Friday Musings 1/19/2018

This Friday I am thinking about the different methods and styles of writing a story.

I try to mix it up a bit with each story. It’s basically the same finish point, and my voice is the same for the most part, but I try different tactics to get things together.

For instance. Dean Koontz writes his stories one page at a time, not moving forward until that first page is perfect. Stephen King just jumps in and writes as much as he can, letting the characters do their thing. Whatever outcome will come. J. K. Rowling has a board and plan of action for her stories.

I am currently on a first draft of a short where I’m using a more Stephen King approach. So far it’s going well. I noticed a lot more dialogue is taking place with this approach, as though the characters are talking their way about, through my fingers.

I liken what I’m doing, switching things up a bit, to musicians when they try different styles of music. You’ll get rockers playing reggae, or incorporating different genres of music into their work. I’ve seen in hip hop artists rapping in different styles, to show their versatility. 

I don’t think what I'm doing is too far off. The only bad thing is it may prove more challenging when selling a story, because, if you think about it, I’m almost starting from scratch.

Each method and style has different nuances, different hidden meanings that can take shape. And it is a fun learning experience attempting to master these different methods.

I’ll probably use a bit of each, or one here and there, as I get better at things. Sometimes, perhaps, a story may call for a particular style of being told. I will have these loaded into my subconscious so I will know when to use what when the time comes.

How do you write? Do you have a tried and true method you employ over and over, or do you mix it up and try to learn something new?

Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @Wcmarchese

Until next time.

WCM

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Local Spirit Halloween Store Popped Up Again

Image
I recently stopped into a Spirit Halloween store to check on something Halloween  related and it was all decked out with ghoulish goodness. The year has gone by fast, and it fast-forwarded to the best time of the year in my opinion. The leaves change color, a chill in the air. The holidays are just around the corner.  Take it slow. Try to savor these moments. And if your time of the year is summer, try to savor that, too. When you can.  This Spirit store usually rents the space out annually. Back in 1999, Spencer Gifts acquired Spirit Halloween. Spencer Gifts is a novelty store that you can find in a lot of malls. They do mail order and have those nifty gadgets and gifts you can't find just anywhere. I always used to remember them for posters, musician t-shirts, and lava lamps.  There are some great decorations at Spirit. I always love how freaky these things are. What they represent. Old horror tropes and stories that take shape in the screwed-up, twisted faces on the frightful la
Read more

The Brightest Flame

Image
The brightest flame burns quickest. Or like Lao Tzu said originally "The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long."  Sounds about right. You push too hard and you burn out. There you go. Burn. Candles.  Get it?  Well, it's true. Pushing yourself to achieve a goal is a good thing, but to over exert one's self is not.  It's not only disaster that can take place, but total burn out--and then it's just not as fun.  A little extra work never killed anyone, until you take it too far, you neglect your family, life.  Yes, you're doing more, but now your spouse despises you. Your kids don't know you, and you may be getting sick.  Now it's too late. You've gone and pushed yourself to the limits. And in the interim you've neglected a lot of things. Probably even your health.  Now you're sick, about to cash in your ticket. And you look around. What did it get you?  Your kids are grown a bit, maybe spouse left you. You
Read more

What Are Those Chinese Golden Nuggets?

Image
I was in a Chinese restaurant buying some food and saw a poster with these golden nuggets all around a man.  I wondered what these items were, because they had a very appealing nature to them.  I found out that they are Chinese golden ingots and symbolize wealth, abundance and prosperity.  All interesting, and makes sense it was on display in a place of business, but they give me a feeling I can't explain too well.  When I see them I am inspired. I want to create. I imagine what it might be like to exist in the world depicted in the poster.  Besides the aesthetic pleasure I get from them.  Then again, gold itself is aesthetically pleasing when shinny and such.  Pretty interesting stuff.  WCM
Read more