WARNING: Pointless and useless metaphor created under the influence of six a.m.
All stories are, at heart, a diagram of lines and circles.
Sometimes you need to move the story along, get it from one place to another, and that's a line, drawn from point A to point B; action, if you will, or just events.
But sometimes you stop and start drawing circles. Two sentences of setting, place, description? Circles. Adjectives? Circles. Expanding on a statement? Circles. Description of what a character is doing that does not move the plot or main idea along at all? Circles.
Most lines are studded with circles of all sizes, of course. "He walked north. He struck the snake with his sword. It died. He took the gem. He walked south." is just a little dry. Although honestly, if I could write that forthrightly, sometimes I'd be the better for it.
Dialogue can be both, of course; "So I'm leaving you, you fucker!" "Fine!" is a line. "And then what'd she say?" "Oh, nothing much, really, more tea?" is a circle.
Most stories that I write start out in a burst of circles, like I've thrown a stone into a pond, and then develop into lines, a streak of them, with occasional circles to break up the monotony. And then the story ends in a second burst of circles, catching the lines, cushioning them, giving them a place to end.
And isn't that more or less right, really, starting with exposition and background and setting and character, then making things happen in a burst of fireworks, then wrapping it all up? Oh, sometimes the two puddles of circles are extraneous, certainly, especially in fanfiction, where a single word can call an entire person to mind for the knowledgeable. I rather enjoy that, really.
Recently I've been co-writing a lengthy piece with a friend, just for fun. And sometimes we both draw circles, and the story turns slow, languid, beautiful; sometimes we both draw lines, and the story becomes a headlong rush, a frenzy of action that will not be denied.
But mostly it goes like this: she will draw a line and email it to me, moving the story on. And I will draw a circle around her line, explaining, expanding, describing, and email it back. And she will draw another line, and I will encircle it.
And then, just for fun, I'll draw a line instead, because I felt like it belonged there. And she will happily draw a circle around it and send it back.
I guess that if you drew it as a diagram and looked at it, it would look something like a necklace of bicolored pearls, a string of circles with lines through the middle (and occasional gaps, of course, because the story is about words, not about drawing a line of pearls).
It amuses me to insert that 'pearl necklace' simile here, referring to that story, for reasons I don't really feel like explaining. Given my habit of making imaginary people fornicate for my amusement, well, I'm certain you can draw your own conclusions. I am the Caligula of my mind.
So, lines and circles, circles and lines, compass and straightedge and a pencil and straight on 'til morning.
Replies: add your comment: currently 4 comments
Holy shit. I like your joke posts for sure, but stuff like this makes me want to offer you my young, firm body in twitching sacrifice. Thank you for today's inspiration to write.
Posted by Seraphesque @ 11/20/2002 04:48 PM EST
...What wonderful imagery you have there. *_*
(Speaks one who was considering majoring in English *and* Math, if not for the stupid junior year instructor who held back the entire Algebra II class for two idiots who shouldn't have been allowed in. :P)
Posted by Crying Sailor @ 11/21/2002 03:45 AM EST
line line...circle circle line...circle circle circle line circle circle...line line line line line line circle. circle circle line.(This response written in line and circle speak)
Posted by Cloud12287 @ 11/22/2002 07:59 PM EST
That was a beautiful passage Moonie. I wish I could write non-fiction as well as you blog!
Posted by Sheerlyevil @ 11/24/2002 09:59 AM EST
