As you can probably guess from the title, I am just now in the middle of a TERRIBLE bout of writers block over the Sci Fi story I'm helping to write. It's funny, because I've always wanted to be a splendiforous writer, but every time I start to get really into writing again and think that maybe, just maybe, I might make it, then something comes along and challenges the whole way I think about writing, and suddenly I realize how cliche or unoriginal or immature or boring or flamboyant or dry or whatever my writing is. And then it's discouraging to even face a blank piece of paper.
As Winston Churchill once said, "Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public."
I like to think of myself as a brave warrior princess of a bygone age, going out clad in shinning armor with hair flowing in the wind to slay the beast of my own insufferable writers block. But instead I find myself here, blogging to a nearly non-existent audience. Which is okay, except that the picture of me blogging in Starbucks in real life includes all my flaws, whereas the writer of fabulous stories is free to remain gloriously incognito.
I have a question to pose to what faithful readers I do have, however. When you're reading, to you like to read a lot of description, or do you prefer a fast-moving story that leaves much to the imagination? I find myself torn over this issue. I want to write in a way that paints vivid pictures, but I don't want to ever put the brakes on my story long enough to describe things well. The more I think about it, the more I realize I just need to make my descriptions creative enough to keep the reader totally engaged- and vivid enough to be breathtaking. Which is hard to do... it requires more than the mere ability to put words together well. You have to be able to think a certain way in order to write creatively, artistically- you have to be the kind of person who notices the little details and can make humorous or fictitious comparisons with them.
And that is where I find myself falling short. While my imagination is fully functional when it comes to characters, places, and conversations, it has a hard time taking on the telling of those things in any other than a straightforward, completely UNimaginative way. And while I like writing sentences that flow and crafting plot lines that play pleasantly with the human psyche, I don't like having to stop every few words to think about a really good comparison or totally unique adjective. So. That is my problem. All you other aspiring writers out there should give me your opinions on the issue, because I am very easily inspired by your thoughts. :-)
Hey, Emily. This is Elaina. :D
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about that, too. Because I'm re-reading Hunger Games I've also been figuring out Suzanne Collin's writing style (probably my favorite writing style). So, in my case, description is good, but it bores me. Suzanne Collins on the other hand, sort of gives a little bit of description, at least enough to get a picture in your head, and even that she spaces out or implies by a single adjective. The rest she leaves to the imagination, which I think is a good thing. That's also why, probably, readers kept getting surprised when people were casted for the movie, because they weren't exactly imagining someone like that for the role. I guess that could also be a bad thing. Oh well, opinions differ.
I love USEFUL description - something that tells me what's going on, instead of telling me how I should feel about it. For example, using adjectives like "bulbous, translucent, etc." rather than "interesting, scary, etc." They should be useful in that they contribute to the story - not just fill page space. The detailed embroidery on a woman's dress is all well and good, but if you're going to take 3 pages to tell me about it, it better be pretty vital to either the plot, theme, or message of the book.
ReplyDeleteI also love descriptions that leave room for the imagination to soar, but I have no idea how to accomplish that! I agree with Elaina that descriptions can be overdone. However, what good would the action be without the appropriate context - I mean what would Hunger Games be the same if it were a fight between two ancient Mesopotamia tribes fighting for a food supply. I think the context plays a huge part in making the book what it is.
That's all the uninspiring opinion I have. Hope you get unblocked soon, but in the meantime, I suggest to just keep writing - even if this book isn't your masterpiece, it's well worth your time if you get closer to your masterpiece by it!
Elaina: Good point. I never needed detailed descriptions of Peta or Gale to form very detailed images of them in my head, and although that causes some problem with adaption to the screen, I don't think writers should hesitate to utilize readers imaginations.
ReplyDeleteJulie: Very good advise. My co-authors hold the same opinion, unfortunately for me, who is very tempted to jump ship. :-)