Points to Ponder - Writing with Themes

Writing usually contains themes. Writing sometimes contains themes. Writing only contains themes because a reader places them there. Writers intend to put themes in their writing. Writers unintentionally put themes in their writing because they come through via human psyche.

Many of the above statements get tossed around the room repeatedly whenever writers or English majors congregate. As to which one is most correct, I cannot say.

The idea for this article is really just to try them all out. Try writing with a theme in mind; actively pursue to include the theme in your work. Try just writing about something and letting your mind do the theme-including for you.

You can never really know if writers intends to include a theme in their work unless you ask them, but in my experience there really isn't one way that's better than the rest.

Make nice with friends, writers

Despite what movies show us about writers as lone wolves struggling with their genius and isolation, writers should be social animals. While some recent studies by York University have suggested that reading fiction can enhance social skills I believe the reverse is also true: enhancing personal skills can help you create better fiction. You can use your own interpersonal relationships as kindling for a creative flame. Just, for the sake of your friendships, don't turn your writing into gossip about your friends.

Also, if you have other friends into writing or creative projects try to group together to create. You can feed off each others creative juices.

Only the Beginning

When you're feeling guilty because you haven't written anything for a while but you just don't have the energy, much like my suggestion to write only a few lines and see what happens, try just writing the first sentence of a piece you never really intend to finish.

Number a page 1-5, like this:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Just like that. Write in each place the first sentence for a story. This sentence should really start to form a whole story in a reader's mind, but they can be simple. Here are some examples:

1. Let me tell you about my dog.
2. I once saved my brother Michael's life by not being good at archery.
3. I like being a good student, because no one will believe it when I suddenly decide to turn bad.
4. The loose stone ground struck Benjamin's stumbling feet, and he returned the favour by leaving a trail of red behind him.
5. Angela stopped digging; she was quite certain no one would find it here, not this deep.

A beginning should not always be an introduction, because introductions can be boring. Instead use the beginning to get to the point like in line one. Also, try leaving your reader just a little bit in the dark like in the fourth line. What exactly is 'it' and why is Angela so obsessed with keeping 'it' hidden. Benjamin from line four seems like he's probably wounded and who can possibly resist discovering a little more about the archery almost accident.

Don't bother finishing these stories. We can get back to them later, when we have more time and energy.

Beginnings

A blank page can be a writer's greatest blockade. We all know, or should know, that a strong beginning is crucial in gaining readers, so when faced with that daunting task how can a writer do anything but break down and weep? The answer is a stock beginning. Really. Truly, I mean it. Start with a couple of stock beginnings.

They can be as simple as "Once upon a time...", "Let me tell you something about...", or "The other day my friend was telling me..." As you begin to fill up a tiny portion of paper with ink, or the screen with pixels, the words will simply flow out. Once you actually start writing you can figure out where the story is going. The reason why this happens is simple.

We all know how to lie.

The lie, or in this case, the story, takes on a life of its own and all you need to do is keep up. Once the story is well underway or finished go back and change the beginning to suit the rest of the story, now that you know what it is, or add something to the story that occurs before the original beginning.

Sometimes it's good to tell.

Learning to effectively describe can be a difficult task in writing. A character with a significant number of years behind them can simply be described as 'old'. This is simple and efficient which can get the fact out of the way so you can move on to more important things. Telling is a good way to allow the readers some artistic license in the creation of the character in they're mind. For stories that have to focus on something other than long character description go ahead and get the facts out.

'Charlie was old; his joints would start to set whenever he let them sit for a while without moving. The rust would build up and he could almost hear the creaking when he tried to move again. The pain was significant, so he attempting to keep moving as long as he was awake. Charlie finished a lot of work because of his joints.'

Telling allows the story to move on and frees up writers to write creative descriptions of something they feel is more important to the story.

Some writers disagree with telling. The mantra 'Show. Don't tell' is probably ringing in most of your ears right now as it is mine. However, long superfluous writing bores many readers. A friend of mine has mentioned his dislike for literature because he all too often will begin a story he thinks he may enjoy only to read, a few pages down, in a writers attempt to show the wonderful weather of the day: 'The clouds were buttered with sunshine.'  My friend is not a writer, but he could be your reader. If you want him or anyone else to buy and recommend your book. Avoid showing everywhere and get used to telling sometimes.

Write often

Writing something, anything, even if it's just a little bit, is very important for any aspiring writer, more important for professional ones. Delay begets delay, and before much time has passed in your mind, time will have passed in the real world by weeks, months or even years, and no one, especially you, wants that. Sit down to write just three sentences, like I did today, and you'll be amazed how much you actually write.

"Don't get it right; get it written" - James Thurber

Once its down on paper (see also: screen) editing can begin, and then you can make it right.

Canadian Literature

I have not often kept a journal; I tend to put my thoughts into my work. My intention here, however, is to promote the writing of many people I feel are being overlooked. For whatever the reason, I have read a multitude of work by local writers and for a reason I cannot understand is not published and what's worse may have even been rejected by publishers who work in that area.

Though I also intend to indulge in a little shameless self-promotion, I will primarily concern this blog with the work of others. Where my work is concerned I will discuss mostly my technique, my method and my thoughts regarding writing method in general.