I'd like to say that I'm very wise for the average eighteen-year-old. At my school, I was pretty much the school psychologist, imparting thoughtful tidbits to wailing girls. My problem?
I can't write like Yoda without sounding cheesy. Okay, maybe Yoda's a bad example, but whatever. It's kind of hard for me to write like I'm an all-knowing person when I am not. When I have to write like a shaman, I just try to recall what other wise people have said and put what they have said on paper (in a different way, of course. Plagairism is not my thing). This is where "writing what you know" comes in handy.
What happens when I need something completely original? Something from my inner "Paige the Sage?" I have a hard time getting what I want to say on the paper.
Before I start writing the next chapter of my book (which will include lots of wisdom), I'm asking for help from my fellow bloggers. Do you have any words of wisdom for writing words of wisdom? If so, please let me know.
I just got my wisdom teeth pulled (harharhar) so I'm sort of fresh out of the stuff. :-)
These thoughts shall be random—do with them what you will. ;)
ReplyDeleteOne thing to remember is that when it comes to your story, you are all-knowing. Not that being your story's author magically endows you with the Wisdom of Life, but you know what your characters need to hear from the "wise one" ... and it'll possibly be something they don't want to hear, or maybe just the way it's delivered will make them resistant.
Also remember that wisdom and knowledge aren't the same thing, so anything that qualifies as a lecture is not the way to deliver it, imo. Wisdom is using the right knowledge, at the right time, in the right way.
No idea if any of that helps, though.
I'm afraid I'm a bit confused. Are you looking for obnoxious riddles? Parables? Snappy Quotes? Quadratic equations? Some of the 'wisest' people I've ever met were just good old-fashioned down to earth people. Truck drivers, farmers/ranchers, former roadies. Just people who've been around.
ReplyDeleteAs you can probably guess from your 'guidance counselor' high school career - the wise ones are nothing more than people with a bit more experience who can say the right (or wrong) thing at the right time.
It doesn't have to be profound. It just has to make people think.
Hope this helps!
Sorry for the confusion! I'm trying to write like a person who is on their deathbed and is imparting some final advice to their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteR.C. has a point. I know what my character needs to know and I somehow need to find a way to say it.
And like Matthew says, it doesn't have to be profound. It just has to make people think.
Thanks for your help guys!