Saturday, December 25, 2010

Q: If you have something to say, why don't you just say it


instead of hiding it in a story?

A: You're confusing a message with a story.

Q: What's the difference?

A: A story is about people. A message is about ideas.

Q: You don't have ideas in your stories?

A: Only subconscious ideas.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Because people get upset and shut me out. Sharpening words to penetrate thicks skulls gets old.

Richard Martin.... said...

Hey, Anon. Hmm. Maybe a suggestion? Try writing from a place other than wanting to penetrate thick skulls that don't want to be penetrated? There're other ways that might be more effective in delivering into those skulls whatever it is you want to deliver. In other words, you might want to kind of seduce the reluctant reader into opening his/her mind/heart. If they see you coming with sharp words like weapons or rough tools they might close up before you even get to what it is you want to say. Then again, there are plenty of rough writers with sharp tools who find their audience, but it is usually an audience ready for that writing & that message to start with.