Craft? What kind did you say?
Arts and crafts? Stage craft? Witch craft? Oh, yeah, the craft of writing.
Writing is rather supernatural when you think of it. I mean, the subconscious casts a spell and conjures up characters and plots and settings and...sex scenes. No, wait, that's another area of the brain that doesthat. Anyway, I ask myself questions before turning out the light at night and find that really gets the wheels turning. An especially goodtechnique if plot is stalled. Of course this only works the nights I'm not tossing and turning and remaining awake because my lazy charactersare snoozing away, refusing to help out with tidbits about theirtortured selves they haven't yet shared, or divulging situations thatmight raise the stakes and hamper them in their quest.
Writingis also like an archeological dig; often you must dig and dig and d-i-gto unearth characters' hidden agendas. Similarly to the archeological act, you must take care you don't miss something valuable in theprocess, some hidden clue that will spur you on toward the climax rather like uncovering a small chip of clay that on first glance seems insignificant to the archeologist until pieced together with all the other bits of clay gathered to form an ancient vessel. Or, in the writing sense, shortening sentences for punch, or examining each scene or transition, ensuring it assists flow from one scene to the other and hastens pace.
That's my take on the craft of writing.
Nan D. Arnold
www.nandarnold.com
Nan D. Arnold
www.nandarnold.com
Supernatural! Yes, that's the word I'm looking for.
Now if I could only find the right spell....
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