Saturday, May 8, 2010

Charles Dickens - Notes on William Cane's "Write Like the Masters"

Chapter 2 - CHARLES DICKENS

Dickens’ writing characteristics:
• A cast of characters startling in their variety and engaging in their many permutations of human behavior
• Musical diction
• Dickens was first and foremost a caricaturist, always on the lookout for ways to embellish a portrait

Make them laugh,
make them cry,
make them wait
.”

-Charles Dickens
- His character descriptions are lengthy, so if imitating his intricate character description, abbreviate the length to keep the attention of today’s audience.

- Keep some conflict below the surface: Choose an aspect of the story that can be concealed from the reader, then play the part of the omniscient writer and reveal only as much as necessary.

- Dickens was a master of humor – satire, puns, wordplay and a curious method of characterizing that poked fun at his own creations. Exaggerate your characters a bit and use a satirical voice.

- To create emotion, you must feel emotion. Dig into your own experiences. (Easier said than done.)

"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." -Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith

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