>>This is a particpating post of #letsblogoff, a biweekly event in which numerous bloggers write on a directed topic. (See table at the end of this post for links to others' musings)
Today's #letsblogoff prompt: What makes a good story?
Unfortunately (for this blog's sake), I spent all my free time this past weekend thoroughly engrossed in Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part One." Now, I could try to quickly tick off the features of the aforementioned play in a meager attempt to capture the genius of Mr Billy S. in a five-minute-blog-post, but somehow, I just don't think I could possibly do justice to his magnificent historical drama.
So, instead, I will include what started out as an extremely long comment on another #letsblogoff participant's post as my substitute response. Without further ado...
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Rich over at Concrete Detail made an excellent point in his #letsblogoff post - We can't forget our audiences!
And, indeed, that's one of the first questions a writer needs to address before sitting down and beginning a story. The audience determines everything - from the amount of background on particular subjects (Just how much do our readers know about quantum physics? Have they ever seen the innerworkings of a jet engine? etc etc) to the level of complicated language we use in telling our tale (Do our readers know what a veal fricassee tastes like? Would words like deoxyribonucleic make them wish they had a dictionary on hand?). If we overstimulate our audience with these details, we will lose them. If, however, we speak to them about things they can comprehend in words they can pronounce - and if our topic interests them - soon they will be telling all of their friends to pick up a copy of our shining literary accomplishment. That is, assuming, we got ourselves published in the first place.
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And that's all folks! Apologies for the unusual content and abrupt stop, but I now must return to the 10-pound volume of "The Complete Works of Shakespeare" and begin the tragedy "Romeo & Juliet" for next week's class discussion (in the spirit of St Valentine's Day, of course...and yes, I am aware that was yesterday). Cheers!
Cham, great insight on story-telling. And, I love that you used a comment from another post for your post.... a creative solution to the pressure to produce original content. Sometimes it's just not necessary. You got your message across, your readers benefit-ed (is that a word? I'm not the writer you are:), and you're able to get back to work. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
ReplyDeleteYes, well I wasn't planning on posting anything for this week, but as I started to leave that comment it grew into its own little monster. And "benefited" is most definitely a word :)
ReplyDeleteI agree. And disagree.
ReplyDeleteAudience has to be considered when determining how to approach one’s subject matter, but I believe that the most important consideration must still be to tell good stories. The rule of thumb I learned was “use the simplest words the subject will bear,” and I do adhere to it, but if the subject matter needs a ten-dollar word and no other conveys the message, then I use the ten-dollar word. If people are interested, they will make the effort; if they’re not, dumbing it down is not likely to make a difference.
Your current study of Shakespeare tends to make my point. Many of the words he used have changed their meanings over the last five centuries, so one no longer simply reads Shakespeare. If one really wants to understand all the nuances of the lines themselves, one STUDIES Shakespeare. But, whenever one makes the effort, Shakespeare ends up with another fan, which brings us back to his own advice: “And this above all else. To thy own self be true, and it must follow as night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
Joseph - thanks for reading and taking the time to comment! You are absolutely right, if the audience just isn't interested it doesn't matter what language you use. I think that's why many people have a hard time with Shakespeare - they just aren't interested enough to apply the required effort. I, for one, am loving the class, even if it means dedicating every weekend to pouring over a play. The man was a genius!
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