Many of you, my writer friends that is, mentioned it would be interesting to see how my latest experience would affect my writing.
I was thinking a lot about it and I guess that even out-of-the-ordinary events (such as living in a war-zone) don't automatically turn into stories, just like "normal" or regular life doesn't.
I guess that what I mean is something we so often mention about plots - there needs to be more than a story. Beginning, middle and end, characters, action, climax and all the rest of the good stuff that makes turns a story into a plot.
For me, when I think of my experience, it seems dry. There was no hot romance, no spectacular bravery acts. Just simple people continuing their simple lives. While each person may indeed be brave, the plodding along is actually boring.
It's been over a week now that I'm thinking about it. A good sign of returning to normal and regular life. But I'm still not completely back in the groove yet. And I'm still not sure where I'm going with this post except to say that if you ever tried to write about how you fell in-love with your spouse, then you probably understand what I mean. There's a need for more than just telling the accounts of events. Maybe that's why autobiographies have their own categories?
Did any of this make any sense?
Good to back talking about this kind of stuff. Thank you all :)
Categories: writing, personal, plot
12 comments:
Good to see you back!
yea,,,good to see ya back!! cant wait for more..jmk
rdl, good to be back :)
Jayne, you're right. I'm probably still too close to it. Still can't think of it in other terms.
JMK, I'm glad too. And thanks :)
You make sense. I suspect the question is more esoterical than you suggest. The experience you've been through has affected you in some way, and at some level, the question is, will it affect your writing?
I suspect it might -- but it may be much more subtle than people are anticipating.
It sometimes takes me years to process something before it shows up in my writing--greatly transformed by my sub-conscious.
I find that some of my best stories do come from everyday life experience that automatically turns into a story. One of my publish short stories ("Check") was written while I sat in psychology class. I had just had the experience on the bus on my way to class so there I sat and wrote the whole story. Perhaps i'll post it on my site but not tonight...too tired.
I think every experience affects us as a person and then as a writer. When I went to India, I had a lot of people making the same comment about my writing. It was uncomfortable for me…people seemed to expect me to write about the experience but I knew I couldn’t write it as they wanted to hear it. Will I ever write about India on that level? I know that going has affected my compassion, my outlook on a lot of things, my cooking: I know I think about the kids practically every day and make references quite often but I doubt that I’ll ever write a plot that deals with what I experience in visiting India and working with orphan children after the tsunami. No.
Good to see you back, Melly.
Welcome back!
My experience is that if I already write about something, I normally won't go back to it. I think that your emotional blog posts during your time in Israel were probably enough for you move on. Those posts were some of the most compelling writing that I've read in a long time.
Jean, you're probably right. Right now, other than being jumpy at certain noises, I don't feel changed, so it must be subtle.
Patry, that's exactly what I was thinking too. I'm too close to it. It would take time to be transformed.
Edie, thanks :)
I think I completely understand you. Some things are almost too personal/painful/disturbing (not sure the exact word as it's probably a combination of them) to write about. Maybe time.
Fred, thanks. That means a lot.
Yo may be right. Maybe I should just let it be. I did some writing about it as you so if it ever comes up back again, it will be through a natural process, not forced.
Welcome back Melly!
In terms of your experience affecting your writing, I'm not thinking of it as a story, but as fodder for explaining emotional states. I'm betting you felt all kinds of emotions and had all kinds of thoughts that did or didn't make sense while you were there. Now you have more experience to bring to any writing you do.
Hi, Melly. Just saw your comment over on Jason's blog. You haven't actually missed the contest. The deadline isn't until tomorrow, so you still have time if you want to give it a go!
You're right. The way people lead their lives is pretty boring. I guess that's why we need fiction to spice it up.
Welcome back. :)
Nienke, you're right!
I've thought about that too. I can probably describe certain feelings better now and use that. Yeah, you're absolutely right.
Thanks Jim. You know what? That might be a small thing that can push me back into writing. I might just try.
Thanks Deborah :)
Good to be back.
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