Don’t you just love this advice? Having problems with your writing? Do whatever it takes to fall back in love with your story. Put your heart and soul into it. There’s nothing like it.
That’s why it’s so hard to cut into the story you love so much. It truly is like killing your darlings as William Faulkner advised. Editing requires a different mindset. Rather than your heart, your head and your intellect must be in charge.
There is a time for showing and a time for telling in writing. This is the best explanation for the effect on the reader of each of these methods of conveying information to your reader.
Consider what effect you wish to create in your reader when making the decision whether you ought to show or tell.
Editing fiction is a labour of love. It is an honour to be trusted with client’s literary babies. I love to dig my fingers in and tease out the story strands, look for ways to help an author smooth them over, improve the reader experience.
I’m proud of my little shelf of books which I had my hands on, my fingers in, for just a little while.
Had you thought of writing, as a noble occupation? I know that when I read I find that escape, those moments of delight and forgetfulness. I appreciate the plotting, planning, writing, rewriting, editing and all the other hours of work that go into publishing a book. So thanks to all the hardworking, underpaid writers and authors out there for your nobility.
How can we as readers show our appreciation for the hard work of our favourite authors?
Writers try hard to evoke sympathy for their protagonist(s) from readers, but it’s not easy to make them feel that way for their antagonist as well. It’s not easy, but it’s possible.
Empathy definitely helps writers and editors, allowing us to understand not only the hopes and dreams of a character, but their deepest fears and motivations. What are their values and beliefs? Why do they make the life choices they do? Having them act ‘out of character’ or without clear, understandable motivation, is a surefire way to drop a reader out of your story, sometimes permanently.
The ability to walk a mile in the shoes of our characters, even physically act out scenes and speak the dialogue definitely helps to get these right. See also https://thewritepractice.com/likable-antagonist/
Zoetic Words 