Something my English professor once told me

Azure Skye · Apr 21, 2007

Yesterday I remembered something my Comp 1 English prof told me about my writing. He said, it sounded like I was in a hurry. I still don't know what that means but as I look over and think about my MS I'm wondering if that is still the case. So, if anyone knows what he meant by that, I would appreciate a little insight.

Rolling Thunder · Apr 21, 2007

Well, I can't say for sure but maybe it was about pacing?

Chumplet · Apr 21, 2007

I find that in my first draft I just have to get the damned story down. Just now, I'm learning to go back into it and flesh it out, adding perception, description, feelings, etc. in order to make it a better story.

Of course, that might not work for a short story. I don't think I could handle that - I'd want to describe every bead of sweat.

Elektra · Apr 21, 2007

Perhaps the set-up is fine and dandy, but you tend to rush through the middle to get to then end? This is what I tend to do--it comes from a fear of boring the reader.

Azure Skye · Apr 21, 2007

Elektra said:
Perhaps the set-up is fine and dandy, but you tend to rush through the middle to get to then end? This is what I tend to do--it comes from a fear of boring the reader.

That could be what he meant. My brain runs very fast but my fingers can't keep up so I tend to skim on details just to get to the end.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 21, 2007

Speaking as a comp teacher, I suspect you had a pattern of small errors, things he thought you'd have caught yourself if you'd had more time.

Will Lavender · Apr 21, 2007

Strange.

I teach Comp 1, and I say this to my students all the time.

When I say it, I mean that the student has sort of "rushed" his ideas at some point in the paper, usually toward the end (when fatigue sets in). Instead of developing a point, the student will simply dump a bunch of information into the paragraph and, instead of analyzing it or contextualizing it, he will just let it sit there with no clear function.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 21, 2007

Will Lavender said:
Strange.

I teach Comp 1, and I say this to my students all the time.

When I say it, I mean that the student has sort of "rushed" his ideas at some point in the paper, usually toward the end (when fatigue sets in). Instead of developing a point, the student will simply dump a bunch of information into the paragraph and, instead of analyzing it or contextualizing it, he will just let it sit there with no clear function.

That works

maestrowork · Apr 21, 2007

Probably it means you don't spend enough time expanding on an idea, or slow down with descriptions, etc. Maybe your work has a lot of dialogue and the pacing is just rushed. Maybe you, like others said, info-dump a lot because you don't have to patience to reveal slowly by "show" instead of "tell." Maybe your sentences are quick, fast and choppy? Maybe... maybe... it's hard to tell without looking at samples.

Azure Skye · Apr 22, 2007

Will Lavender said:
Strange.

I teach Comp 1, and I say this to my students all the time.

When I say it, I mean that the student has sort of "rushed" his ideas at some point in the paper, usually toward the end (when fatigue sets in). Instead of developing a point, the student will simply dump a bunch of information into the paragraph and, instead of analyzing it or contextualizing it, he will just let it sit there with no clear function.

That makes sense.

Rich · Apr 22, 2007

Perhaps your prof should be less laconic. (now there's a contradiction in terms.) I think a few more words from him would give you a better idea of what he meant, and also give him a better grasp of what he thinks he meant. Profs shouldn't be Zen masters, unless they are...well...Zen masters.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 22, 2007

Hurry

Many new writers, and certainly many college writers, do rush through stories. They want to get to the end so quickly that they forget pacing, tension, attention to detail.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 22, 2007

Rich said:
Perhaps your prof should be less laconic. (now there's a contradiction in terms.) I think a few more words from him would give you a better idea of what he meant, and also give him a better grasp of what he thinks he meant. Profs shouldn't be Zen masters, unless they are...well...Zen masters.

Err . . . well, probably not, actually. There are practical considerations, like having over a hundred five page papers to read and respond to, and the fact that students are encouraged to ask questions in office hours or in paper conferences.

Novelhistorian · Apr 22, 2007

It's not just information or action that can go by too quickly, but emotional conflict. The urge to resolve conflicts quickly between characters or to wrap up a character's self-searching as neatly as possible may be a short cut to an anticlimax. Conflict is unsettling, and the writer may not know what more to say once the story gets to that point, but gliding over the rough spots doesn't help, and--concerning a recent thread about endings--may leave the reader unsatisfied. It's been years since I watched TV dramas, but when I did, I thought they set a bad example for fiction writing. They skirted the conflict with resolutions that wouldn't disturb the viewers overmuch and wrapped everything up neatly within the brief time frame allowed.

skelly · Apr 23, 2007

Novelhistorian said:
It's not just information or action that can go by too quickly, but emotional conflict. The urge to resolve conflicts quickly between characters or to wrap up a character's self-searching as neatly as possible may be a short cut to an anticlimax. Conflict is unsettling, and the writer may not know what more to say once the story gets to that point, but gliding over the rough spots doesn't help, and--concerning a recent thread about endings--may leave the reader unsatisfied. It's been years since I watched TV dramas, but when I did, I thought they set a bad example for fiction writing. They skirted the conflict with resolutions that wouldn't disturb the viewers overmuch and wrapped everything up neatly within the brief time frame allowed.

I do that. I don't like conflict IRL, and always seek to resolve or defuse it as quickly as possible. I have a tendency to do the same thing in my writing...establish a good conflict only to turn right around and resolve it a scene or two later, when it would better serve the story to let it simmer and escalate.

WerenCole · Apr 23, 2007

I have done that with some stories. The best writing that I do though is when I feel like I am flying a plane. You can't rush the actions of flying a plane, just sit back and relax and ease the controls. I almost always tell meyself to sit back and relax with the story. It helps a lot.

Poetry on the other hand is more of a furious endeavor for me. I write it once and that is that. Never bother with it again.

Something my English professor once told me

Azure Skye

Huh?

Rolling Thunder

Chumplet

This hat is getting too hot

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart

Azure Skye

Huh?

Deleted member 42

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

Deleted member 42

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Azure Skye

Huh?

Rich

Jamesaritchie

Deleted member 42

Novelhistorian

skelly

Kickin it old school, posers beware

WerenCole

Funny what? Do I amuse you?