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It is astounding the difference one sentence, even one word, can make for a story.
I was having issues with my original fic. I couldn't pinpoint what those issues were, only that something about the story just wasn't clicking for me.
Then I start in on my edits for chapter four, I'm adding a couple of lines to this one small part, but it's not until I plug in the very last sentence for that part - one small, measly sentence just because I felt something a little more was needed, that included two small measly words that it just felt right to include - that everything about the story and, more especially the main character, clicked. It was kind of interesting since the sentence was meant to be filler (that is, subject to change should I not like it, but there to let me know that another sentence was needed if not that particular sentence). But it got me thinking about the main character and why he loved magic so much when all magic seemed to do was cause him trouble, something I hadn't really pondered like I should have until that moment.
It was one of those things that was staring me right in the face the entire time, but it took that one sentence to make me realize what it was I wasn't seeing. But once I saw it, I started feeling a heck of a lot more positive about the story as a whole and, in turn, more motivated to work on it. Not only that, but the sentence also makes for excellent foreshadowing :D
This is why I've become so obsessed with word choice. What we say, how we say it, when we say it in a story is as important as choosing the right colors for a painting. If the painting is meant to be quiet and melancholy, the artist isn't going to choose bright, bold, loud colors. Same goes for a story; you don't slap words together just because they're convenient, or you think it makes you sound smart, or because it's a word you never used before. Same goes for sentences. Heck, same goes for everything! From setting to characterization to the story's overall personality. One of my biggest pet peeves in a story is when it feels like the author is going for what's convenient rather than thinking matters through. Ex. All men like to have sex, therefore all men will have sex when propositioned (even if the character is actually devoutly religious as well as was molested at a young age and pukes every time someone tries to touch him in a seductive way, so on and so forth - yes, this is an extreme example).
It's not easy trying to make every little bit of the story count, but when you're able to, it's a great feeling. But when the process of trying to make everything count creates a domino effect that solidifies the plot and characters in your mind, it's an awesome feeling :D
I was having issues with my original fic. I couldn't pinpoint what those issues were, only that something about the story just wasn't clicking for me.
Then I start in on my edits for chapter four, I'm adding a couple of lines to this one small part, but it's not until I plug in the very last sentence for that part - one small, measly sentence just because I felt something a little more was needed, that included two small measly words that it just felt right to include - that everything about the story and, more especially the main character, clicked. It was kind of interesting since the sentence was meant to be filler (that is, subject to change should I not like it, but there to let me know that another sentence was needed if not that particular sentence). But it got me thinking about the main character and why he loved magic so much when all magic seemed to do was cause him trouble, something I hadn't really pondered like I should have until that moment.
It was one of those things that was staring me right in the face the entire time, but it took that one sentence to make me realize what it was I wasn't seeing. But once I saw it, I started feeling a heck of a lot more positive about the story as a whole and, in turn, more motivated to work on it. Not only that, but the sentence also makes for excellent foreshadowing :D
This is why I've become so obsessed with word choice. What we say, how we say it, when we say it in a story is as important as choosing the right colors for a painting. If the painting is meant to be quiet and melancholy, the artist isn't going to choose bright, bold, loud colors. Same goes for a story; you don't slap words together just because they're convenient, or you think it makes you sound smart, or because it's a word you never used before. Same goes for sentences. Heck, same goes for everything! From setting to characterization to the story's overall personality. One of my biggest pet peeves in a story is when it feels like the author is going for what's convenient rather than thinking matters through. Ex. All men like to have sex, therefore all men will have sex when propositioned (even if the character is actually devoutly religious as well as was molested at a young age and pukes every time someone tries to touch him in a seductive way, so on and so forth - yes, this is an extreme example).
It's not easy trying to make every little bit of the story count, but when you're able to, it's a great feeling. But when the process of trying to make everything count creates a domino effect that solidifies the plot and characters in your mind, it's an awesome feeling :D
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no subject
Date: 2010-02-24 04:35 pm (UTC)From:I found that to be true when I was an admiral's writer.......and also in my last job when I wrote a lot of replies to the California State Legislature. It ALL had to be finely tuned.
And it is no difference in ff as it will make or break a story line.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-24 09:23 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-24 09:29 pm (UTC)From:Yes, painfully distracting..........as much in my opinion as
those 'light slash' routines in some ff which I am to 'just overlook'
because the story itself should carry it.........sorry, I fall flat on my face as much as you do in your reference to 'bloody'