The Place For My Writers Notes

Original Posting Sept. 10, 2015

Writer's Digest, October 2002, on pages 18 and 19, had an article called How to Tell Time by Michael Orlofsky. The focus is on pacing, how the characters move through the plot, and the tempo of the plot. Unlike real life, in writing, time isn't really a straight line. We get to add peaks and troughs. In particular, those peaks are important, as little mini climaxes building up to the final one. But how do you control your time?

1. Scene and Narration. Scenes are one of the keys here. Scenes are basically "real-time" as far as the story goes. We get to watch the characters doing things in a setting, moment by moment. On the other hand, narration often condenses time and space, moving action and speech and information along.

2. Flashback versus linear flow. "One of the most used fiction techniques is the flashback." Jump out of the "present" of the story and into the past. Be aware that flashbacks delay the story line. Sometimes an overabundance of flashbacks means that you started the story in the wrong place, and you're having to rebuild the beginning through all these flashbacks. If it's really important for the character or the story, go back and start the story back then! Linear narratives, on the other hand, focus on the forward flow of a ticking clock.

3. Transition. "To me, the best approaches are the simplest ones -- short, introductory adverbial and prepositional phrases..." Meanwhile, in the summer, and so forth. White space, or sometimes *** or ###, also may indicate a scene or time change. Even the old ... can do the trick!

4. Verb tense. Past tense adds an obvious temporal distance to the story. Present tense makes things more immediate.

5. Sentence length. "Long, luxurious sentences and paragraphs slow the tempo of a passage. Conversely, short sentences quicken the pace and frequently produce a tense, staccato effect."... "Note the have been flow of the sentences: long ones to convey time passing; short ones for dramatic punch."

It's not in the article, but I was thinking that TV and movies often use the musical background to cue us in. A slow, violins playing romantic piece or perhaps a quick, bongo drumming background give us very different impressions. Similarly, our writing has a rhythm to it, built up of lots of little things. We need to pay attention to our pacing, to match the writing to the tension in the plot. Move quickly. Jump! Or just take our time and stroll along, enjoying the flowers in the sunshine?

Something to think about, anyway. And perhaps check during revision, to make sure the fast parts really are fast, and the slow ones take their time?

Originally posting 6 August 2007

Now that was amusing. Broomhilda today (over at http://www.gocomics.com/broomhilda/ [NOTE: The original strip is only available for pay now -- sorry about that] ) has a strip that starts out with the observation "TV has become such a wasteland." Then in the second panel, Broomie says, "I remember when TV shows had quality, dignity, and substance." The third panel . . . hold on, don't peek.

She goes on to bemoan the loss of some shows that don't exactly typify quality, dignity, and substance. I'll tell you which ones are in the strip, but take a moment to consider. What shows might you point to as not exactly fulfilling the premise of the good old days? What were the good old shows in your youth?

How about . . . Petticoat Junction? Or maybe Gilligan's Island? What about the Dukes of Hazzard? I'm not sure, since I don't remember all that many shows off-hand, but . . . who would you propose?

Make up your list.

Then consider Broomhilda saying, "Man, I miss Beavis and Butthead," while the furry sidekick says, "And let us not forget Ren and Stimpy." I think I saw Ren and Stimpy (that's a recent one, isn't it?) but I have to admit, I never saw Beavis and Butthead. Interesting how young the good old days are, isn't it?

Something to have fun with. What do people expect from the good old days, and what are the ironic truths? For example, I think it is funny sometimes that people tell me about the safe life of kids in the past - I was threatened with a switchblade in real life in my high school back in the '60s, just because I wouldn't let one of the local bullies browse through the student-organized lost-and-found. That was in an idyllic rural area that was becoming suburb - and the kid with the switchblade was one of those rural kids.

Anyway, have fun.