"[The writer] has to be the kind of [wo]man who turns the world upside down and says, lookit, it looks different, doesn't it?" -- Morris West
For me, what separates an author from the pack of writers at the top of creativity's bell-shape curve is the ability to ignore obvious descriptors. Truly gifted and conscientious writers, instead, find a way to turn a description on its head, giving the reader a fresh vantage point from where a thing becomes dynamic and emotionally enmeshed with the narration.
For example, a writer could have her narrator complain, "I was sick to death of being constantly bombarded with sensational stories by New York City newspapers." The narrator's feelings are clear, and 'bombarded' is certainly a strong, high impact verb that carries a lot of emotional bang for its buck. But now consider how Sylvia Plath handled the same thought in the opening paragraph of "The Bell Jar":
"...and that's all there was to read about in the papers -- goggle-eyed headlines staring up at me on every street corner and at the fusty, peanut-smelling mouth of every subway."
Plath turned the idea on its side, describing the headlines and the places where the papers were sold, using modifiers that painted for the reader the emotional portrait of the narrator's feelings. In essence, her descriptions invited the reader to participate in the scene.
I love this quote by Patrick F. McManus: "Write out of the reader's imagination as well as your own. Supply the significant details and let the reader's imagination do the rest. Make the reader a co-author of the story."
Do you think about your readers as co-authors of your story? Does doing so inspire you?
34 comments:
Hmmm...no. It's all me. If I thought about what everybody else thought, I wouldn't ever get the story done. I would constantly be changing and rearranging.
~JD
Description is tough for me. I'm not a fan of too much but there has to be some in a story. Because of this, I tend to be sparse and let the reader imagine the rest. However, I agree with Justine - I don't see it as being a co-author with the reader.
I write as a reader. I want enough information to get me there, but enough left open to my imagination that my vision of the landscape might be different than someone else's. If I'm not laughing along, feeling empathy, or are bored with anything, it gets cut. I'm a picky reader, and demand a lot of myself in my own writing.
What an excellent thought. I can take a look at my descriptions and flip it about, trying to imagine what the reader wants. Great idea - and the example really makes it clear.
Justine~ I don't think McManus was referring to writing what the reader wants to hear, so much as using "showing" descriptions that rely on the reader's imagination to complete the imagery.
Jaydee~ When I want a reader to imagine something in the scene, I like to use sensory descriptions, especially smell. Nothing draws a reader into a moment like images triggered by smell.
Christi~ I think that's what it's all about: writing what you'd want to read. I'm so with you!
MT~ These quotes got me thinking about my own writing, too!
I'll go with writing as a reader. I use a reader's eye, aka mine, when I write. Along with some other trusted beta readers.
But if I don't like it as a reader, out it goes. Great question. :)
This is a great way to look at it! I write what I'd like to read. So I'm thinking about my inner reader.
I'm with Christi...and I LOVE Sylvia Plath.
Of course, things didn't work out that well for her, but she was a genius.
Happy Monday, girlfriend.
Love,
Lola
Nicole, good morning and thanks for sharing this. I love how you relate it to turning the world upside down or the idea on its side. That's a great way to describe a metaphor or bit of description that really works.
The best kinds describe something in such a way that the reader pictures exactly what you meant - but in their own way in a sense that relates to their point of view on the world.
It can be tough to pull off but when it works it's genius.
ALL of that is incredibly thought-provoking--and just what I needed.
When I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of cliche (hee hee, there's one right there), I take a huge step backwards (another one) to see more clearly.
Oh gosh.
Sarah Jayne~ Thinking like a reader is a great way to write.
Aubrey~ Your "inner reader," I like that!
Lola~ Yes, like so many geniuses, Sylvia Plath became consumed by her own darkness. So sad. And sadder still that her son also committed suicide a couple years ago.
Matthew~ So right! Hard to pull off, but sweet when you do!
Jennie~ I'm the queen of clichés, and I hate it!! LOL!
I've never thought of it that way before, but I love the quote and I'm going to put some thought into this :) Thanks!
Once you get beyond simply wanting to tell a story, it seems to me, the language becomes the important thing. Even using very direct words, as Hemingway so often does, can become intriguing simply because of the rhythm that can be built with the cumulative descriptors. Using language in interesting ways is one of the sheer joys of writing, when a phrase surprises even you with its resonance.
As for readers as co-authors? I've never thought of it that way, though I certainly expect the reader to go below the surface of my prose to the implications and suggestions I intend. Lovely post, good lady.
Great post! Definitely something to keep in mind as I move forward in my writing journey.
What a great way of looking at it! This is actually perfect timing since I'm starting revisions this evening, I can take this quote with me and apply it to my writing and you know what... I think it might actually make a difference!!!
I think when I hit the revisionary stage is when I really get into some hefty descriptions. I don't generally write for an audience, well, maybe I do, an audience of about 10 and I think they'll like it, I keep it.
Excellent food for thought. Sometimes I write with the reader in mind, sometimes not.
Good examples! It shows how important it is not just to write and give the information, but to do it with attention to our craft.
I want the reader to see what I see, what I feel, and when writing a story how I visualize and feel about the character or the scene. Maybe this is why I draw it first. I'm too selfish to let the reader see anything different than me.
Can't say I do, but I'm definitely going to dwell on this. Thanks for the great post!
This is a really good point. I find that I connect with dynamic descriptions rather than just having a place described to me; I want to feel it, to actually see it in my head when I read. I hope to do that with my own descriptions!
That is such a good question. Sometimes I do, but not always. If I did, I'm sure I would never get anything done. Ever. :)
Oh my goodness. I am going to KILL my computer! I just wrote a comment and then it froze... second time it's happened today!
Anyway: yes. To make a semi-long comment short, thanks to a silly computer, I do think of my readers as co-authors.
Interesting point. You've got me thinking, which is good! Description is one of my weak points. I'm usually pretty lacking, just eager to rush into the action and dialogue. Thus, I end up telling more than showing. But I'm trying to change! :) Thanks for this encouraging angle.
Wow! Excellent post - I love the Sylvia Plath example.
You know what? I thought I was already following you, too! Now both mistakes have been corrected. Thanks for tracking me down. :-)
Nicole, what a great post! I always try to write descriptions in terms of what they mean emotionally. Whether or not that's using my readers as co-authors, I don't know, but i sure like the idea!
I write what I think I want to read, then when I revise I make sure that I’m enjoying it or I rewrite it.
Great thoughts! I love the example you gave from The Bell Jar - now that's some awesome description!
I open up my brain and write. I don't really care much about what the reader thinks AS I'm writing, but afterwards, when I look back over the pages, I sure do.
Great post!
That was beautiful way of putting it!
I gave you an award over at my blog, hope your Easter was colorful!
I certainly hope I engage their imagination. After all, that is the fun of reading!
I have never honestly thought of this. I think in terms of my character and what they would say, what's appropriate in their situation, their world.
I'm going to be thinking about the reader a bit more, though, I'll tell you that. Great post.
I don't think of my readers as co-authors but I do think about how I want them to react to my writing. That's an important point for me. At the same time, I don't think about how they want to react but how I want them to react.
Jai
I haven't before but I certainly will now in the editing and finishing process. I'm usually so worried about getting all my thoughts in order and on paper during the first draft.
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