The Magic of Truth

"Think back to all the stories that touched your life, that really made an impact on you. There was something a character said or did that resonated with who you are or who you want to become. A great book comes from a combination of truth flowing from the pen of a writer who has command of the language to the point where language is no longer important except that it conveys the world in a new and incredible light.”

This is a quote from Michelle Witte. She is an incredible agent, editor and author.   I read it three times before I finished the rest of her post.

“…combination of truth flowing from the pen of a writer to the point where language is no longer important.. ”

Every scene I write has an emotion at the center of it. I want that emotion to feel real, to represent a truth. Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don’t. I know when I do because when I reread it, I react on an emotional level- smile, laugh, cry, whatever, I react before I think about it.

How many times have you reread a certain part in a book?  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reread Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver.  There is a scene when Grace thinks she’ll never see Sam again.  She’s grieving with all her soul for him. As she's wandering through her house, she sees Sam’s guitar in her father’s office.  In a fit of grief and rage she smashes the guitar into pieces. I cried so hard when I read it, I made that little hiccup sound.  It’s so heart retching to read but beautiful at the same time. Maggie captured the truth of Grace’s heart ache.

Wouldn’t it naturally follow that the mark of a truly great story is one that would be read again and again not just the best parts? The whole book is the best part. My oldest daughter has read Alanna by Tamora Pierce six times. I’ve read it twice myself.  We see ourselves as Alanna, we cheer her on when she finally beats the snot out of Rolan, cry with her, fall in love with her, we connect with her on an emotional level because we recognize the truth in her story.

A great writer is one who “… has command of the language”. I’ve come across a few books that were so well written I literally did not see the words.  The plot, characters, dialogue were so transparent I felt like an engaged observer standing in the corner, witnessing everything first hand.

That is standard I strive for when I write.  Transparency is an incredibly high goal but I’m going reach for it nonetheless. Having awesome critique partners are essential for this.  Everyone should have Chelsea and an Alice to write with.  They let me know when I’ve found the ‘sweet spot’ in my chapters and when I’ve lost them along the way.  I couldn’t create my truth without them.

Writing is not the only way to exhibit true emotion. Each one of the arts represent their creator’s interpretation of reality.  It may be twisted, impressionistic, beautiful, chaotic, even hard for others to recognize but if it comes from their heart, it’s real. Their own personal truth. The trick for writers, if they want to be published, is to make their truth recognizable to others.

I’m getting a little philosophical this morning I think. Hot chocolate, dark clouds and topics I feel passionate about, do that to me obliviously.

Find your truth, write until the words disappear!