I’m really deep now into [i]Crossline[/i]–my second novel–and I’m coming to the end of a really section. There’s been lots of action, and lots of humor, but now it’s time for some "big" moments.
One of the storytelling issues I’m often faced with is the classic show versus tell. At the point I’m at now, two characters are having a standoff. The struggle I’m facing is that this scene isn’t necessarily critical to the plot, but it is to the philosophy of the novel. I’ve got these I’m really deep now into [i]Crossline[/i]–my second novel–and I’m coming to the end of a really section. There’s been lots of action, and lots of humor, but now it’s time for some "big" moments.
One of the storytelling issues I’m often faced with is the classic show versus tell. At the point I’m at now, two characters are having a standoff. The struggle I’m facing is that this scene isn’t necessarily critical to the plot, but it is to the philosophy of the novel. I’ve got these characters arguing about why they believe what they believe, and why they’re point of view is better than the other’s.
There very well may be a better way to demonstrate this than through a lot of dialogue, but I’m not sure how to do it. So as I do, I have my characters talk. A lot. Eventually, I trim down the dialogue, but it’s sometimes tough to know if I’ve cut down too much, or not enough. Is the impact of the scene there? Does is pack a wallop? Or have I just gone on and on and on and on …?
I’ll get this sorted out, I’m not too worried about it. But the struggle is in trying to determine what’s best, because if I go one way, the story takes on a certain feel, and if I go another way, the story takes on a different feel. Which is better? Which helps tell the most satisfying story? Is one way better than the other, or are they just different?
In the grand scheme of things, it’s not really such a terrible problem to negotiate, although it’s one I’m sure I’ll revisit again and again. It’s also one area of my own storytelling abilities I’m hoping to improve upon as the years go on, learning how to get the maximum power out of scene with the fewest amount of words.
Until then, I guess I’ll just have to have my characters duke it out verbally in these long speeches, leaving a big, bloody mess for us to enjoy. Like in my own life, figuring out when I’ve talked too much–or not enough–is always the trick.
Post edited by: rcolchamiro, at: 2008/11/12 06:38
