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

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Nina.

I'm late to the party!

Since I'm a to prose, I will sit back and enjoy this wonderful dialogue.

I'm still struggling with "Show verses Tell" as I've been told to try and 'show' my scenes more than I do. Try to envision yourself IN the scene, look at the surroundings, what you see, hear, smell etc.. and then try to put that into the story too. An example might be - instead of:

She was very angry with Jack for breaking their date (again). Work always comes first.

To describe her actions more somehow to get the same message out there..

Jack spoke softly as always, stuttering into the receiver, sweat coming off his brow. "Please," he pleaded, "Don't be angry with me. You know it must come first right now."

Jane nearly threw the cellphone out the window. "You're a lousy, dirty rat! That's the last time you stand me up!" The King's Faire sign loomed overhead. The car jerked forward, accelerating past the Knight at the gate. "I wonder if he makes work his priority in life?!"

So much to learn!
Great thread!

~Cleo :pharoah2