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[Sylvia Day]

Fiction writers are, by definition and trade, creative writers. The creative process is spontaneous and unique to each individual. It's a little untamed, sometimes called a "fountain" where the product just "pours" out of us (the writer) onto the paper. We are storytellers.

However, in order to present a work that is both pleasureable to read and properly paced to entrance the reader, we also have to be wordsmiths. Every word you choose should be carefully selected for best impact. Sometimes less is not more. Sometimes more should have been accomplished with less.

In fiction, you are creating your own world, one that doesn't exist anywhere but in your mind. In order to make your world a living place for your readers, you have to show them what you see.

Quote

It was a dark and stormy night...

I live in California. I was born and bred here. A dark and stormy night for me means the sun went down and it's raining. Is that the same type of storm the author is talking about? Is it raining? Snowing? Sleeting? Hail? Is it daytime, but clouds cover the sun and so it's dark? Hmmm... (Mind you, this is widely considered the worst opening sentence in English literature. The author does go on to describe the weather, but by mangling the English language. *g*)

I'll give you some assignments and you'll follow through and post them here. You'll also be asked to select a passage of your WIP that you would like to discuss. And ask questions to your heart's content. I'm a casual gal, so this is a casual class.

Ways to show your story.

As a writer, there are many "tools" available to you to create atmosphere and describe what you see in your mind's eye. We're going to talk about a few of them today, so you can see what you can use in your own stories to mix it up and achieve the greatest effect.

Modifiers - adjectives and adverbs.

An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.

• Bright snow. Tall man. Thin woman. Plump chicken. Red ball.

An adverb can modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a clause. An adverb indicates manner, time, place, cause, or degree and answers questions such as "how," "when," "where," "how much".

• He moved quickly. She spoke boldly. You waited patiently.

Use of modifiers is one way to paint a clearer picture of what you see. As with anything, though, test it for the clutter rule. If it doesn't move the story forward, cut it out.

In ONE NIGHT OF SIN by Gaelen Foley, she writes:

"Gaelen Foley" said:

"Westland," a cool, gravelly voice responded.

Alec froze, the hairs on his nape prickling with instinctive malice. He remembered that voice.

Why do we need to know the voice is cool and gravelly? Because that is what sets it apart and creates the recognition so important to the hero, Alec. Otherwise, it wouldn't be necessary. Keep this in mind when using modifiers.

Metaphors

A metaphor is a direct comparison between two seemingly unrelated subjects.

• He was young yet, a sapling, but there was no doubt that one day, he would be a fine man.

Similies

A similie is a metaphor preceded by "like" or "as".

• Like sands through the hourglass, so our the Days of Our Lives. (*g*)

Analogies

An analogy is a blunt comparison.

• I look forward to birthdays like most people look forward to getting a root canal.

Personification

Personification is giving human qualities to animals or objects.

• The breeze caressed her cheek. The smell of fresh apple pie called my name.

Onomatopoeia

Sound words.

• Thumped. Sloshed. Splattered.
  
• "Rain splattered steadily against the window."

Much better than "Outside, it rained steadily."

Italics

Simply using italics can add flavor and spice to a scene.

"Take your clothes off." (sorry, I write erotic romance. *g*)

"What?"

We understand the person is horrified/ surprised just by the use of italics. We didn't have to see any more than that. "What?!" she shouted, would just be too much.

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If you mix up these various tools in your writing, you can create descriptions that work together and yet don't become so repetitive that it calls attention to itself.


HOMEWORK:

#1 - Look at your keeper shelf. Find 3-5 stories that have a clear tone, or atmosphere. Then look through them and see what the author did to give you that impression. If you don't mind, please post them here.

For example, TWO LITTLE LIES by Liz Carlyle has a very poignant tone. All through the novel you feel the weight of missed opportunities and great sadness.

#2 - Print out a scene in one of your manuscripts. Go through it and circle all the adverbs and adjectives. See if you can use some of the other tools above to accomplish the same thing, but with more depth. If you do, please post the sentence that you started out with, and then the sentence you ended up with.

Any questions? Ask away!