 For Authors: June 21, 2006 Issue [#1112] |
  For Authors
This week: Edited by: archgargoyle
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A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?
George Orwell (1903 - 1950), "Politics and the English Language", 1946
Detail makes the difference between boring and terrific writing. It’s the difference between a pencil sketch and a lush oil painting. As a writer, words are your paint. Use all the colors.
Rhys Alexander, Writing Gooder, 12-09-05
There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965)
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Storytelling has been around since the beginning of human kind and have provided not only entertainment, but also it was a way of passing on a record of history. Throughout time, we’ve compared journeys and happenings of the era by retelling the events taught, heard, or seen. Many tribes would retell the events of their hunt to relive and share the excitement. This also seems to be where many myths, legends, and the beginning of fiction started.
I’ve always wondered how significant cave drawings really were to those who drew them. We know that the hieroglyphics the Egyptians covered in their pyramids told of kings and their reign, but what were some other ways for people to tell and retell stories? Epics, ballads, and odes were written and sung to tell of heroic battles and love stories of that special woman. Bards traveled the countryside, carrying news and gossip in exchange for room and board.
In today’s time, there are a lot of stories being told, songs being sung, and imaginations running wild. Have you ever noticed that there are more fiction stories out there than there are those of heroic actions of today’s biggest influences? Now don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of stories covering historical things. But many times, they aren’t of real people. Many times, when we see a movie it’s something based in the future, or an author’s complete manifestation of their imagination.
We find most of the true to life stories in periodicals like newspapers and magazines, where a very thin line must be drawn in between using writing as an art to keep the person reading and keeping the story as close to the truth and unbiased as possible. However, there is plenty of room for interpretation in the truth, and several stories of the same event can differ widely.
How do you tell stories and why do you tell them? Is it to pass on information or maybe to entertain? Maybe it’s a bit of both. Maybe it’s neither. Use the comment section below to let me know!
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Comments below are from my newsletter last month. You can find it at "For Authors Newsletter (May 24, 2006)"
Mandarine  - When sharing family stories with friends, we always end it with a "This would make a great book!" Family stories about a certain Aunt or that cheeky old grandma hold certain magic because no matter how insane they might be, we can all relate. All families have their own set of book-worthy characters.
Like they say, the truth is sometimes crazier than fiction!
demor - I agree that exaggeration is a useful tool in stories. There are, however, cases where actual experience needs no exaggeration.
Good point. Now if only the news media could figure that out sometimes, lol.
Kenzie  - You said: "From what I’ve seen, some of the best authors embellish truths to make their story fit. They bend the rules of the original thoughts, personalities, and storylines to make it all their own."
Indeed. Just a few months ago, that author who wrote his memoirs was really big news. How much was fact and how much fiction?
Showing right now in the theaters is the Da Vinci Code. How much is fact and how much fiction?
And I just finished re-reading a novel by Nelson Demille. He starts by stating that the book is fictional with facts. One has to wonder which words are true and which are embellished.
As writers, it's so easy to embellish...
salliemoffitt - I especially enjoyed your newsletter this month. Since most of my writing is based upon personal experience, I found your information helpful and practical.
When writing from one's personal experiences I have found spreadsheets very helpful. I use spreadsheets to help me keep dates and information from my childhood straight. For each year of my life I will list where I lived, the age of my sisters, best friends, enemies, and any other information I can remember from that year. By saving the information in a spreadsheet, I can add information to it as I remember.
Then when I begin to write a story about a childhood event, the necessary information is right at my fingertips. I don't have to rack my brain trying to remember my teacher's name in third grade, or when we moved to the other house. I can concentrate my efforts on writing.
Great newsletter! 
Sallie
Wow, that’s pretty a pretty elaborate way of remembering. I usually just start some idiotic conversation with my family to remember some specifics, lol.
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