Writerly Advice #2

[justine_currie]

From the awesome agent, Nathan Bransford, some general writing advice to keep in mind:

Writing isn't about capturing real life as it actually happens. We have, well, real life for that.

Instead, writers have to elevate life and add spices and all the rest. Writers interpret real life, elevate it, reorder events, and serve up something perfectly balanced and ready for public consumption.

Your thoughts?

Comments

[stellamoon.livejournal.com]

Sure it makes sense. It feels very intimate and engaging to read not just the basics of how something looks, but more what the writer's experience of it is. Absolutely!

However, I just don't think that's what Mr. Bransford is saying at all! I think you're giving him too much credit, tbh. But it doesn't matter, because you know what you're doing! :D

[justine-currie.livejournal.com]

Maybe not, but I'll stretch the interpretation to suit my needs. *nods* I'm pushy like that. *g*

But I do agree with him, to a certain extent, that books are there to help you escape reality. Also, he's a kids' book author and agent, so the exaggeration element is perhaps stronger in that genre/type of book. Make sense?

[stellamoon.livejournal.com]

Well, knowing he's a kid's book author actually kinda changes my impression of what he said. In that case, I do agree with him. :) But as an adult reader, I definitely value more the impact of bare truth and stark reality, over a jazzed up story made to be more exciting. But that's just me!