Thisphrase has a very technical meaning to expert photographers with real cameras. 

    Iam not one. My camera is my phone. What it captures is more like an extensionof my memory than anything anyone would admire. 

    Butthe phrase does relate to story telling. The camera (or the writer) can focuson certain elements. Some close. Some farther away. Those that aren’t in focus residein what’s technically referred to as a circle of confusion.  (Yes that’s what it’s really called!)

    Whenwe write, we choose what we focus on. And what we want the reader to focus on.We should be selective. We don’t have an infinite amount of words. Maybe 40 or 50thousand? Probably less. So we must focus on the most germane things. 

    Butdon’t forget to include a hint of what else is there. Lurking. Under the bed. Belowthe surface. In the fog. In the mist.

    Ignorethe warning. Go and see. 

Jane Kelley is the author of many novels in which she imagines more danger than she would ever dare to encounter. 

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