up was much more prevalent.