In Today’s Journal
* Quote of the Day
* Don’t Confuse Movement with Action
* Of Interest
Quote of the Day
“Never confuse movement with action.” Ernest Hemingway
Don’t Confuse Movement with Action
Great advice from probably the best writer who ever lived. The quote of the day ranks up there with “All you have to do is write one true sentence, Just write one true sentence, then go on from there.”
But what does “Never confuse movement with action” mean specifically?
Notice that the advice doesn’t exclude either aspect. It just says not to confuse the two.
I saw the quote for the first time this morning in Dr. Mardy’s Quotes of the Week (see Of Interest), and I realized it applies perfectly to my own writing, and my own writing is an excellent example of the concept.
But let me back up just a little.
In my opinion, the worst thing a mystery or suspense or thriller or action-adventure writer can do is write nonstop action.
That’s like being on a roller coaster that never slows and never plods uphill before plunging downhill again. I suppose you’d have to climb a ladder to access it, and then it would plunge down, down, down to the end.
Would that be fun? Um, no. Other than when you initially step off the ladder and strap yourself in, where’d the anticipation? Even constant excitement wears thin.
Now and then, you have to give the reader a breather and let him rest. Of course, you want to do that in such a way that the reader leans into the story and maintains or even deepens his interest and engagement.
Those who are familiar with my work—especially in the Blackwell Ops series—know I do that.
There’s a lot of high-tension in my novels and stories, especially psychologically as the operative interacts with a love interest or as he’s making a plan or thinking about a target or approaching a target while doing his job.
Those, along with high-speed car chases, fights, incoming bullets, almost being spotted, etc. are examples of action vs. movement.
But there are also times when I describe a calmer scene.
I let the reader rest, both to pace the story and to give the reader a deeper, more intimate glimpse of the POV character’s “normal” life. Doing that enables the reader to more closely relate to the POV character and pulls him deeper into the story.
At those times, maybe the POV character is only making breakfast or filling a coffee maker or flopping onto the couch in a hotel suite or dining with a friend.
Those times are not action—they’re only movement—but they fulfill the purpose I described above.
And of course, Hemingway’s dictum also applies to all genres across the board. With that one true sentence, he’s only making you aware that there is a difference between movement and action.
One doesn’t equal the other, but as is usually true in matters of the fiction writing craft, both usually include aspects of the other.
As always, remember that this isn’t something you apply consciously.
Once you’re aware of the difference between action and movement (and if you weren’t, now you are) your actual job remains the same: to simply follow the characters around, write down what happens, and write down how the characters react to what happens.
Back tomorrow with the Bradbury Challenge report.
Of Interest
Dr. Mardy’s Quotes of the Week: Neverisms
English Idioms (Thanks, Nan.)
If You Enjoy Futuristic SF, check out D.W. Patterson’s website. Abundance awaits.