It feels a bit strange posting writing advice into the void given the events of the past week, but since many of you are likely channeling your emotions into writing these days, I wanted to write a quick tip about action.
I often see a peculiar writing tic where writers rush and put the dramatic effect of an action before the actual action.
For instance:
Tires squealing, Nathan peeled out of the driveway.
The arrow found its mark when Nathan released the bowstring.
I find these backwards descriptions of action really disorienting.
Channel your inner Isaac Newton: action, then reaction. The action is that Nathan peeled out of the driveway, the effect is that the tires squealed. Nathan fired the arrow, then it found its mark
Nathan peeled out of the driveway, tires squealing.
Nathan released the bowstring. The arrow found its mark.
If you describe things in order the reader will absorb what’s happening and won’t feel a momentary pang of disorientation.
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Art: Pelagio Palagi – Newton’s Discovery of the Refraction of Light
With Nathan’s demand for linearity Yoda does not agree!
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The sharp arrow of advice found its mark after being released into the void.
Err, yeah. š
This feels very obvious on a larger scale in writing, like when sequencing scenes, but wow! One of my critique buddies struggles with this problem in his prose, and I was not able to put my finger on it until I read this post. My advice to him will be much more useful now – thanks!
In my writing, I once did this all the time. Oops! I mean, I once did this all the time when I wrote. A little better, but I’m working on it. Darn it! I did this all the time when I wrote; now I don’t.