Listening to a few famous contemporary writers give advice: from Literature: Craft and Voice (http://www.mhconnectenglish.com/Delbanco/)
Take notes on what these authors have to say about the writing process...
1. John Updike
2. Richard Ford
3. Jamaica Kincaid ("Girl")
4. Amy Tan
Defy Expectations to
Defy Circumstantial Cliché (Writing Exercise)
·
In the past few weeks, to inspire the start of a
story, I’ve asked you to think about putting characters close to their
situations (ex.: make the MC a climatologist in a story that thematically
discusses global warming); however, doing so can often set us up as writers to
simply go through the motions of what would be expected if we so closely attach
the characters to plot, or plot to characters. We may have a story that is
structured well, but we may also bore our readers with a lack of surprise. We
can call this plot cliché, or circumstantial cliché (one of other writing clichés discussed in Writer's Digest).
·
So, consider as you revise your well structured
story so that it now has a stronger voice and a few more crafty, expectation
defying moment. First, look at these examples and think about: 1. What is generally expected from this character type and/or from this scenario? 2. How may I use the situation or setting to discuss a different conflict between characters than what might be expectedly going on in the larger setting amongst all characters?
o Ex.:
If your story takes place at a funeral, make the story less about the dead
person or how people are sad for their loss, etc., Instead, what are some
surprising things that one can imagine (or have experienced) that have gone on
at funeral?
o Ex.:
You have a story revolving around the head cheerleader and the start
quarterback of the high school (or college) football team. What is the easy,
stereotype of their relationship? How might you take the story in some less
expected directions?
§
For example, on my example: maybe the QB is more
interested in history classes than he is sex or beer or abuse!
