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Dramatic Background
Posted on September 21st, 2008 No commentsI’m reading James Frey’s book, How to Write a Damn Good Mystery right now. Okay, not at this instant because I am blogging about it while I let the last chapter sink in. I like Frey’s books as they are such a nice, fast read. You are learning while laughing (and no, I’m not going to kill you with any of that silly, waaaaay overused ’LOL’ crap. It’s straight from the hip, anti-hyperbole headquarters around here. Mostly). Anyway, tonight I came across his idea that dramatic events besides the mystery should be happening in the background. In some ways the dramatic event will have an effect on the murder investigation that is central to the story and in other ways, it won’t. Either way it will add a sense of realism to your story. And realism is good.
(I’ve never been to an anti-war protest before, just a tuition hike protest. My shoulder was on the news.
I know, my fame astounds me too.)Being a writer of chick lit/romantic comedies (whatever you want to call them), I would argue that a dramatic background event could be used in any story, not just a mystery. The problem is, murder investigations are usually short lived and the timeframe covered in a mystery is rather short compared to other stories. His examples are short-term events, or events that you sure as heck hope will be short term, such as a hostage situation, political campaign, protest, etc). These work for stories that cover a short timeline. What about other stories? Stories that cover a longer period of time? I suppose you could have something dramatic going on.
The immediate example that came to mind was from one of Meg Cabot’s Heather Wells mysteries. There is a blizzard going on. It changes the setting in more than one way. The blizzard becomes a character, it becomes an accessory, it becomes an obstacle; it becomes more than fluffy stuff on the ground. Cool. Very cool. But what about non-mystery stories? Hmm. I think I’ll be keeping that in mind for future stories.
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The First Five Pages: Setting
Posted on March 17th, 2008 No commentsWhat impression do you want to make? Which details will you choose in your setting to make this impression? I’m paraphrasing Lukeman here, but I find these two ideas to be very helpful. And man, there are a lot of things to think about when writing a scene. One day, I am sure it will all be second nature, but until then, I guess I will have a lot of sticky notes pasted around the desk.
The idea of setting and details and which impression you want to make reminds me of getting ready for a job interview. There was this one time where I wanted a job as a librarian. So, I figured, if I want to get this job, I need to dress the part. I need to create the impression that I AM a librarian. So, I put on my most serious long brown skirt and a plain white silk blouse along with this awful brown vest. It was a very ‘librarian’. I drove there in my little car that was plastered with stickers and all painted up with flowers. I parked it down the street and walked in and got the job. I made the librarian impression that I wanted to make. I guess when they figured out who I really was, it was too late. Not to say that I was dishonest, because I wasn’t. But what I did was give them a visual impression. I created the right setting.
Part of me feels that there can be too many details which can detract from the story. Where is the balance? I suppose it all comes back to the whole focus chapter where everything adds up to the whole. If it doesn’t have a purpose, leave it out. If it doesn’t add to the cumulative effect you want, cut it. So where is the balance? When you get your head into your work, it can be hard to tell what is important and what isn’t after awhile. Details help solidify the overall impression and ground the reader in what is happening, but which ones? Which ones are doing the adding up to someone who is reading for the first time and doesn’t know what is going to happen? Tough stuff. I guess that’s why I’m not bored yet, there is so much to learn and it is different every day.
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I am an aspiring fiction writer (children's, women's and commercial) and an agented nonfiction writer. I am also a member, critiquer and site moderator over on AgentQueryConnect.com. And, I also blog with other fabulous writers at all stages of the writing game on From The Write Angle.
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