Into the Fire

With her permission, here are the thoughts of author/editor Donna Fleisher in her comments on Brandilyn Collins’ blog contribution to the rules of writing over at “Forensics and Faith”. Donna’s response seems profound in its wisdom.

“Your point that STORY RULES is exactly right. Writers cannot forget this. If a story needs to be told in omniscient POV, to tell it any other way would be weakening it. Omniscient POV is not dead. Nothing — not one tool — available to us in our writing toolboxes is wrong or off limits. The key to powerful writing is to always choose the right tool.
As I talk to new writers and edit their manuscripts, I often cringe at the attitudes seeping through the words. Rules are not meant to suffocate creativity. Goodness, they’re not really even ‘rules’ at all. How often are these ‘rules’ broken? And how easily?
But, I would add … how quickly are we weakening our stories by breaking the ‘rules’?
There is no such thing in our industry as the ‘Rules Police’. There are only concerned teachers, editors, and fellow novelists who have learned why the ‘rules’ are important — how they strengthen stories and make them come alive. In the end, the decision to write powerfully always belongs to the story’s creator. Decide well, cuz in the end, that decision will be revealed for all to see.”

And as I often do, I’d like to share a portion of Rebecca Luella Miller’s blog post (A Christian Worldview of Fiction) from yesterday, too. As usual, Becky offers some gems here.

“The norm, I would suggest, is competent, concise, clear writing. Anything less has little chance any more. What with writers’ conferences offered across the country, online writing courses, mentoring groups, and freelance editors, more and more writers are capable and understand a great deal about the basics of writing.
But what we sometimes forget is that writing is a creative endeavor. Sure, we understand that the story is a creative endeavor, but so is the vehicle through which the story is delivered.
What is it that captures a reader’s heart, that brings him to tears or makes him laugh out loud? What keeps him awake long past midnight even though he needs to get up and go to work the next morning? What makes her want to tell her best friend, her mom, and her neighbor down the block about the book she read? What brings those characters to mind at the oddest times? What stirs him to excitement when the day approaches for the next book in the series to release?
You think I’m going to provide the magic formula to such stories? Well, here it is. There is no formula.
If ‘craft’ is reduced to a list of do’s and don’t’s, the writing will acquire the taste of water.”

These ladies have said a mouthful. And it was tasty.

Father, thank you for your wisdom above all. Please help us to seek after you and what you desire for us in these creative endeavors and offerings to bless you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

*Please pray for Kristy Dykes.*