I don’t know if y’all subscribe to Writer’s Digest, but this past month’s issue (the February one, pictured left) is especially good, I thought. There was a nice article in the issue called “25 Ways to Improve Your Writing in 30 Minutes a Day.”
The article touches on things like sentence structure, pace, flow, and imagery. One subject I found particularly interesting was the section on unity.
Writer Jack Heffron pointed out the usefulness of selective repetition. He said:
“A detail or remark or even just a unique word mentioned early in your piece can be echoed later, creating a sense of wholeness through the reader’s recognition of the previous mention.” That recognitions also imbues the repeated element with a resonance… The reader enjoys a satisfying sense of progression, of having moved from one literary moment to another.”
This is something that I’ve enjoyed playing around with, but always in terms of subplot. I usually have a subplot that crops up in an innocuous (and frequently humorous) way in my mystery. Then I tie in the subplot to the main plot at the end of the book. I’ve always really liked the feeling of completeness that it gives to a book.
I’ve never thought about it, but there are other subtle ways to use this device, too (and I think ‘subtle’ is key here.) It could be used with setting, imagery, a triggered memory or simply an unusual choice of words.
I’ve always used it for more of a humorous effect and that pleasant sort of tying-up-loose-ends feeling. But it could be used to evoke a variety of responses from readers…still with that satisfying ‘wrapped up’ feeling of unity.
Is selective repetition/unity an element that you’ve used in your writing before? As a reader, is it something you usually notice?
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The WKB newsletter that Mike Fleming and I are putting together is set to launch later this week. We’ve got a great interview with freelance editor Jason Black and links to February’s most popular writing articles. If you’d like to get on our email list for the newsletter, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/gx7hg1.
Repetition is a standard element in folktales, at least ours.
No, I don’t subscribe to RD, but that issue looks interesting. Will look for it in the magazine shop >:)
Cold As Heaven
WD, not RD >:)
Elizabeth – I really liked your use of selective repetition in the subplot of Delicious and Suspicious. There are a couple of places where it really helped me get mental pictures of the characters, follow the action and so on.
I don’t use a lot of it, although it pops up now and again. I think some repetition is important to keep the reader focused. And by the way, selective repetition is a very effective teaching strategy, too, so it makes sense that it works in keeping readers engaged. It’s been a staple for years.
Elizabeth, I’ve always enjoyed your posts, but now, more than ever, they are useful to me, since I’m writing a novel. Thank you so much for what you do here.
Karen
Sounds like a fancy way of describing “Chekov’s Gun”. Anything that shows up needs a reason to be there, and should appear again. Lee Child is an expert at this one. Right now, I’m finding things that I need to either cut because they don’t come back, or add because I mentioned them once and they turned out to be more significant than I thought.
As for readers — who knows? I did have one reader tell me how much she enjoyed the “music theme” in one of my books. Theme? That was news to me!
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
I’ve used it in sub-plots; usually subconsciously. This is either a very good sign or a very bad one.
Interesting subtle nuance brought up here. I have used the selective repetition – in my last two novels, but did it instinctively, didn’t know there was a classic distinction/name to the technique.
I need to start reading Writer’s Digest – thanks for the tip/reminder!
Good point. I try to use variations of metaphors in my characterizations now and then – not because I have read RD, but because I have read Charles Dickens :D
Cold As Heaven–Absolutely! And lots of children’s books use the technique–although the repetition used a lot more frequently in those books, I think.
Margot–I didn’t realize that it was used in the classroom, too…very interesting!
The Old Silly–It’s a nice periodical–I can always find something helpful to take away from it.
Karen–I’m so excited about your novel! :) Glad the posts are useful for you.
Terry–Yeah, theme isn’t usually something that gets a lot of use from me! My theme is…murder happens. :)
I LOVE literary bookends. I think my favorite example is in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince where in the second chapter (the first with Harry) Dumbledore warns Harry to keep his wand out but then says, “I don’t think you need to worry tonight. You are with me.”
In the second to LAST chapter, Dumbledore says a twist on this. “I am not worried, Harry, I am with you” noting the complete transition of the major conflict (the good side of good versus evil) from Dumbledore’s shoulders onto Harry’s.
I think repetion also works BRILLIANTLY in horror and in thrillers… small, seemingly innocuous things that turn up in more and more threatening ways that finally make the reader realize how long the danger has existed.
I think I’ve used this technique without realizing it. However after reading your post, I’ll be more aware of other ways to make use of repeating elements.
This is a great post! I think we build repetition into our work on multiple levels. Story arcs are one instance of repetition (one element repeats while its instantiation develops) on the meta-level in a manuscript. I’m also playing with more literary-style repetitions in my latest work. It does make things tie together more tightly.
Elspeth–It’s the best of signs!
Hart–Great example! And a very moving one. Rowling is so talented.
Ohh…didn’t think about the uses in those genres, but you’re so right. I think Poe enjoyed using it, too.
Jane–I’m thinking it could be a lot of fun to try out.
Juliette–I’m a huge fan of literary devices (typical English major), but I’ve honestly not used many in my own writing…and I’m really not sure why. I think the tide may be turning for me!
Dorte–And he did it beautifully! :)
The repetition that has the most lasting impact on me is when it involves “everyday” imagery or sound.
To this day when I see a group of black birds taking off I think of King’s “The sparrows are flying again” from the Dark Half.
Sound-wise I think of Sigler’s Rocktopi from Earthcore every time I hear dry leaves blowing across the pavement.
Those are just two of my most-recurring examples. I think it’s a big win when you can get people to think of your story when they have what would normally be a mundane experience. It’s almost like that “everyday” experience is forever more enriched by the story.
Mike–One of the things that I think King does so well is to take ordinary things and make them striking or frightening. Great examples for visual imagery and audio imagery, too. I’d love to get to that level with my writing someday.
I love Writer’s Digest! I’ve been a subscriber since high school. I’m two issues behind right now though, lol. I still have to read last month’s and this month’s issues!
I think repetition is an effective strategy. I’ve used it, but I have to be careful not to overuse it. But I (hopefully) fix that in revisions. :)
I definitely notice this and love it. Brings a piece together, shows me the author is “crafting” not just “writing” and I so appreciate that.
I love when a book begins and ends in the same location and that location amplifies the arc the character has been through in comparing how they were when they started and where they were when they ended their journey.
I shoot for both…fail more often than succeed, but at least I shoot for it. :)