Most writers, in fiction or in fact, are adept at telling a story — although hopefully one more advanced than the old standard reader “See Dick. See Jane. See Spot. See Puff.”
I’m reminded by those eight words of a particular illustration that went with them in one such reader: Dick, walking on his hands with his muddy feet pointed toward Jane, as Spot gamboled around him and Jane held her kitten away from the spouting water hose on the far side of the giant mud puddle in which boy and dog had been playing. The words on the page seem like a command, and the
nuances and details of the story rise from the picture
maybe-painting, maybe-pastel). Lo these fifty-plus years
later, I remember with a sense of delight: athletic bro-
ther, demurely entertained sister, charming pets, making
hemselves some fun at home.
What are some of the subtle cues that you remember,
or have used in your own writing?
Tonight’s challenge:In 200 words or less, create an image for readers of a
boisterous but not dangerous activity, and give us details:
what time is it, what’s the environment, is there a crowd?
Use your regular characters, or a callow youth with stout
companion and whomsoever chance leads them to encounter.
I hope I’ve taken you back, at least for a little while, to a more innocent time in writing and reading. Yet I can’t leave you there now, because lo all these years since, I’m aware of the unspoken
messages in the imagery too.
Write On! will be a regular Thursday night diary (8 pm Eastern, 5 pm Pacific) until it isn’t.
Before signing a contract with any agent or publisher, please be sure to check them out on Preditors and Editors, Absolute Write and/or Writer Beware.