 In the last post, we considered how
the right details can draw readers into a story, especially one that spans
genres. To practice the art and craft of detail selection, try this exercise,
based partly on a technique called "dreamstorming," from Robert Olen Butler'sFrom Where You Dream.Bring a pen and pad of paper (not
your laptop or other e-device) to a quiet place — it could be a room in the
house, or out in your car or to the local park. Quiet, in this sense, is more about
being away from technology and anybody who's likely to interrupt. Close your
eyes for a few moments (sunglasses help if you'd rather keep a low profile). Open
them and jot down the first things you notice — but only jot, just sensory
perceptions, like these: Amber stripes of afternoon sunlight [Jewel tone] drapes [Children] laughing, playing [games] Peach-colored clouds [Pale blue] sky Fading light [Pine trees] stretch [upward] Sit for a moment, not looking at your
list but taking in your surroundings. Then go back over the list and replace
any ambiguous words. Examples above are in brackets. Next to each phrase, add another
phrase describing your emotional response to the sensory perception. Now, of
the phrases you've written, arrange them in an order — it could be less intense to most
intense emotion, or the reverse, or from the top to the bottom of your field of
vision, or the reverse. See if you can craft a flash fiction or creative
nonfiction piece from what you've written. |
 |
|||||||||||||
 
CategoriesAlberto MoraviaAlice Munro, Short Fiction, Character Development Art of Writing Chapter & Voice, Audio Marketing for Writers Chapter Beginnings, Revising Scenes, Settings, Characters Chapter Beginnings, Revising Scenes, Settings, Vivid Characters Characters in novels Creative Nonfiction, Cross-Genre Writing, Film and Writing, Memoir, Multiple Plotlines Creativity Cross-Genre Writing, Illustrations, Children's Book, Writing the Details, Classic Stories Current Events in Fiction Detailed Writing, Dreamstorming, From Where You Dream, Robert Olen Butler Details in fiction Fairfield University Low-Residency MFA Fear and Fiction Writing Flash Fiction by Adele Annesi French Women Books Imagination and Fiction Inspiration, Writers' Inspiration Jamie Cat Callan Jamie Cat Callan, Bonjour Happiness! Janet Burroway Joy Klout, Online Influence Metrics, Social Networking for Writers Knowledge Transfer Long narrative in novels Multiple Viewpoints, Multiple Points of View in Novels Patterns in Long Fiction, Novel Writing and Patterns, E.M. Forster, Aspects of the Novel Plotting a Novel Poetry in Prose Revising Your Writing, Editing, The Best Time to Revise Your Writing Show Versus Tell, Difficult Themes, Writing Strong Scenes Spirituality, Internal Weather, Change for Writers Top Italian Male Authors, Gianni Celati Writers and Freedom Writers Emotional Journey Writing Communities Writing Fiction, a Guide to Narrative Craft |
|
 |
|||||||||||
    |
|||||||||||||
