Saturday, June 7, 2014

Story Focus, II


In the last post, I tried to compare shaping a story to focusing a camera, beginning, say, close up to a person or place and then pulling back to show the context or wider setting.

You could also do the reverse, as above: there's a stone patio, a stone wall and dense trees beyond.  What sort of place is this? What might happen here? Then move in a little closer:


The wall is carefully crafted, hand-built, hmm . . . who built it? Why is it important?  And if you go closer:


Well, well, well . . . look what was there amid those stones all along. Is that critter the subject of the story or a sign of . . . what?

Guess you've got to write the story to find out . . .

Mm?

xx

12 comments:

  1. Love it! My first attempt at writing a novel began this way. Now I tend to begin with close-ups.

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  2. Oh, I sure love when a character reveals himself. I usually read really fast, so I admire this critter who made me pause, think, and go back to the beginning. And yes, I was able to spot him in that first picture! An excellent post!

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  3. Like Marguerite Yourcenar , I'd write the story of Adrian 's Wall in Great Britain, but seen through the critter's eyes ! :o)

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  4. Along with a sray can of 'Weed Begone'...

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  5. The wider view invites one into the story.

    If you step back you see an elderly man sitting on the rock wall. He is wearing gray slacks, a pale yellow shirt, and red suspenders. A black cane wrapped in bits of silver tape lay next to him. One hand rests upon the lion shaped handle; the other grips what appears to be a lid from a coffee can. It is piled high with a variety of nuts, seeds, and biscuit crumbs.

    The man feels quite alone but there's more to the story.

    (Come on in.)



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    1. I'm in. And then . . . ? This sounds like your story to carry on . . .

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  6. I love hearing this, Sharon, but once again, I don't seem to have the wiring to write the story...I stay at just being in awe of the surprise of the little guy that popped into the scene & how magical that is! (I always look forward to reading your stories though.)

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  7. I love this! I think I will make it my focus for writing and photography this summer. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

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    1. Ooh, I will be eager to see what you do . . . xx

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