TTTTThe art
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Secret Writers Business - by TTTT
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96 Posts dating from December 2007
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Raven
I've said the same thing three times, when just once would suffice. But which to choose??? Words are like a deli counter for me, and I can't pick between the marinated artichokes, the salami or the pickles.
It's a process, and I'm learning all the time. I long for the clarity of brevity.
Jo
Brevity when dealing with a sandwich is an oxymoron without the ox, the mayo or something.
I actually found the triple play of words appealing Jo.
We'll both be dealing with this problem for a while.
Uh, trying to sneak away from the never ending battles, I wrote an escape piece: Link to naughty escape piece.
maybe I can quarrel with folks over this for a while.
Raven
Always Eighteen
"Good writing is honest." I firmly agree with that.
I love writing about... love. I think that a lot of people, when in conversation, secretly just want to talk about their love life and nothing else.
Anyway I'm glad I found your blog! I'm still trying to get my first manuscript published.
Always
Writers In Writing (and other writing)
I love when people write about authors who have inspired them. J M Coetzee looks familiar but I have not read any of his stuff. Of course now I shall have to.
As you so insightfully say, "When we compress our language, we are forced to make bold choices: what will suffice? What is enough?" I, personally, don't do fashion but I know there's a saying about taking one thing off before you walk out the door. I have tried to apply this to my writing before I send it out into the world. But believe me, I have had many tragically unfashionable writing moments.
"Beautiful compression" is definitely an art. Cormac McCarthy's The Road is my favourite example of brilliant brevity. I wrote a short non-fiction story which tried to emulate his understatement and I won a runner-up prize in a competition. Really Long Link
Of course, it's not quite in Cormac's league, but at least I didn't send it out wearing a pink fascinator!
Love your post
Jayne
Always Eighteen: what is there more worthy to write about than love? Don't stop writing honestly about the heart. It is a magnificent distillery of emotional beauty.
Jayne, I don't like ALL of JM Coetzee. He is hard to read, very bleak. But Disgrace taught me so much about the art of less. Some of his stuff is almost impenetrable, which I think is sometimes the danger of 'too little.' In saying less, we credit our reader's intelligence by not spelling everything out for them, but in doing so we can be eliptical and create gaps through which a shared meaning slips. I guess it's a tricky balance. I also try to cut out my first and last sentence of each paragraph, as they are often the extras we can afford to lose. It's a real art, self-editing. But lean is always better, don't you think?
Thanks for the link to your FABULOUS short story. It is exquisite.
Jo