This is my last blog for
a while. I wrote it some time in the
later ‘70’s. It seems an appropriate way
to close down for a spell. I may get
back to blogging after a time out.
(the posted version seems to have some spacing problems between words that I can't change)
n
n Hi there, Mrs. Moody. Ready for your first creative consultation?
n
Oh my . . . well, I suppose so, Mr.
Beardsley. I . . . I don’t know if this
little piece is what you want, but . . .
n
No problem, Mrs. Moody. Throw it out to me, and we’ll see how it
flows. Give me your first line.
n
(clearing her throat): “Hey, Leroy. Drop the shades and watch that cat zap up the
tree.”
n
Mmnnh.
First of all, Mrs. Moody, a basic rule in writing is to know your
reading audience, and how you can communicate.
Now before we get into your line there, let’s see if you can give us a
catchy lead-in statement. The principle
character here seems to be a cat, right?
n
Well, one of the characters, you might say.
n
Mmnh. Let’s
see then. What motivated the cat?
n I hadn’t gotten to that yet.
n But you must. How about . . . how about a dog?
n
That’s what I’m trying to . . .
n
OK. Now
take a step backward into the plot, and try again.
n
How about, “Leroy! Ain’t I told you to get that damn dog out of
the house?”
n
Er, maybe you could move ahead one step. Who is looking at the dog and cat?
n
Leroy and his friend Jefferson.
n All right.
Give Jefferson something to say, like “See the dog.” By the way, give him a name . . . Spot. Now try again.
n
Well, I hadn’t given this much thought. “Hey, Leroy.
Old Spot’s chasing cats again.”
n
No no, Mrs. Moody. Children can’t take in so much vocabulary
when they are beginning to read. Simplify. Simplify and clarify. Now, please, Mrs. Moody. Let’s give it the old professional try. Remember?
Write and re-write. Right?
n Yes sir. Simplify. You’re perfectly right, of course. Let’s see now . . . “See" . . . oh I have it: “See Spot” . . . uh . . . “See Spot run.”
Great! Now
your juices are flowing! Keep on. Repetition is effective. Run it past the kids again for emphasis.
n
“See Spot.
See Spot run.” But Mr. Beardsley,
don’t you think . . .
n
You’re doing fine. Now introduce you protagonist. Don’t you think you should identify these
characters by name for the kids? How about
Ginger for the cat? I once had a cat
named Ginger. . . she got mangled by a Beagle and . . . but excuse me. This is your story. Keep your style consistent, remember. Now, you’re on your own here for the next
line, but keep it simple.
n
You mean like this? “Hey Leroy.
What’s your cat’s name?”
n
No, no, no, Mrs. Moody. Keep it simple.
n
Uh . . . “See Ginger” . . . uh . . . “See Ginger
run.”
n
Now you’re on to something. Action words . . . keeps things hopping.
n
But Mr. Beardsley. I have trouble thinking in direct terms. Do I have to get rid of the line I had to begin with?
n
To be frank with you, Mrs. Moody, that line has to go. No kids can get through it. Another rule: clean out the excess. Remove the garbage from your writing. Nothing is too good that it can’t be left out
of a story. You’ve got to let go. Now, try some free association.
n
Well, here’s how I might try it: “See Spot. See Spot run.
See Ginger. See Ginger run.” Now,
um . . . um. . . Oh, I think I’ve got the swing of it now. “See Jane.
See Jane run. See Dick. See Dick run.
See Mother. See Mother run. See Father.
See Father run. See . . .
n Stop right there, Mrs. Moody. Don’t over-write. Know when you’ve come to the end of your plot. Leave them hanging. Don’t resolve.
n
Yes. Oh yes,
Mr. Beardsley. My, what a great help you’ve
been this morning. If it weren’t for
you, no telling where I might have gone with that story.
n That’s
what I’m here for. See you next week,
Mrs. Moody.
No comments:
Post a Comment