What I Avoid
In my last post I created a couple of simple surveys listing elements in both fiction and non-fiction writing that most writers must deal with at some point. Some of these we feel comfortable about. Others we dread like the plague. We may even go out of our way to avoid them.
An example for me is writing sex scenes. I feel silly writing them. I always fear I'm either going to fall into silliness like, "She felt his hard manhood against her, wanting, seeking, thrusting." Or my scene is going to come off as hardcore pornography (or softcore for that matter) when I am not interested in titillation but in furthering my story. As a result, I avoid them for the most part. I start the lovers off then do a hasty fadeout before things go too far. Once in awhile I do a full scene if I feel I absolutely must, but I don't like doing it.
Maybe it's my Catholic school education.
Here are my answers to the little quizzes I created.
Fiction Elements Like Indifferent Dislike or Dread Love scenes X
Sex scenes X
Violent scenes X
Dialogue w Characters X
Interior dialogue X
Description X
Back story X
Narrative X
Time shifts X
POV Shifts X
Depicting emotions X
Nonfiction Elements Like Indifferent Dislike or Dread
Technical Writing X
Proposals X
Biographical Data X
Publicity/Advertising Copy X
Directions/how-tos X
Autobiography/Resume X
Specifications X
Tests/quizzes/surveys X
Explanations X
Newsletters X
Presentations/Speeches X
So what's the point of all this? Why analyze what we enjoy writing and what we don't? After all, we write what we write. And if we're lucky enough to get to choose, we can pretty much decide to stick with the elements we feel good about.
But it's the same reason we do any inventory--we get better if we understand what's going on.
We know intuitively that the kinds of writing we like are the kinds we're good at, and vice-versa: we enjoy doing what comes easily.
What we may not realize clearly is that avoidance dooms us to staying stuck. If we don't force ourselves to practice a skill we will never acquire it. If we don't practice we won't get better. And sometimes avoidance just isn't possible. Sometimes, whether we like it or not, we have to write something we don't enjoy writing.
Much as I hate violent scenes, for example, there are times when I should write one, when a violent incident has to be shown because it impacts the character and therefore, the story. I could choose to work around it--much as any person with a disability finds alternative ways to do certain things--but it's to my own detriment. More importantly, it's a detriment to the story.
Believe me, I've taken the path of least resistance many times. But here's the problem: the more I avoid writing certain types of things, the more unbalanced my writing becomes because while I continue to strengthen in some areas, in others I remain mediocre.
What about you? Are there skills and techniques you should improve but avoid instead?
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Thanks, Catherine. I like the idea of looking for twists and turns in the plot. It can be quite challenging because credible plot twists are difficult to come up with. We have to bring the reader along with us so the story can't be completely outlandish. At the same time it's important to keep the story moving along.
It's the same with violence. Depicting it may be necessary for plot purposes, but it can be done without being gratuitous.
For me, the aspect of story writing I work on most is developing twists and turns in the plot. Sometimes I put off writing because that can be a struggle compared to things that come more easily, such as dialogue and character development!