Can you hammer more on “gestures > dialogue > thoughts” either here or in a future post? In the context of your other comments on minimalism, I understand you to be saying creating a visual makes the reader respond with their own thoughts, therefore a gesture makes a more meaningful/powerful story. You provide great object examples here, but does the maxim apply to physical expressions also, like a finger-snap or an arched eyebrow? A tomahawk > “I miss our passionate youth and have regrets,” but would you also say a slap > “hands off, cretin!” Hmmm, now that I write it out, I see that it’s true.
Great lesson here. Also shows how past generations were a lot more sentimental, attached more meaning to things than people do today. Try to imagine Megan Fox or Channing Tatum or whoever doing this sort of thing.
I NEEEEED MORE GREENER PASSTURES, I NEED IT NOWWWWWW! oh yeah, this is real good info too. Saving to my “Advice from Chuck” file on the desktop. I have a bracelet in my current WIP that I am attempting to do this morph thing with.
Great Post, thank you ❤️. I just finished the podcast today (a second series would be very much appreciated!) and I found it interesting that you mentioned writing stories in the form that songs are written. Is this something you plan on covering in a craft essay at some point? (I do remember your lessons on choruses from the cult/litreactor but this sounded more like you were talking about structure and it piqued my curiosity)
Regarding they shoot horse starter pistol: you know I was convinced that Gloria took the gun from Rocky after she found that the competition was unwinnable because (it fitted with my idea of her breaking point) and I knew there was another rally after she sleeps with him, but I just rewatched those scenes and they don't show the 2nd rally being started with the gun! Which completely throws questions on how Rocky viewed Gloria's state of mind, because surely he noticed his gun was missing, right?
I wonder what the rumors would have been like at the time. You know, all the whispers about how "they shoot the horses" - the fear that maybe more horses were going to get shot. It all starts to unravel, and the cush horse life turns into an ever increasing fear filled paranoid nightmare. What's a 65 year old horse in dog years? I think we missed the whole point. The sailor had it comin'. Were we all watching the same movie?
here is the post on Italy that you told me some time ago. however it is true some objects really seem that with their silence and their stillness they are able to carry on the narration. do you have any more advice to give on this topic? I feel I have a bit of a problem with that.
Man thank you so much for this post Chuck. This just made me come to a realization about what I need to do with an object that is a center point in my story. Thank God I’ve finally figured it out now. You have no idea how many narrative problems you’ve just helped me to bridge. I’ve been in this catatonic place where I couldn’t really edit any further because I couldn’t figure out what to do. I needed to figure it out in order to proceed (so many words and kinda confusing, but hopefully you know what I mean). I couldn’t move on because the risk would be that I would have to re-write even more. Do you ever have moments where something ‘clicks’ while you’re editing and you have to re-write plot events to fit your new idea? Have you ever changed an ending because you’ve come up with something even better? Not necessarily asking what story you changed or how you changed it.
Love this entry! About halfway through Cain’s “One Kick” at the moment and keep mulling over how nicely she places the Scrabble tiles including having it seem to influence the title character’s name. Loving how Cain’s work chugs along under the power of some great character (and pet names) that also work as objects and verbs. After reading and loving Walter Wager’s “Swap” earlier this year, it seems your co-teacher has become the updated model of his cool and punchy style with some serious intrigue and wordplay thrown in for good measure!
Thanks for sharing your "tomahawk" eye for detail.
I now have to go back and rewatch the movie to figure out where that gun came from. And to reread your post quiz on the movie to find out the answers.
Thank you for your Pixie Project gift! It is gorgeous in every way. I’m going to hang the bookmark up and let everyone admire it.
Hi Chuck, greetings from Italy from a writer who is your great reader and can confirm the great work of your Italian translator!
Can you hammer more on “gestures > dialogue > thoughts” either here or in a future post? In the context of your other comments on minimalism, I understand you to be saying creating a visual makes the reader respond with their own thoughts, therefore a gesture makes a more meaningful/powerful story. You provide great object examples here, but does the maxim apply to physical expressions also, like a finger-snap or an arched eyebrow? A tomahawk > “I miss our passionate youth and have regrets,” but would you also say a slap > “hands off, cretin!” Hmmm, now that I write it out, I see that it’s true.
Great lesson here. Also shows how past generations were a lot more sentimental, attached more meaning to things than people do today. Try to imagine Megan Fox or Channing Tatum or whoever doing this sort of thing.
I NEEEEED MORE GREENER PASSTURES, I NEED IT NOWWWWWW! oh yeah, this is real good info too. Saving to my “Advice from Chuck” file on the desktop. I have a bracelet in my current WIP that I am attempting to do this morph thing with.
Great Post, thank you ❤️. I just finished the podcast today (a second series would be very much appreciated!) and I found it interesting that you mentioned writing stories in the form that songs are written. Is this something you plan on covering in a craft essay at some point? (I do remember your lessons on choruses from the cult/litreactor but this sounded more like you were talking about structure and it piqued my curiosity)
Regarding they shoot horse starter pistol: you know I was convinced that Gloria took the gun from Rocky after she found that the competition was unwinnable because (it fitted with my idea of her breaking point) and I knew there was another rally after she sleeps with him, but I just rewatched those scenes and they don't show the 2nd rally being started with the gun! Which completely throws questions on how Rocky viewed Gloria's state of mind, because surely he noticed his gun was missing, right?
I wonder what the rumors would have been like at the time. You know, all the whispers about how "they shoot the horses" - the fear that maybe more horses were going to get shot. It all starts to unravel, and the cush horse life turns into an ever increasing fear filled paranoid nightmare. What's a 65 year old horse in dog years? I think we missed the whole point. The sailor had it comin'. Were we all watching the same movie?
here is the post on Italy that you told me some time ago. however it is true some objects really seem that with their silence and their stillness they are able to carry on the narration. do you have any more advice to give on this topic? I feel I have a bit of a problem with that.
You have just given me an idea for a Halloween short story (to die for...)! I thank you!
Man thank you so much for this post Chuck. This just made me come to a realization about what I need to do with an object that is a center point in my story. Thank God I’ve finally figured it out now. You have no idea how many narrative problems you’ve just helped me to bridge. I’ve been in this catatonic place where I couldn’t really edit any further because I couldn’t figure out what to do. I needed to figure it out in order to proceed (so many words and kinda confusing, but hopefully you know what I mean). I couldn’t move on because the risk would be that I would have to re-write even more. Do you ever have moments where something ‘clicks’ while you’re editing and you have to re-write plot events to fit your new idea? Have you ever changed an ending because you’ve come up with something even better? Not necessarily asking what story you changed or how you changed it.
Love this entry! About halfway through Cain’s “One Kick” at the moment and keep mulling over how nicely she places the Scrabble tiles including having it seem to influence the title character’s name. Loving how Cain’s work chugs along under the power of some great character (and pet names) that also work as objects and verbs. After reading and loving Walter Wager’s “Swap” earlier this year, it seems your co-teacher has become the updated model of his cool and punchy style with some serious intrigue and wordplay thrown in for good measure!
This post made me think of and want to rewatch The Red Violin.