Mood setting

Redlass · #1 10-19-2001, 10:27 AM

I've been finding that with any sort of essay, I need to be able to start and finish the first draft in one session. If I don't, the mood invariably changes and I have part of the essay written in a whimsical manner and the other part written in a melancholy manner (to pull an example).

Other times I'm able to remember the mood I was trying to achieve and recreate during that writing period. This is especially true when I'm writing at work and am unable to complete an entire chapter or entire workbook in one sitting. Or when I have to switch between several projects and they all require a slightly different voice.

What do you do to ensure that a mood is consistent within a piece?

rich2003dm · #2 10-19-2001, 11:54 PM

Mood? Consistency?

Fortunately for me I'm not a writer so I never even consider stuff like this.

I just kind of put one word after another, and hope I get a reasonably coherent result. Sometimes I do; and sometimes I don't.

Maybe it's never been an issue since I generally write my stuff in one sitting. I may keep it for a few days for fine tuning, but it's essentially written all at once. Also, my stuff is either very dopey, or very serious. No middle ground, so not much room for confusion.

I can see where it would be a real problem in a lengthy work that took days or weeks to complete, but it actually has no bearing on the brief stuff I do.

Rich

quasar · #3 10-20-2001, 12:03 AM

Audience for non-fiction? no problem maintaining/re-discovering/being consistent.

Maintaining the tone of a fiction piece over multiple sittings? I can't. I have to write fiction and poetry in one sitting. Period.

Sorry I don't have any helpful hints.

Janice

juliette · #4 10-22-2001, 11:28 AM

I think it helps to go back to whatever inspired you to start the piece in the first place.

Like, if you are writing about the funny things that happened to you in Peru, go back and look at your pictures or journal from the trip. Or if you are writing about something tragic, well these days you can just turn on CNN, but you get my drift.

I had a writing teacher once who said that there is no excuse for not writing, and that a real writer will always find a way. (He also said that "writer's block" is for pikers...)