Capturing the Image

So often I have caught myself writing my way around an image.  I’ll have something clear in my mind, and end up building my story around it 

That doesn’t work well, as this round at FanLit Forever will testify.

The problem with an image is that it may contain all sorts of emotion and significance, but be completely lacking in GMC.  Worse yet, it may appear to have GMC, but when you try to write around it turn out to have the wrong GMC for the characters, or for the sort of story you are willing to write.

So what do you do with these fantastic images that kind of fit the story, but don’t actually move the story?

I say slip them in sideways.  Yes, I know I’m supposed to say cut them completely, but when I cut all of them I end up missing a lot of the punch I want in my writing.  So I’m going to try to keep the images, without necessarily making them the central focus.

For instance, should a particular portrait catch my attention, rather than have my character standing in the hallway looking at the preterite, I could have my character remember standing in the hall way looking at the portrait and comparing it to the real person sitting in the carriage next to her.  Rather than having my character go down to the airport only to leave again, having told the reader less than I would like to, I’ll have him packing the car and talk about the airport and what it was like to be unable to catch a plane.

I think I can get away with it.  In the next round, we will see.

Alice