clues at the scene

clues at the scene

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Broad Strokes

Image at left from wikicommons provided by Gvstellingwerf. Nicely done.

I prefer stories where the details are largely omitted. I prefer the constructs to be rendered with broad strokes.

I've done some critiques lately and fully understand the author's need to convey the intimate details of setting and style.

Rain. The streetlamp. Two fellows in trench-coats seemingly waiting for a taxi which never comes.

I love these scenes. What I enjoy less is the detail of the street lamp's Ionic column design or the depth of water in the gutter.

I enjoy providing my own images.

If you must tell me things, please make them things I cannot otherwise easily discern. A milieu that I must understand?  Tell me - or better yet show me.

If you spoon feed me details, I'll get full quickly.

I won't be hungry for your story any longer.

Hunger. There might be Cheetos in the kitchen.

I'm off to forage - er - I mean write.

Really.

You can imagine the orange-stained fingers for yourself.

2 comments:

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I'm always so relieved that someone else shares my views on this. I hate too much description (as both a reader and writer). Isn't it so much better when the reader uses his/her imagination?

Hope you have a good week, Jack!

jack welling said...

Imagining sunshine and spring. Imagining.