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Storytelling, without really writing
by Bradford Boisvert
An explanation of the difference between writing and storytelling Storytelling without really writing
Now let me just say this before I burn some bridges or offend anyone out there. I'm an avid reader, and since I was young, I have read selected pieces from all of the authors I am about to list. Not only have I read them, but also I still find myself reading their current works, and love the work they do. Yet, what I hope to show, is that there are easier ways, or at least different ways to tell a story, and succeed in doing so. I myself am a novelist, but I have found from the reading I do, that my style of writing is quite a bit different from what I see on the bestseller lists today. I am first and foremost a storyteller. I never have and possibly never will, consider myself a writer. That is most likely what separates me from other novelists. You may be asking yourself what the difference is, so I hope to show you just that. Quite quickly, a writer is someone who uses eloquent language and stresses the words they use to compose a perfect sentence. A storyteller on the other hand, uses their words to paint a picture. They stress their words to tell the story much like watching a movie. I like to call it a cinematographer of words. Now, don't get me wrong, I too hope to one day be as notable and successful as those on the bestseller lists now. I hope that through hard work, proper press, and my style, that I will become noticed just as the following writers have become. Writers such as John Grisham, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, H. P. Lovecraft and Robert Ludlum among many others are masters of their craft, but I feel that something lacks, rather, something is added to their works that simply isn't needed. Maybe even you, but I may find myself reading a paragraph, and cannot picture how the scene is playing out. I'll reread the previous paragraph to better understand what the writer is attempting to say, and over time, I can see where it is that they are going. When all is said and done, they novel I'm reading is nearly six hundred pages, and the story could have been told just as perfectly in half that. I've found, that by not choosing my words as carefully, and stressing on the mental image of a paragraph, I can delve into a story straight off. I can define my characters through emotion and reactions, and allow people to continuously turn the pages to find out just what will happen next with great ease. The novels I read now by the above authors are great novels and worthy of the respect they garner, but much of the time, I wish that I didn't have to read as much information that doesn't seem pertinent to the story. In the past, I have been known to skip paragraphs that didn't seem to fit, or even put a book down, never to return. Through my cinematography of words, I can show my reader what is happening in the scene, allow them to feel what the character feels, and develop attachments for my reader to my characters. To date, my longest novel is approximately three hundred pages, and I haven't left room for plot holes or an uneasiness that I'm not sure what's going on. I am also an avid movie buff, which may be the reason for my style of writing. I can easily picture a scene being played out in my mind, and I explain that scene as if I'm speaking to someone there. A quick example of how to do so would be to tell a long-winded joke. A man walks into a bar, etc., and you can picture the man doing so, and when the punch line comes, there is no question afterwards. That is unless the joke was a bit over your head. I, like you, am guilty of that. When one paragraph is finished, I immediately go right in the next, describing what my character sees, how they feel, and what they are doing. I don't fill my pages with explanations, scientific evidence, soliloquies, analogies that make no sense, or a description of how the leaves on a tree are blowing with a slight wind. I find myself watching a lot of smart television shows such as CSI, Law and Order and Boomtown, and even though I'm clueless when it comes to law, I never find it difficult to follow the plot line for the forty-five minutes of the show. These shows don't waste necessary time explaining the actions of the people, defining the law, and showing us needless sights. I personally understand exactly what is going on. I don't find it necessary to hear that the law they committed is actually police code 187, which came about in 1983 after a certain case was seen in the Supreme Court. In case anyone is wondering, that isn't fact, so please don't point out the truth. I am simply attempting to prove my point that there is another way to tell a story with greater ease. For an example of what I am talking about, I offer you a quick blurb from my first novel, Delirium, which I wrote when I was seventeen or eighteen. Please, feel free to tell your honest opinion. Negative criticism is much better to hear than positive. At least that way I know what I need to work on. Somehow I fought my way to my feet, and turned myself to face the front of the bus. I was still seeing things through a haze, and the voices were still mixed together and confusing. The people around me were pushing me around like a pinball, leaving me without the chance to fight back. Ahead of me, the only clear thing that I could see was the driver's mirror that watches over the patrons of the bus and the glaring eyes of the driver reflecting in the glass. For some reason, the eyes of the driver entranced me, and I found myself unable to keep my eyes off of his. I was still swimming in a sea of distorted voices, and I was still being pushed about by the angry mob, but for some reason, I was drawn to the eyes. I heard myself begin to whimper as the mix of fear, anger and sickness overwhelmed me. No matter which way I was thrown, my gaze still seemed trapped on his eyes, as he watched the mosh pit that was happening behind him and waited for someone to get off at this stop. All around me, the voices grew inhuman and took on a static sound to them. Bodies encircled me, faces leering at me, pressing in and moving out of visual range. All the while, those eyes kept staring, piercing me like x-rays. On a quick note, that novel is about insanity, and fearing that you'd rather be insane, instead of seeing what my main character sees. That scene takes place on a city bus, as my main character is attempting to get off, but the people around him are seemingly turning into demons before his eyes. So, I hope that I have proven my point, and I hope that you at least understand and accept my style of writing. Perhaps it isn't your cup of tea, or perhaps you are in the same boat as me, and just want to read a novel with all of the fat taken out. That novel, Delirium, which can be bought through all major bookstores, is 268 pages. I apologize for the shameless plug, but I had to do it. I look forward to hopefully having you as a reader some day, and have fun reading.
About the Author
Bradford Boisvert has published one novel to date, entitled, Delirium. Delirium was published by Booklocker.com and is currently available. Bradford currently resides in Bellingham, Ma. As of this time, Brad is finalizing his second novel, Fugues, and is writing his third novel, Vicariousity.
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