Reflections: Marguerite Part Two

[la_stjust]

We must have arrived. After being woken by a vigorous shaking over the cobblestones, other sounds come slowly to my comprehension as the carriage is finally halted: horses’ hooves on the paved ground, much shouting, and that perpetual thrum of the rain. This, then, is Dover.

Comments

[la_stjust]

Thank you! Yep, I take notice of con. crit., even if I am thrown into a spin by it at first! Your advice is much appreciated, and I bear it mind whilst writing stories now ('as' seems to stand out in bold for me

[la_stjust]

Rex Stout - he wrote the Nero Wolfe detective series, and the stories are 'told' by Wolfe's assistant Archie Goodwin (in the past tense, however, as case notes - sort of 'You may see what was happening, but I didn't then' stuff). I totally fell in love with Archie's personality, which really comes through.

And Carol Birch, a modern British author - her two books 'Scapegallows' and 'Little Sister' are told in the first, and the latter in particular is really convincing. If I can forget that I'm reading a novel, then that author has talent!

Any you can think of?

[la_stjust]

What sources do you use to keep up to speed with fiction trends and writing novels? Do you buy 'how to' books? It's never really appealed to me - I like to think of writing (not mine!) as an art, not a science - but maybe I should be genning up on subject!

If it's done well, omniscient writing - like the Baroness' stories - is more my style, because then the reader gets a little insight into every character. That way, I suppose if you don't like the hero or heroine, you can 'adopt' a secondary character instead! But really effective first person narratives (bordering on the stream-of-consciousness style, but not quite at Virgina Woolf's level) are an art in themselves. I get hooked by the narrator, if I like them, and believe everything I'm told - it can be quite a shock to find out I'm wrong when the 'twist in the tale' is delivered!