Not Holding Back Information
Posted by annastan on May 10th, 2010. Filed under: WIP, Writing Rants.Not only is it nice to commiserate with fellow writers, but often their insights and struggles help me with my own writing. Case in point: as I was reading Brian Yanksy’s blog the other day, something in his post really stuck with me:
One thing that my last manuscript taught me is something I had heard Kurt Vonnegut say and something I’m trying to do in my new WIP. Tell everything you can as soon as you can. Don’t hold back. Don’t try to keep things hidden in the hopes of adding suspense.
I’ve been working on a total overhaul of an old manuscript (really, it’s like starting all over) and I realized that my main character has a special ability that she doesn’t know about at the start of the story. Originally, I was going to wait and introduce the ability later on, only subtly hinting at it for a few chapters. But after reading Brian’s post I thought, why not put it in earlier?
So I went back through the first chapter and found spots where I could work in the information pretty easily; it was almost like it wanted to be there all along. I realized that having the character discover her ability in Chapter 1 made the tension in the story go way up. And, hopefully, that tension will continue as she deals with her new-found ability and all the other things going on in her life.
Withholding information can be a good tactic, but sometimes you have to ask yourself if laying things out from the beginning might not make the story stronger.
So how ’bout it – is there anything you could tell earlier in your story? Could your character’s life get even more deliciously complicated if you didn’t hold back? Why not be brave (like the crazy cat in the picture) and give it a try?
May 10th, 2010 at 9:39 am
That’s interesting. Often we hold back to increase the suspense, but I can see how it can also make the storyline more immediate. Figuring out the right place to start is one of the hardest things to me.
May 10th, 2010 at 9:44 am
I feel your pain! I am rewriting my MS too, soup to nuts and discovering a lot of things I should have done the first time around. I think holding back can be important and yet the reader sometimes can’t wait! So what you’re doing probably is going to work out well. Good luck!
May 10th, 2010 at 11:48 am
As always, it comes down to balance. What to introduce and when. I think this is an important issue. It can be the difference between readers being interested or putting down the book. I’ll keep that in mind as I write. Thanks, Anna!
May 10th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Interesting point. I think this is something my critique group was trying to tell me about my WIP. They wanted a specific piece of info sooner and I was hesitant. Perhaps I’d better take another look.
May 10th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
What a fine line to tread on — to hold enough back to create suspense (so the reader will turn the pages) and to show enough up front (to tweak the reader so he’ll turn the pages).
May 10th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Tricia, figuring out where to start can be SO hard. You want to engage your readers but also give them enough info to keep them going. So tricky!
Lydia, isn’t it funny when we go back through a manuscript and see all the things we should have done before – they seem so obvious! I’m hoping I’m on the right track this time.
Laura, I think I just need to start titling my craft posts “It’s all about balance” because ultimately that’s what most craft issues come down to. Here’s hoping we both find that balance in our stories!
Lisa, it might be worth giving it a try. If it turns out that info does work better later on, you can always change it back!
Andrea, it is such a fine line. You don’t want to bore readers or have so much going on in the beginning that it’s overwhelming, but I’m finding that sometimes putting more into the beginning can actually be a good thing.
May 10th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Interesting topic. I changed my first MG manuscript a lot. I ended up starting the story with chapter 3 and working the earlier information in throughout the book. You’ve got to get them interested or they won’t continue reading.
May 10th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Aw, that brave kitty. Ha.
This is definitely something I’ve been learning with my current WIP. Sometimes you need to tell the reader information instead of keeping them in the dark. It creates less confusion and can actually up the tension in some ways.
May 10th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
What an interesting thought. I suppose I could start off by killing my MC.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Janet, I think often the first couple chapters of a novel are more for us than for the reader – we’re still trying to figure things out. That’s why it can be a good idea to chop the beginning and start later on when the story REALLY starts.
Karen, it can absolutely be confusing (and frustrating) to feel like the writer is keeping things from you, especially if it would be easy to bring the truth in earlier. But, as always, it’s all about balance.
Ha, Jon I’m concerned about your MC. If you kill him/her off in the first chapter, I refuse to take the blame!
May 11th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Good post, I’m starting a new project and you’ve given me something to think about.
May 11th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Hi Anna,
I hope you got my email and it didn’t go into your spam folder. I need you to choose which prize you want and how to send it to you. Thanks, Tricia
May 11th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Anna — I hardly have time to comment — All I want to do is open my WIP and look for ways to add info earlier!
May 11th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Such a great point, and worth a try. What’s the worst that can happen? Hit the delete key? Thanks!
May 12th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Catherine, good luck with the new project!
Ha, Judy, I love your comment! I’m glad you’re so inspired – happy writing!
Thanks, Julie. That’s exactly what I was thinking. If you hate it, you can always go back to a previous version.
May 12th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
This is great advice, Anna, and will come in totally useful! Thanks!