Tad Williams

21 December 2009

From my notebooks: the quote I have found very useful to apply in differing ways (description, metaphor, dialogue, surprising progress across a scene, just the first examples that come to mind.) “Backbone events” is some plot-thinking that’s happening in a current notebook.

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant --
Success in Circuit lies
Emily Dickinson

Identify backbone events
Strengthen those parts
1 anomalous thing is the kids are going in the wintertime – what makes that happen? – that’s a knob of bone along our spine.

By the end Mrs N will have revealed herself (presumably) – that’s a knob

Go along the line & find the things that are important to telling this particular story.
No more than you have to, just the important things.
Then after, try stringing different things between them