| Do you ever wonder what's in the mind of a | | | | and pack up... |
| fiction writer? | | | | Do some authors know how much we can take |
| Is there a secret formula, do they follow a set | | | | before we crash, while others are oblivious and |
| path when writing? | | | | believe the more they give us, the more we'll |
| Are they really as creative as we think they are? | | | | love them. |
| As an avid fiction reader I sometimes wonder | | | | In my opinion some authors have a tendency to |
| what is going through the mind of an author, good | | | | overdeliver, they use every word in the |
| or bad. | | | | dictionary, cover us with flowery and picturesque |
| I guess we've all read novels that feel similar to | | | | scenes, metaphors dance before our eyes, trying |
| ones we've read before, the settings and | | | | so hard to seduce our minds. They try to capture |
| characters are probably different, but somehow | | | | us with their literary genius and their creative |
| you feel you've seen it all too often. A crime | | | | genes, only to fall flat on their faces, when critics |
| committed, a detective, a suspect, a hero and his | | | | kick the chair from under them. |
| sidekick, it doesn't matter that it's set in space | | | | Does this mean that we want and need a |
| with aliens, in a fantasy realm, or even here on | | | | formula? |
| our planet, something just shines through and tells | | | | I don't know if there is a formula for fiction |
| our minds that it's not fresh. It takes a great | | | | novels, but if there is, I'm sure it isn't set in stone, |
| author to "rewrite" A STORY THAT'S BEEN | | | | don't you think it's capable of being stretched? |
| TOLD TO DEATH. | | | | As a reader I want to be astounded, amazed, I |
| When new wannabe writers join writing classes | | | | want to feel sick to my stomach, I want to feel |
| are they given a template that clearly states how | | | | the blood rushing through my veins, feel the |
| many characters, what type of characters, plots, | | | | passion, but most of all I want to use my |
| turns and twists, how many "red herrings" are | | | | imagination. |
| allowed. Sometimes I believe that to be true. | | | | The best and most creative fiction writers in my |
| As a reader is that what we want? Is it our mind | | | | mind are the ones that leave out all the good |
| that needs the comfort of knowing, do we just | | | | stuff. They draw an outline, fill in the most |
| read, waiting for the next clue, not really bothered | | | | important pieces and leave the rest to me, leave |
| with it because at the end we'll know "whodunit". | | | | it to my imagination to connect the dots. Much like |
| What would happen if we broke the mould? | | | | a child's colouring book. I don't need to know |
| Would our minds decide not to read it, tell us that | | | | everything about the main character, just give |
| it's rubbish and throw it away as if it were full of | | | | me a few tidbits and I'll paint my own picture. |
| germs? Maybe it's just too challenging for our | | | | "In the simplest of words you can find the |
| tired brains to follow? Too many red herrings, too | | | | greatest joy, if you use your imagination. |
| many characters and we shut down, switch off | | | | |