A View From A Conference
Hi Fellow Writers,
I'm currently attending the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in Santa Barbara, California and WOW what a great experience. For one thing, it's incredible to have a chance to spend entire days with people who don't think you're nuts because you hear voices--they do too. The voices of their characters talking in their heads. And discussions about plot and pacing and character arcs are all consuming. There are 264 students here from ages 17 to 80-something and 26 super talented teachers. I start every day at nine and the last evening session is always still going strong when I drag myself off to bed about midnight. Sleep doesn't always come quickly, though, as ideas for my WIPs (works in progress) begin to swirl and sort themselves out. Last evening, I had the opportunity to participate in something I've always wanted to try--improv. I think it could also be called "improve" for authors. An acting instructor led this activity as a way for us to think about the subtext for our characters--what isn't being said but is the emotion driving the dialog between two characters in conflict.
Conflict is what it's all about. If a story doesn't have it, it's just a conversation and boring as dirt. Actually dirt is probably more entertaining.
The key thing editors reviewing my work have told me is "lean it up". I love Hemingway so I have no problem with that style element being in vogue. I was actually a little surprised, though, because I already write that way. Brief descriptions slipped in at key moments to ground the scene and make you feel what the characters are experiencing. But now, I need to tighten even more. So when you're looking over your own work keep that in mind. If it's obvious who is talking, just let them say it. Use action verbs like cringed and smirked rather than describe feelings and expressions. And when writing action scenes don't let the characters take time out to think about anything.
To squeeze the essence out of what I'm learning--make readers experience the story as if it's a movie playing out in their mind. Done right, a good book is the best movie of all because it has the reader's imagination to bring it to life.
I'm currently attending the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in Santa Barbara, California and WOW what a great experience. For one thing, it's incredible to have a chance to spend entire days with people who don't think you're nuts because you hear voices--they do too. The voices of their characters talking in their heads. And discussions about plot and pacing and character arcs are all consuming. There are 264 students here from ages 17 to 80-something and 26 super talented teachers. I start every day at nine and the last evening session is always still going strong when I drag myself off to bed about midnight. Sleep doesn't always come quickly, though, as ideas for my WIPs (works in progress) begin to swirl and sort themselves out. Last evening, I had the opportunity to participate in something I've always wanted to try--improv. I think it could also be called "improve" for authors. An acting instructor led this activity as a way for us to think about the subtext for our characters--what isn't being said but is the emotion driving the dialog between two characters in conflict.
Conflict is what it's all about. If a story doesn't have it, it's just a conversation and boring as dirt. Actually dirt is probably more entertaining.
The key thing editors reviewing my work have told me is "lean it up". I love Hemingway so I have no problem with that style element being in vogue. I was actually a little surprised, though, because I already write that way. Brief descriptions slipped in at key moments to ground the scene and make you feel what the characters are experiencing. But now, I need to tighten even more. So when you're looking over your own work keep that in mind. If it's obvious who is talking, just let them say it. Use action verbs like cringed and smirked rather than describe feelings and expressions. And when writing action scenes don't let the characters take time out to think about anything.
To squeeze the essence out of what I'm learning--make readers experience the story as if it's a movie playing out in their mind. Done right, a good book is the best movie of all because it has the reader's imagination to bring it to life.
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