No matter how wonderful the story

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No matter how wonderful the story, it has to move on something, and that is language. The words that I use, the pace, the rhythm and cadences all need to be there. If they’re not there, the story is like a boat that just sits there and doesn’t move on the ocean.

Tim O’Brien

3 thoughts on “No matter how wonderful the story”

  1. STORY floats the boat. The words are irrelevant if they don’t support the story.

    And I say that as someone whose books are labeled ‘literary.’

    Which explains a lot of things, from Dan Brown to 50 Shades.

    • It’s a bit more complicated than that. There are several times I’ve had to give up on an otherwise interesting story because the language was too frustrating.

      So, yes. Story floats the boat. Story is the ocean, full of wonder, excitement and adventure. Language is the vehicle used to navigate the story, it’s the boat. Poor use of language is a broken boat that just floats on the ocean all day but doesn’t really go anywhere. You might see where you’re supposed to be headed, but it’s a nightmare getting the boat to go there. Good use of language carries you over the ocean so smoothly you can focus on the journey and almost forget there is a boat there at all.

  2. Read King’s, Lisey’s Story.

    There is a lake in Boo’ya Moon where a ship sits unmoving. People sit in bleacher seats focused on the ship. Those people are disturbing. The unmoving ship is a trap.

    If you find yourself there, you are in deep trouble. HA!

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