Re: A response to Walt

["Laura J. Mixon-Gould" <ljm@digitalnoir.com>]

I just noticed that this post went to Jason instead of to idrama.  Sorry,
guys!  I keep doing that!

Jason, I do take your point that analysis is useful in helping us understand
how fiction works.  But I'll tell you quite frankly, Bob's view hews much
closer to that of fiction writers.  Overanalysis can actually be harmful to
the process of getting fiction right.

So much so in fact that -- Damon's essay on plot notwithstanding -- our
teachers and mentors tend to warn us away from analysis.  They discourage us
from getting an english lit or creative writing degree, because when the
analytical intellect gets too involved in the process at a macroscopic
level, it makes things too mechanical and robs stories of their "heart."



-l.
-- 
Laura J. Mixon      *  ljm@digitalnoir.com      *  www.digitalnoir.com