It hit me tonight like a pie in the face--something I couldn't ignore, while I was watching White Christmas. The difference between books or old movies, and the current crop of movie offerings.
White Christmas, like so many old movies, tells a story that brings characters to life, reveals their flaws, and entertains without relying on special effects.
Books--so very much like old movies, rely on character building, and the reader's mind. And there has to be a story--because there is no huge budget for Hollywood style special effects compensating for a lack of a good, solid, story.
Not that I don't love a good scifi movie now and again, full of things that are food for the imagination. But such, accompanied by a story that makes me laugh, cry, and wish for more...are just so few and far-between.
As a writer, I think it is my job to feed the reader enough to ignite their imaginations so they can set about creating their own special effects. I want them to put a face to the protagonist, and I want them to see the world in which my characters live, but I can't give them so many details that it is all laid out for them. I want them to see things relative to the world in which they live. If I overwrite details, then I have stolen that intricate part out of the relationship between the reader and the book--the intimacy of living in a fictional world that is customized by their imaginations. Those are real special effects.
Showing posts with label special effects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label special effects. Show all posts
Sunday, December 11, 2011
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