…a fragile music tuned by borrowed contents,
each narrow flute enriched by what it holds
the song provisional, the precise note
inspiring thirst, but altered by a sip.
April Lindner’s “Crystal”
Archives for June 2014
Write Right: Use Verbs to Paint a Picture
Verbs don’t only propel the plot forward. They also convey mood. They can paint a picture of what a character is like or of what a relationship is like. They can show the quality of an emotion without having to rely on a direct object, adjective, or adverb.
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Let the Ending Come
To ‘sit with’ you have to look into the gap in your understanding, not drive the conversation, not know where it’s going. Not know beforehand at all where it’s heading. – Lia Purpura, “On Looking Away: A Panoramic”
Do Work You’re Proud Of
If I did work I was proud of, and I didn’t get the money, at least I’d have the work. – Neil Gaiman, “Make Good Art”
Write Right: Some Thoughts on Dialogue
Even though I edit a lot of fiction, I don’t write fiction, so I’m hesitant to write about dialogue. I was asked my thoughts on the topic, though. I suppose I should give some answers.
How to Draw in Your Reader
My default suggestion for drawing in a reader is to start “en media res,” that is, in the middle of things. It tends to arouse curiosity; however, it isn’t the only way to draw in a reader. Writers like Tolkien, Irving, and Shakespeare prove the point. Other writers would say that the magic is in the title. In the online world, they’re probably right. The title and accompanying visual elements are essential to drawing in the reader.