#(because i've achieved a baseline level of competence with traditional story structure and style) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bookshelf-in-progress · 5 months ago

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Now that I know more about writing, I'm upset at all the writing advice that urged new writers to find the one best way to write stories, when they should be telling us to play with writing techniques like toys.

Don't tell us to avoid certain points of view! Don't box us into the one currently popular prose style! Let us play and see what effects different techniques achieve, so we can learn the best ways to make use of them! Give us a whole ton of possibility instead of one cookie-cutter template!

#this has been in my head ever since i started churning out this year's short stories #(i'll admit it's possible that i am now able to play with style like this)#(because i've achieved a baseline level of competence with traditional story structure and style)#(so this shouldn't be advice for beginner beginners)#but anyway it came to mind again because i saw someone review a book that was in first-person present-tense #and it did seem like a poor stylistic choice for the subject #but they were like 'present tense is only for juvenile things'#and i was like EXCUSE YOU!#present tense is a stylistic tool that allows for deeper immersion!#and is a totally viable option used in many respected bestsellers #welcome to the 21st century #all the people who were like 'don't use second person'#meanwhile i use second person and get to learn how it creates an intimate relationship with the audience #tools are tools and they are not inherently bad #they just need to be used well and you need to use them to learn how to use them well #thank you for coming to my ted talk #adventures in writing

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