Hey!
From about this time each year through the end of winter, I gravitate back beneath the flaky covers of my first fiction writing how-tos and notebooks to review literary fundamentals: scenic vs. summary method, suspense vs. tension, premise vs. theme, characterization, etc…
Why the annual review?
Because around late fall, I may read back some of my writing-to-date on the year and – although often a first-draft – discover the emotional, tensional, and imaginative depth I strive for throughout my narrative thinned as the year progressed to a one-dimensional listing of events, and I’d often wondered why this was so.
Perhaps the length of the manuscript contributed to physical and/or emotional fatigue; perhaps various life experiences – coupled with the passage of time – altered my beliefs and values where my original convictions which surrounded my theme changed; or perhaps I’ve only grown lazy over the course of the work and elected to lean on the editing stage.
Well, I’m no English professor (or psychologist), but when I peer back over my literary years, I notice each of the aforementioned reasons for my weakened writing pale in comparison to the decay of writing fundamentals.
Think about it – How many times do you begin a manuscript in January only to forget the value of figurative language, viewpoint rules, or subtext only a few months later?
For me, the answer is, time and again.
Throughout my earlier years when I may lose my literary way, I coaxed myself into believing my values and beliefs must have changed, was mentally fatigued, or some other ‘common’ cause. This isn’t to qualify any reason as invalid as both experience and time do deliver challenges and hence do alter the depth of our writing.
What I’m conveying however is when I restudy fundamental principles such as show vs. tell, dialogue, and sensory effect each year, my literary competence (and confidence) rises where the reasons stated above become far less relevant and I – more often than not – return to producing quality fiction.
The first book I’ve chosen to review this year is an instructional from the ‘Elements of Fiction Writing’ series called Scene and Structure by Jack M. Bickham. This work explores the internal structure of fiction from the microcosmic level (e.g. stimulus and response & cause and effect) through the macro one (e.g. scene and sequel). Perfect for writers who long to master the interior building blocks to credible fiction, Scene and Structure revolutionized my approach to our craft and I plan to read this book at least once each year throughout my literary years.
I suppose it’s one thing to be a champion of continuous improvement but another to be so serious around the holiday season (…my apologies)!! May everyone (well, all three of you…lol!) enjoy a safe, prosperous 2015!
Happy New Year, One and All!!
God bless…
Phil