We
recently bought a new TV. And it’s great. It is. However, I’ve noticed
something that feels a little strange and I’ve finally put my finger on it.
There’s almost too much detail. There
are times I click it on and I feel like the actors are hanging out in my living
room. It’s taken me a while to adjust. I’ve gleaned something else from this
new TV watching experience and it’s mildly off-putting.
The
screen doesn’t leave any room for my imagination to kick in. All the pixels and
minute details are filled in for me.
This
happens in books, too.
I read a
cool quote the other day that touches upon this exact point. Annie Proulx
emphasizes, “I think it’s important to leave spaces in a story for readers to fill
in from their own experience.”
I
wholeheartedly agree. An adept novelist gifts the reader with their own reading
experience. The act of writing for me is an intensely personal exploration. The
act of publishing is a sacrificial process of letting go. Why letting go? Because
it’s up to the reader to fill in the gaps, to filter in their own life
experiences as they read. The story ultimately becomes theirs to interpret.
The
following are indicators an author has neglected to leave enough space for the
reader.
Too Many Details
Like my
TV, the author has inundated the reader with a litany of details. Every unnecessary
one inserted in the story slowly robs the reader of identifying with the plot
and/or characters. Details should be chosen wisely. Use them, absolutely.
Details can do wonders to bring a book to life. However, make sure not to pixelate
the reader to death.
Formulaic
If you’ve
read my blog before, you probably know I’m not a huge fan of math. It shouldn’t
surprise you then that I also don’t love formulaic writing. It’s another
imagination stealer. Plot your heart out. Know where your story is headed, but
don’t color-by-number your writing. It limits all that your story can become,
at the same time as dulling down the impact for the reader.
Pretty Little Bow Writing
I’m all
for an uplifting or satisfying ending that provides resolve for the reader. I
think an author does a reader a disservice when they insert a tidy, clean
ending or plot path, assuming that’s the only way to do things. Life is muddy.
I’m not suggesting authors need to royally screw up the lives of all their
characters (although that certainly can help strengthen a plotline). I am
suggesting an author will seriously want to consider their motivation for
making things pretty. If it’s too pretty and spotless, readers will struggle to
identify. Imagination will suffer.
No Room for Reflection
Even in
the best suspense novels (especially in the best suspense novels) authors find
a way to allow the reader to digest what’s going on. They play with pacing so
the reader has a moment to reflect upon what the main character is going
through—they’re given an opportunity to really feel it. To empathize. That is
the crux of good writing. Nuanced pacing. It’s writer’s gold.
Premature Solutions
Don’t resolve
problems too quickly. Let suspense grow yeast-like in the reader’s mind. Give
them time to make guesses, to fret, to become more invested in the story. If an
author doles out rapid fire solutions the story loses its ability to root
inside the reader’s minds. Connection is lost.
I love a
realistic, gripping story, but not at the sake of sacrificed imagination. I
still want to read and wonder. I want my own memories and moments to fold into
the stories I’m reading. It’s difficult for this to occur when an author has
unintentionally impeded a story from strumming imagination. Sometimes, as
authors, we’re so obsessed with making things communicate as real, we forget to
leave space for the reader. It’s worth paying attention to. Your readers will
thank you.
I grew up hearing and reading fairy tales. The all ended the same way, "And they all lived happily ever after." I chose not to read them to our son because I knew life wasn't like that. The same is true of those stories where the author chooses to tie things up in a big bow. Those stories are not for me.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we might enjoy the same kind of books. ;-)
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