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

[delorispea.livejournal.com]

I agree but disagree. Sometimes the most simple pleasures of real life described can be just as stunning.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

I don't really agree with the general statement, but I do think RL can be stranger than fiction and, also, what's interesting in RL, doesn't always work on paper. When someone says, "But this is how people actually talk," or "This actually happened," it doesn't necessarily justify what's written, but to say that "writers have to elevate life and add spices and all the rest," wouldn't really be my argument there.

That said, I just overheard the most boring conversation ever; if someone tried to include it into a novel and then say "But that's how people talk, so don't tell me it's boring and stilted," I fear I'd slap them silly.

[stellamoon.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not a writer, so my opinion might not be as helpful. But I agree with delorispea. I enjoy very astute descriptions of real life pleasures and experiences. I think that elevates life without having to add spice. But everyone has a different opinion, I suppose.