Thinking Deeper to Develop Writing Skills, Discuss Options

[Guest_Nina_*]

I would like to pick up on a comment Fran made in her Flash thread talking about the character moving from river bank to boat, using the branch of a tree overhanging the water.

The bounce required a bit of planning - needs pace but yet to show readers what is happening very clearly.

Now I'm still very green when it comes to writing prose and have a long way to go in terms of learning and improvement.  How do you learn to get the balance right, becoming more aware of how you are writing?  I tend to just write what I'm thinking or seeing, rather than taking an objective step back to consider the readers. I feel perhaps that my writing is still too distilled, missing out on the little details that bring a picture to life but I just don't think about it when writing. How do I develop that skill?  When does conscious become subconscious or is it a case that you either have the ability or you don't?


Nina

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi Nina, et al.

Yes all the above comments I'd agree with.

How to develop it. (I am no expert either)

OK take a scene - as the one in the flash  - and write a response. Write it as best you can. Then give it to three or four people to comment on - put it on here for crit, if you like, asking people to pay attention to the scene's plausability / interest etc. Then just hone that scene. Don't bother about the whole story (though you can if you wish).

Re-write it if needsbe - as if better / worse. The do another one similar.

Use something dramatic / interesting.

e.g.  The boy had about a hundred yards of the tunnel left before he woulkd emerge into fresh air. At that point he heard the train behind him...

Now you could try writing that from first person (they boy) and third (omnipresent narrator). See if people think it convincing? Interesting? Too much / too little detail etc.

As people say - practice - and the benefir of such exercises is they can be developed into whole stories if you wish.

Hope that helps?

J.