Very stimulating. I liked the whole issue of not being brighter than your reader. Interestingly, a lot of what Eleanor says is equally applicable to non-fiction.
Indeed. There is room for a bit more reflection in nonfiction (the voice of experience can weigh in a little more without being tedious), but it's a good reminder to use a light hand and not take ourselves too seriously as writers.
I don't claim to be a paragon of virtue, but I try to take myself very seriously as a writer at the same time as writing with a light hand, even a touch of gentle humour.
Really enjoyed this. Especially the note about lightening up and serving the reader. Storytelling is entertainment— which doesn’t preclude a message. The storyteller has a responsibility to dress the story in bright, beautiful, artful clothing. An “issues” novel I think of often is “The Cider House Rules,” but not because of the issue. It’s the characters, the time, the setting, their struggles that stay with me. Thanks for the tip about “Praiseworthy.” It sounds wonderful.
Yes, I took the point about lightness to heart. This has been part of unlearning my academic education. Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to be experts. I often advise others to "lean into the mess," but I don't always take that advice myself!
Very stimulating. I liked the whole issue of not being brighter than your reader. Interestingly, a lot of what Eleanor says is equally applicable to non-fiction.
Indeed. There is room for a bit more reflection in nonfiction (the voice of experience can weigh in a little more without being tedious), but it's a good reminder to use a light hand and not take ourselves too seriously as writers.
I don't claim to be a paragon of virtue, but I try to take myself very seriously as a writer at the same time as writing with a light hand, even a touch of gentle humour.
Ditto
Really enjoyed this. Especially the note about lightening up and serving the reader. Storytelling is entertainment— which doesn’t preclude a message. The storyteller has a responsibility to dress the story in bright, beautiful, artful clothing. An “issues” novel I think of often is “The Cider House Rules,” but not because of the issue. It’s the characters, the time, the setting, their struggles that stay with me. Thanks for the tip about “Praiseworthy.” It sounds wonderful.
Yes, I took the point about lightness to heart. This has been part of unlearning my academic education. Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to be experts. I often advise others to "lean into the mess," but I don't always take that advice myself!