Suzy asked David Putnam:

Dear Mr. Putnam, I noticed that in many of your critiques of other's authors' works, you mention the "Fictive Dream" where, in my loose translation, the reader is so immersed with the book's universe that they forget their own. It sounds fascinating! As a writer, how would you write to achieve this effect, and as a reader, how would you say other writers achieve this (and if they don't, how do they generally fail)?

David Putnam What great question. And one with a complicated answer.
First let me say there is only one rule in writing. Only one. Don't confuse the reader. You can break any rule as long as you don't confuse the reader.
When I'm writing I follow one of Elmore Leonard's writing edicts: I leave out the stuff the readers skip over. Sounds simple and it really can be.
First I write in a thriller structure, that helps. A mystery construct can be a smidgen more difficult to maintain the Fictive Dream.
I next in order of importance. I always pay attention to character. Character is story, story is not story. This is a common pitfall.
This one is important. I design a scene how best to display the character, not how best to service the story.
I use three plot lines, one of them the main one. The theme is the keel of the story that every paragraph, sentence, and word goes toward. Next is the main plot line where the character follows a path and has to evolve. The secondary and tertiary plot lines are used as a way to give the main plot relief otherwise the story will suffer plot fatigue.
Another big one is that I use five things a scene needs to fire on all cylinders. If a scene doesn't work when I write it I go back and reconfirm the five things.
I keep all what I call, "speed bumps" out of my prose and there are many.
Number one first and foremost, focus you skill level on Voice, voice is the big Kauhuna of writing. It's truly the everything of writing. For me there are three components of voice, the third and most import is the one most often overlooked, the attitude of the character, the reaction, the perception of how the character uniquely views the world or what just happened. I always look for places for this to happen.
I also, try to keep space breaks to a minimum or nonexistent. They can be speed bumps. I write in first person (most of the time) and the same character throughout the book, this also helps keeping out the speed.
bumps.
This such a broad question I can go on and on.
Great question. I hope I illuminated the issue at least a little. Keep the questions coming.
A little disclaimer, all of this is just Dave on writing my take on craft.
Thanks again. :-)

d.

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