Success only flourishes in perseverance -- ceaseless, restless perseverance.
--Baron Manfred Von Richtofen

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Way I See It

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.

P.S. Ali Cross is having a 300 follower blog party. Go become a follower if you aren't already. She's giving away two $25 Amazon gift certificate to old and new followers. =) Check it out!

27 comments:

Elana Johnson said...

Definitely one of the perks of writing. I love reading emotional stories as if they'd happened to me.

Stephanie McGee said...

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.)

Shari said...

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.

I've given you a Stylish Blog Award. Come on over to sharibird.blogspot.com to get it!

Danyelle L. said...

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!

Golden Eagle said...

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.

Angie said...

Thanks for the award, Shari. And thanks for sharing your thoughts, ladies. Hooray for reading and writing!

Unknown said...

I see the books I read as a live-action movie.

Christine Fonseca said...

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!

Theresa Milstein said...

I see it like a movie, but usually the scenery/background are places I've been.

Elana and her cartoons? Interesting!

Rocky Rudd said...

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... :)

jdsanc said...

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.

Angie said...

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.

Angela said...

I'm like you, I see myself in the scene. Maybe that's why I like reading first person present tense so much.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Hi, Angie! I see them realistically--not as cartoons like Elana. Other than that...I dunno. :-)

Carmela Martino said...

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

Angie said...

Thanks for stopping by here, Carmela. I appreciate that. Interesting how we all see things!

Shannon said...

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!

MTeacress said...

When I write, as well as when I read, I see it all like a movie - with background music during the exciting parts, too. :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

Hi,
I have an award for you over at my blog, with Day 221!

Angie said...

Thanks, Tyrean. =)

ali cross said...

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.

Jolene Perry said...

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.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

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 :)

Angie said...

I have a feeling your imagination is incredible, Elizabeth! Thanks for stopping by.

Beth said...

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.

Angie said...

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!

Anonymous said...

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!