I was thinking today about how good it is to find a book where you can actually visualise the ideas, concepts, experiences and exercises as you read. It adds an extra dimension to the words – an experiential dimension.
Then I was wondering how much of a challenge it would be to write prose in such a way that the scenes and people could be brought to life in the mind’s eye of the reader.
This is something I will work on.
levishedated 
Sounds like a good idea to me. I have read several authors who have managed to do this. Now if I could convince my new blog to behave itself, I would be even happier.
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And no, this isn’t the new one. LOL
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I know – I followed the link – this is still the original one. 🙂
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I would be very happy if you could share the names of one or two authors who have done this successfully, Orpha. 🙂 And what’s this about a new blog? What’s wrong with the original one?
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Yep, very challenging, but achievable. 🙂
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Can you think of any authors that do that for you? I would love to read some examples. 🙂
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Robert how about messing around with word order for a writing exercise –
“Adjectives in English absolutely have to be in this order: opinion-size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose Noun.
So you can have a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife. But if you mess with that word order in the slightest you’ll sound like a maniac. It’s an odd thing that every English speaker uses that list, but almost none of us could write it out.
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160908-the-language-rules-we-know-but-dont-know-we-know?ocid=ww.social.link.twitter
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You know, I read this recently and I thought to myself ‘what utter rot!’ But then I tried changing some stuff around and they’re right – it sounded very off. What a great way to write an odd character. I’ll give it a go – thanks, Julian. 🙂
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That’s a good plan.
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Thanks, Jacki. Here’s hoping I can pull it off. 🙂
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Doesn’t that also depend on the level of imagination skills of the reader?
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Oh yes – definitely. It probably depends on the cycles of the moon, the relative density of pineapples to salt and the way that nothing is the same when we are on holiday too. It’s a gorgeously interconnected world. And don’t we just love it, Patty! 🙂
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hahaha..indeed 🙂
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🙂
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If a writer only concentrates upon what the eye can see and leaves out mentioning the other senses of touch, hearing, taste, and smell in his prose, then visualisation becomes harder for the reader. All the senses are interconnected and not things in isolation. Lots of writers, in particular, fail to mention smell. Also, I think that adjectives need choosing wisely as too many of them in a short stretch of prose can dilute the impact of what is being said.
I like what Julian Whiting says about word order (I’m always fiddling around with my sentences to see what order works best), although I would say that his example of “a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife” probably requires whittling down, whatever order it is in 😉 That being said, it depends upon whether the character describing it is verbose; then we could class it as as authentic characterisation.
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I see what you mean about the senses, Sarah. Quite frankly, prose that leaves these things out stinks! It leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Only when I put myself in the reader’s boots and hear my prose as they hear it, only then will I be able to touch their heart.
Julian’s comment is very interesting. I was thinking of a character with aberrant patterns of speech – along the lines of what Julian is suggesting, and how that person would be perceived by the people around him (or her). It would make a good comedy piece.
Hope your day is going swimmingly. 🙂
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Yesterday went only half-swimmingly, as I hate leaden clouds and drizzle. Today is going swimmingly in more ways than one, as I decided to experiment with a writing a haibun (Japanese-style poetry prose) as my response to the Friday Fictioneers prompt this week (I know it’s Thursday, but never mind that). It’s about a man in a boat. Being a fellow writer of the strange, I would love your opinion if you have a moment to sail over to my blog 🙂
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Sounds good, Sarah. Hold yourself steady, I’m about to come onboard. 🙂
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