MACRO EDITING - Part 2 in a 5 Part Series
Poets and songwriters seem gifted with sensing the melody in words. With the stroke of a pen, they infuse our senses with emotion. We're willingly captivated by the masters. However, the rest of the writing pool (myself included) sometimes struggle with untangling descant chords in even simple sentences!
These thoughts roiled through my mind as I began formulating this post. A quick bite of lunch and a listen to one of my favorite Sunday radio programs, Radio Lab hosted by Jad Abumerad on NPR, then down to it. The topic of his show focused on: Music - Language - Touch. Right in line with this week's post!
Even though the guests talked about the spoken word, their theories brilliantly applied to the written word as well. They've documented the fact that speech has four tones universal in all languages. As Stanford University Director of Infant Studies Professor Ann Fernald discovered, speech follows four tonal patterns: happy (with a rise in voice); command (short and to the point); comfort (the awww factor); and warning (call to attention). It doesn't matter which language, the patterns match perfectly in all of them.
Which brings me to this week's Macro Moment in editing the manuscript: listen for the music in the character's conversations. Are the tonal patterns similar? Stilted? Lax? Believable? Mix it up! Facial expressions and body gestures change temperament. Act it out as you read aloud. Let this round of editing bring you closer to the heart of the characters and the message of the story.
Building a dynamic and plausible narrative is a balancing act. What we compose sets the tone for the scene; gives the characters personality; moves the story forward; and imposes the will and style of the author (think of the famous staccato pattern of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer). Whatever your style or story, I wish you much success in your writing career.
Listen to an archived copy at www.RadioLab.org. Professor Diana Deutsch, Psychologist at the University of California - San Diego studies the affects of language and musicality. Stanford Professor Ann Fernald, Director of Infant Studies discovered four distinct tones in which we communicate.
"Begotten With Love" Kindle eBook sale ends this Sunday. To order a copy today, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOOLUWQ
To learn more about award-winning author, Jo Ann V. Glim:
Even though the guests talked about the spoken word, their theories brilliantly applied to the written word as well. They've documented the fact that speech has four tones universal in all languages. As Stanford University Director of Infant Studies Professor Ann Fernald discovered, speech follows four tonal patterns: happy (with a rise in voice); command (short and to the point); comfort (the awww factor); and warning (call to attention). It doesn't matter which language, the patterns match perfectly in all of them.
Which brings me to this week's Macro Moment in editing the manuscript: listen for the music in the character's conversations. Are the tonal patterns similar? Stilted? Lax? Believable? Mix it up! Facial expressions and body gestures change temperament. Act it out as you read aloud. Let this round of editing bring you closer to the heart of the characters and the message of the story.
Building a dynamic and plausible narrative is a balancing act. What we compose sets the tone for the scene; gives the characters personality; moves the story forward; and imposes the will and style of the author (think of the famous staccato pattern of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer). Whatever your style or story, I wish you much success in your writing career.
Listen to an archived copy at www.RadioLab.org. Professor Diana Deutsch, Psychologist at the University of California - San Diego studies the affects of language and musicality. Stanford Professor Ann Fernald, Director of Infant Studies discovered four distinct tones in which we communicate.
"Begotten With Love" Kindle eBook sale ends this Sunday. To order a copy today, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOOLUWQ
To learn more about award-winning author, Jo Ann V. Glim:
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube
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