What I See When I Write and What You See When You Read
Backstory
The following is a brief essay, more like a thought process, on how a written story is constructed. What is read depends on what is written. What is written depends on the story to be told. While that sounds completely circular, read it, and see what you think.
There are always a couple of ways to look at something.
Just say I’m trolling along in my van and I come upon a young man walking:
“I came upon a child of God he was walking along the road and I asked him where are you going and this he told me. ‘I’m going down to Yasgur’s farm, gonna join in a rock-and-roll band, gonna camp out on the land in a celebration.’” *
That is fairly specific and draws a certain picture.
But what if I’m out in my van and I come upon a young man walking:
I ask him where he is going, and he replies, “To a concert.”
That is fairly specific, but it draws a completely different picture from the paragraph above.
The key here is that the ultimate answer is the same. They are each going to a concert. Which is more important to know? It depends on the story.
The first young man might go to see CS&N and the second one might go to see ZZ Top.
Does it matter who they are seeing, or how they are getting there, or what frame of mind they are in at the time? Of course it does! That IS the story.
Do you want lengthy, elaborate, evocative description or do you just need to know right now?
Some writers prefer and often write only in one style or the other. They swear that “their” way is the best. But what is best for the reader? And what is really best for the writer?
If you listen, the story will tell you!
* Credit: Lyrics from the song “Woodstock” written by Joni Mitchell
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