In most plot consultations, I never read a writer’s work. Instead, the writer tells me their story scene-by-scene or chapter-by-chapter. I find I can better “see” the plot and structure minus the words. Sometimes, however, in an on-going plot consultations after we have worked our way through the first draft and I understand what the writer’s vision for the project is and have a pretty firm idea of the overall plot and structure, I will read and comment on the manuscript itself.
In the case of a recent “reading” plot consultation, I was delighted to find that the writer I had been working with not only has created dramatic action with compelling characters and significant meaning, he also has a flair for words in creating his wonderfully imagined “exotic” world and delightful characters. It’s one thing to listen to what a story is about and quite another to read that same story. Thankfully, this writer’s project works at both levels.
However, I am finding, among other things, one consistent problem — author intrusion. In the middle of a terrific scene, he will suddenly switch to summary and in his own voice describe one of his clever inventions for the story. This quirk of his not only instantaneously yanks the reader from the “dream” he’s created in scene, his digression confuses the reader. The reason for this? Often, he spends time describing something that leads nowhere.
Example: the protagonist — a boy of 13 — has gotten in trouble yet again. This time the principal gives him a three day suspension from school and demands he meets with the board to hear whether he will be sent to a prison or a reformatorium. The author then goes into great detail about the prison and even includes a picture of the prison. The prison is named where the reformatorium is mentioned only as one of many.
Since the protagonist is sent to the reformatorium not the prison, the only thing the prison name and description contributes to the story is to create confusion.
The reader and the audience is constantly scrambling to determine what is important to remember throughout the story. When a character or a setting is given a name, we generally assume that which is named is something of importance.
In the first draft, get the story down. In subsequent drafts, consider your audience and write to them. Keep your reader in mind throughout. Do everything you can to make the transition into the story world seamless and effortless for the reader. If the reader becomes confused, they usually will not blame you as the author, but themselves as the reader. Before long, they give up. And you lose a potential fan.
Do you write primarily for yourself? When, in the process, do you usually consider your reader?
In my fiction, I don’t know that I have a specific audience in mind. Maybe just me. But that limits things, I think–because I’m very happy with less stress and less tension. Most readers aren’t. What makes my stomach churn a bit makes readers keep turning pages. So I guess I just have to keep the antacid handy!
In my nonfiction, I think I’m writing more for the people who have sat in on my workshops and classes. I feel like my NF voice is getting stronger, as I do more speaking–more entertaining, but still (hopefully) very helpful and informative.
Very good advice especially for inexperienced writers. You must try to detach from your writer condition and become the reader in order to realize if everything is logical and understandable.
I’m always curious about the writer’s process, especially when it comes to considering your reader — if in fact it comes to that.
Thanks for your comments.
Great post, Martha. I have learned from my cp that the story HAS to move the plot forward. Period. Otherwise hit the delete key. That works for me.
I posted chapter three of matching my photos to my fiction. Did you happen to see it? It’s interesting incorporating both the photos and the fiction text together and a first for me – an experiment.
Perhaps that’s what your writer wanted to do. Show a photo and then write about it. Or perhaps he spent time doing research and wanted to show what he had learned.
I have always loved drawings in the older fiction stories I have read. They add a certain charm to the setting and I would love to see it more. But it has to stick to the plot.
WOOT for having time to enjoy the road. 😀 I was home for fifteen years and know what you mean. It’s LIBERATING to see new sights that feed the muse.
Hugs, JJ
This is helpful. I need to slow down and think about what I’m doing from the readers pov instead of my pov.
Thanks
I am my own only fan.