Elana's confession post today got me thinking about how we envision the books we read. What's it like for you? Do you see the book in your head as if it were a movie with all the characters up on the screen of your mind? Do you see it in cartoon form like Elana? Do you see it more like real life? Do you see it at all, or is it just words?I really hadn't given much thought to how I'm actually seeing a book that I'm reading, but after pondering it this morning, I realized that I see it as if I were in the scene myself. As if I were the viewpoint character with all of the stuff happening to me. No wonder I don't like reading stuff with no clear POV. I don't feel involved at all. It's the same with what I write. I put myself in the character's shoes and see the story in my head as if I were the character. That can get pretty intense sometimes. But that's one of the joys of writing, I think.
What about you? How do you see the story you're reading? The one you're writing? Does it make a difference in your approach to writing?
Interesting things to think about.
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27 comments:
Definitely one of the perks of writing. I love reading emotional stories as if they'd happened to me.
I think for me it's more of a movie-type of thing in my head. But not for every word of the book. Big things, scenes that get me laughing or crying or are really really impactful/intense in some way. Those I'll see play out in my head. (And sometimes replay long after I've finished the book. Read Mandy Hubbard's You Wish, and we'll talk about it.)
I see the story the same way you do. I like feeling part of it. I love the picture at the top of your blog. I want to sit in my office chair and just stare at it--all day.
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I see them as cartoons too, and sometimes as paintings. Brains are so interesting--how they work and process things. And yes! to needing a clear POV and an emotional attachment to the characters!
I usually see the books I read in a movie-like form, with the characters 3-dimensional and the events playing out with a lot of motion; the things that happen to them aren't really interactive, and I don't usually picture myself as being the character in the scene.
Thanks for the award, Shari. And thanks for sharing your thoughts, ladies. Hooray for reading and writing!
I see the books I read as a live-action movie.
I see the books I read and the ones I write as movies in my head, where I am the mc - it gives me a great perspective, especialy when I write!
I see it like a movie, but usually the scenery/background are places I've been.
Elana and her cartoons? Interesting!
I usually see books in scene blocks. When I'm reading, I'll imagine the setting, and then I put the characters wherever they're supposed to be in the room or whatever. I see real people, but they move around like a graphic novel - scene to scene with no actual depicted movement. And I can always hear their voices in my head... :)
i think we all envision books in the vaguest sense of the word. I mean how many times have we all heard, "The book was so much better." Better because they leave so much out, but also better because we only imagine those details that have special meaning to us. I have had the experience in my bookclub, many times, where we have all come away with something totally different.
I think it's so cool how we all see and experience things differently. I love that you can hear their voice, Rochelle. Me too. I think you're right, Judith. We all take something different from whatever we read.
I'm like you, I see myself in the scene. Maybe that's why I like reading first person present tense so much.
Hi, Angie! I see them realistically--not as cartoons like Elana. Other than that...I dunno. :-)
Thanks for sharing the link to Elana's post--I wouldn't have known about it otherwise. Her confession made me smile. Unlike Elana or you, I see the story play out as a live action movie with regular actors.
Thanks for stopping by our TeachingAuthors blog today, Angie.
Carmela
Thanks for stopping by here, Carmela. I appreciate that. Interesting how we all see things!
I see books (esp my manuscript) as movies. I even dream about them. A lot.
I love that Elana sees cartoons. Fits her.
If you get a chance, please stop by to read this week’s anonymous critique and share your feedback!
When I write, as well as when I read, I see it all like a movie - with background music during the exciting parts, too. :)
Hi,
I have an award for you over at my blog, with Day 221!
Thanks, Tyrean. =)
Aw, thanks for the shout out Angie!
As for me, I read and write movies. That's how I see them. NOT cartoon characters, lol, but real live people on the big, big screen.
I am IN the story, I read too fast for it to be a perfect movie, but I see the book in flashes for sure. I also hate it when authors give me too much description, as soon as they say building, my brain builds it, when they throw me too far off, I get bored or skip to the end of the descrip. paragraph so I can keep my original vision.
At first, they were just words on the page. I felt disconnected. But as I grew older, I found them fascinating. I became the characters and see, touch, smell and hear the things going on around me. They are real, life people like me.
I feel that my imagination is just as sharp as when I was a child. They become real to me, especially if I'm the one creating my stories.
Great post!
~Elizabeth :)
I have a feeling your imagination is incredible, Elizabeth! Thanks for stopping by.
I definitely picture it, although not necessarily with actors in the roles. I know what my characters look like and that's as powerful as the words I'm writing.
I agree. The picture in my head is as powerful (or maybe even more so) than the words on the page. Thanks for stopping by!
I'm a movie girl. I love movies. So why wouldn't I see the books I read as movies too? That's how I get carried into the wonderful bliss of law-law land!
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