Saturday, July 31, 2010

Don't know much, but wait, yes I do.


The first time I read those words, I about panicked. What I know, I can hold in the palm of my hand. I'm a literal person. Abstract ideas are doable, but they're not the easiest things to eek out for me. So when I read, "Write what you know" you can imagine.

Here's what I know: Sunsets; how they make me feel. Burlap; how it feels next to my skin, the way the fibers overlap, it's thickness, the color. Talcum powder; deja vu, Johnson and Johnson, babies. The smell of popcorn, the sound of a train whistle in the distance. Where haven't I lived where I couldn't hear one somewhere. Rain; how it makes my hair go straight.

You get the picture. I know so, so much. Things you know have to do with your five senses and the images and feelings you get from them. Write those things, look into your heart, your memory, re-experience them, then put them on paper. So many times I forget and have to go back and add imagery. In fact, the first draft is usually void of such things. Just get the story on paper, right? But there are those things we know that come so natural that, even on the first draft, they flow onto the paper from memory. I'm talking like this is a new revelation. I know we all know this stuff, but we forget--I forget.

Sometimes I have to stop and close my eyes. When I'm writing a scene, I try and imagine the things around me. Getting out of an old, worn out car, for instance. The door probably sticks and squeaks--now that's a really old car. The musky, old smell that mingles with the fresh air for a single instant. The difference in attmosphere, like stepping from air conditioning to stifling, breath-eating swelter. Easy, right?
Not so much. How does it look, feel, smell, even taste? Of course, one can get carried away with this, I suppose.

That's my words of wisdom for the week. Hope you all have wonderful weekends. I'll shout at you again real soon. God bless.
Bookmark and SharePhotobucket

10 comments:

  1. Good post, I enjoyed the read, and you have some great descriptions that put me in the moment with you. I tend to go hog wild on descriptions and lack filling out my character to make the mc more believable- that's my writing flaw. Thanks again :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is an awesome post. It is also very timely, because I am sitting here thinking about what changes I need to make to my short story, and part of those changes include things similar to what you list here. Thanks for the inspiration and ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I always have to go back and add in those senses-- as soon as you mentioned some I found myself feeling and being there. Good post!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Don't be afraid to imagine and conjure things in addition to the 5 traditional senses. I enjoy writing the most when I'm creating narrative about things "beyond" what I know.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I envy those who can describe all they see within minutes. I have to spend hours...well days actually trying to come up with a few words.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a terrific reminder that we don't have to travel around the world and examine all the volumes of great facts in history to be able to write. You have the right attitude. The writing comes from the senses, the heart, then the mind. All of us could write volumes of fresh and thought provoking pages that others would dive into with interest and pleasure. Thanks for the simple but profound wisdom. God bless, Bobbi

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love when people write what they know with soul...like you...I enjoyed taking a journey with you into your known and finding that I too know, what I know and it is enough. Thanks for the reminder and your wisdom!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think it depends on your style and talents whether you have to go into detail when it comes to descriptions. When I wrote my book, I had a scene about baking bread, and in order to get it right I actually baked the bread and made notes of the smell (also what memories it evoked) and used the best bits in my novel. But every time I edited my book, another bit of description had to go. Now that it's being published, there's hardly any of it left. And it's better like that. I'm better at dialogues and moving the plot forward.

    Deborah

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post! I'm in my first draft, and yes, sometimes I let the sensory stuff slip away. No no no!

    ReplyDelete