Every Writer Needs a Vision
This is an article about life.
Image via Wikipedia
When it comes to the use of words, conciseness is the ability to do as much as possible with as little as possible and to do it clearly. There can be no waste. Conciseness in creative writing is highly appreciated by publishers and editors. This is why flash fiction is so popular: Readers get a complete short story in a few hundred words (it takes less time to read) and editors have more room to run ads.
I would contend that conciseness is made up of precision of language and clarity of vision. Precision of language is easy enough. The writer must use the right words in the right order. Clarity of vision is a little more difficult to define.
To find his or her vision a creative writer must ask, what sort of world do I want my words to project? Is it a world of danger? Is it a world of sexual tension? Is it a world of loss and redemption? Is it a world of anger? Is it a world of trust and love? Or is it a world of nurturing?
Whatever kind of world the author decides to project will influence the words that go into the story which in turn will embody the writer’s vision. This vision is like the finger print of the author. No other author will have quite the same vision. But to make that vision truly unique, the writer usually has to consciously work for years to imprint his or her vision on the work so that the vision is distinct. The more the writer works on a personal vision the more distinct it will be. There can be no mistaking a Hemingway story even if his name is not on it. The same could be said of a Raymond Carver story or a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Precision of language, ideas, conciseness, and clarity of vision alert the reader not only to the content of the world in the writer’s story but they also alert the reader to the content of the writer’s life. It is because of this intimate connection between make believe content and real life content that in the truest sense of the word ”honesty”, even if he or she wanted to, the writer cannot lie.
Liked it
Tags: author, content, creative writing, Flash fiction, ideas, Life, short story, words, writer
Click the icon to the left to subscribe to Writinghood with your favorite RSS reader.
- Just a Love Note
- Toddlers on Triond: Take Time to Make Your Comments
- Addicted to Triond?
- Triond is Online Writing with Training Wheels
- I'm Sorry Triond...but There's Someone Else
- Is It Wise to Keep Writing for Writing Sites?
- Painting Pictures With Words
- My Triond Writing Experience
- Triond Facts of Life
- A Writing Sabbatical
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
This article I think sums it up if you have a vision you can put it in writing in a clear easy to read format . I really enoyed this
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Hi, kfuentes1216:
I would argue that vision is one of the most effective ways for a writer to organize his or her writing. It is also the best way to make that writing unique.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:22 am
This could be easily transcribed into the text book for creative writing.
August 4th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Love the article, well said!
August 4th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Hello, Uma:
I’ve thought about this for years. It’s nice to be able to put it into words that make sense. http://www.authspot.com/Short-Stories/Tainted-Love.683751
August 4th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hi, Marie:
The article brings together a lot of ideas; but the ideas are a part of the same piece and so the ideas fit nicely together. http://www.writinghood.com/writing/ideas-for-creative-writing/
August 14th, 2009 at 8:32 am
precise and concise; nice. : )
August 14th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Hi, Rod:
Precise and concise was what I was going after. There’s no sense in writing about clarity if the article is not clear.
http://www.writinghood.com/writing/short-story-ideas-that-work/
August 24th, 2009 at 9:40 am
That’s one of the most well-written articles I think of read here, great stuff! -Beaux
August 24th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Hello, BeauX: I haven’t read this article for awhile. I’m glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the compliment. Feedback is always nice to get.
February 17th, 2011 at 1:15 am
This is very good advice. I would like my words to project a world of danger. A world of sexual tension as well as anger is good too.