I read a comment the other day – “August is like the Sunday of summer”
– and it’s stuck with me all week. I read the quote on Twitter so unfortunately
don’t know recall the author of the tweet, but a quick Google search has the
line credited to a blogger named Lon Horwedel. My thanks to Mr. Horwedel
because in that small sentence he hit on a world of imagery that made my
writers brain light up in happiness.
And I love when that happens.
The words in and of themselves make little sense, yet when you read it,
you know exactly what the author meant. We all know that Sunday feeling. The
one that makes you hang on a little tighter, even as you know the time is
slipping away. There’s a sense of urgency, yet there’s a sense of relaxation.
For now – today – the time is yours.
To the point above, the sentence by itself makes little sense when you
parse it apart. August is a month. Sunday is a day. Summer is a season. Yet in
the sentence, the author evokes something very real and tangible in the mind of
the reader.
I’m amazed how often the writing process is exactly like that. Telling
a story is vastly different from writing an English paper. And while the mechanics
of putting words on a page to convey information remains the same, the process
of telling a story gives a degree of leeway to how you use those words to
construct images in the mind of another.
Yes, sentences should be spelled correctly. And yes, grammar is
important. And yes, even basics of conveying information should be adhered to.
But the rest is up to the storyteller.
In storytelling, a single word can make up a sentence with considerable
punch and feeling. Sentences that begin with conjunctions – a strict school no-no
- may be just what the story needs. Even characters who speak incorrectly might
be exactly what’s needed for the words to mix uncomfortably on the page.
For all these reasons, the art of storytelling is a lot like those
Sundays of summer. At the end of the day, my job as a writer is to draw my
reader in, making them feel any number of emotions and I only have my words to
do that. It’s important that I use each and every one of them to maximum
advantage.
So what do you think? What are some of your favorite authors? (I’m
always on a hunt to add some great books to my TBR pile). What are some of the
ways a good story draws you in and makes you feel something extraordinary?
Thanks for joining me today!
XOXO,
Addison
Despite early ambitions of
being a diver, a drummer or a doctor, Addison
Fox happily discovered she was more suited to life as a writer. She
lives in Dallas and - thankfully - doesn't have to operate on anyone. You can
find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com. Her latest book, THE MANHATTAN ENCOUNTER,
is currently out from Harlequin Romantic Suspense. You can visit her at her
website at www.addisonfox.com
2 comments:
I love your title, Addison. Very evocative. If you're looking for a terrific read I'd recommend Julie Cohen (American but living in the UK). Her last book, Dear Thing, has been chosen as a Richard & Judy read this summer which, here in the UK means bestseller stardom and in these case totally deserved. She has a new book out which I downloaded to my ebook the day it was published.
I do see what the author is getting at - though it doesn't reflect my experience. I have no car, and public transport on Sundays is hopeless, so I often feel a bit stuck on Sundays. But august, with all the sunshine, is pure joy, as I can go outside and read or garden or walk or play.
Having said that, I can see how it works for most people. But it's worth remembering that our readers all bring their own experiences to their reading, so our books become a little different for everyone who reads them.
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