Goddamn shiny objects.

[squeequeg]

In theory, one of the best pieces of writing advice I've gotten is to examine how the authors I like write their stories.

I say "in theory," because I always get too damn distracted by the story itself.

Case in point: I'm attempting to rewrite a light space operaish story (space operetta? No, not enough puns), and so I'm rereading some of my favorite novels of the space opera-type. I go in with the noble intent of seeing how they construct a scene, how they mesh narratives together, how they work in description and science (or Science!) so that it isn't in indigestible lumps, how, in short, they make the story live.

I get about ten paragraphs in and I'm happily ensconced in the plot, my attention less on how it's done than on what happens next and isn't this so cool! Look! Zappy things!

I can occasionally step back and analyze some of the narrative, see how the structure works. But for close work, I'm in trouble. Maybe what I need to do is examine writers whose work I respect but don't get caught up in -- but then how can I learn how to write the stories I would love to read?

In other news, I've also discovered that attempting to rewrite a story when irritable and depressed does very little for the story. The space opera is much better now than when the group critted it; the Irish werewolf story not so much. At least it has a better opening now...maybe I can bludgeon it a bit tomorrow.

Comments

[minyan.livejournal.com]

If not typing, maybe you can slow your reading down another way. I rarely write in books, but I've found that I read differently when I do. What if you picked a small section you really like - nothing larger than a chapter - and read it. And reread it. And reread it. Because then you know the plot and you can only get caught up in it for so long. and on the second or third go-round, read with a pen and underline things and draw balloons and sheep falling off the ends of the lines and choruses of wookies with vibrato or whatever helps?

I haven't tried this with a novel yet, but its the way I tackle stories when I'm having a hard time commenting on them.