I have often been amazed at the ability of some writers to completely rewrite a short story. Not mere editing, adding in of dialogue, imagery, changing tense, eliminating sidetracks, or paring down; but making considerable changes to the story idea. This, I think, is what has held me back on finishing up some of my own.
I’m no longer tied to words or phrases; have learned to let go of language in favor of story, but the story itself, and the characters, seem to be cast in stone (sorry for the cliche’) and immovable. For some reason, I feel that the way the story was written was the "way it happened" and to change it would be to lie.
This is a ridiculous idea, of course, and I understand that. It’s just hard to get over the feeling, and to inject a new story line into what I thought was truth. As the writer, it should be totally under my control–subject to whim, even, although best if pursued with a plan in mind to improve and add depth to the piece.
At any rate, at least I’m starting to recognize some of the problems that hold me back. That’s a good step towards fixing them.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
Sorry about the delay in responding, but life interferes, no?
I don’t think that idea is ridiculous at all. I too, believe in the pre-existence of the story in immutable format. It just depends on our translation skills from brain language to actual words.
What got me was the reference to control. That’s one place I think you might consider. Control seems to be a truly left-brained application, far from the creative centers. I think you should let go of any thought of Controlling anything. Just set it up like a runaway freight train and let it smash its way onto the page!
Jason
I see your point, Jason, but I think that as we mature as writers there needs to be some degree of knowing what’s good, better, best, that creativity does not always–until with time and skill–contain naturally within in. Keeping to your metaphor of the train, it is not only the conductor in charge, but the switchman who can send the train off the track, or up to the top of the mountain.