Tuesday, February 14, 2017

EXTRACT FROM LIFE-WRITES: Thought & Form




We have to accept that whatever we write about often reflects our own personal philosophy, beliefs or morality. Because we feel strongly about something means that we can inject extra passion into dialogue and it can be a useful device in fiction to have one of your characters expound these ideas; conversely, in non-fiction it can bog down the text and turn it into the dreaded ‘opinion piece’. However we intend to use this device, it is essential that the narrative does not descend into megalomania either on the part of our characters, or on us as the writer.

Fictional characters can engage in polemic dialogue/discussion in order to make a point or set a scene, but confrontational nonfiction is generally only acceptable to an editor when submitted by celebrity writers. OutrĂ© social or political statements need to be riveting and convincing because a publisher or editor will rarely take a risk on a new writer dabbling in this field, unless there is some authentic background to support the research – whether fiction or non-fiction. A device I used in my novel, Whittlewood, was to allow one of the characters to make certain pertinent social statements by way of an interview that was being conducted as part of the story-line. This gave room for manoeuvre when the journalist queried or wanted to clarify a point.

To see how people put an opinion across in an interview, study how the points are made in those published in the weekend colour supplements to the broadsheets. The interviewer not only reports on responses to pertinent questions, but also comments on appearance, manner and body language to complete the picture. This is one of the best methods of painting pictures by people using economy of language, especially if trying to make a social or political statement without getting bogged down with description and narrative. A good journalist can convey these images in thumb-nail sketches, while not missing out on the essential point of the interview – a trick that most fiction writers would benefit from studying.

Many ideas begin life as personal memories and, although they are important to us as the individuals who have experienced them, unless we have already attained celebrity status, our personal memories and reflections are of little interest to others – particularly editors and publishers. The original idea might have its roots in fact but it may be more marketable to develop it into the form of a short story, or a poem, which can often provide a new dimension to what started out as a straight forward, real-life experience.

Already, the contents of our Ideas Book should be growing at a rapid rate as we discover new ways of expressing ideas, viewpoints and sentiments. This is why, unlike many writing tutorials, I ask you not to use my ideas but to substitute your own for the different categories of ‘things’ and exercises. I have been drawing on what I know (from experience, background, family, personal interest, reading, researching) and, to be a successful writer, you need to draw on what you know, whether on a conscious or subconscious level.

As we’ve already seen, writing about what we know, doesn’t mean restricting our subject matter. To ‘know’, according to the dictionary is: “To have a clear and certain perception of; to recognise from memory or description, to identify; to be convinced of the truth or reality of; to be acquainted with; to have personal experience of; to be familiar with; to be on intimate terms with; to be aware of; to understand from learning or study.” Which means we can also write about those things we care to acquire knowledge about in order to extend our personal viewpoint or perspective for the purpose of scene-setting.

Make a list of all the things you’d like to know more about in your Ideas Book – and start reading.

Handy Hint:
Always keep an eye open for reference books, particularly dictionaries, in charity shops, car boot and yard sales - especially any relating to your own developing fields of interest. These can be obtained at a fraction of the original cost and hasn’t made a dent in your pocket if you discard them at a later date.


Try This Exercise:
Think of several subjects that you would like to know more about and, using the mind mapping technique described earlier, explore areas of how you can use each of them in your own writing. For example, using Japan as the key-word, we might come up with a poem, article or short story based on a visiting Japanese exhibition. Or a kabuki performance. Or a season of Kurosawa films at the National Film Theatre. Or an object found at a car boot sale. Or watching a Japanese tourist on a visit London. Some degree of study or learning about Japan is, of course, necessary but it doesn’t mean that the piece needs to have an in-depth Japanese setting for us to be able to write about it.


• What subject would you choose?

Life-Writes, published by Moon Books is available from Amazon in paperback or e-book format

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