BAH-da-da-DAHHhhh! BAH-da-da-DAHHHhhhh! Even if you’re not a classical music fan, you know the iconic opening from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Beethoven is the pin-up boy for one of the most important of all creative techniques: dynamics.
In a nutshell, dynamics is the use of unexpected juxtapositions. It generates the kind of excitement and energy that only variety and unpredictability can impart. Beethoven’s Fifth, like Led Zeppelin’s Second (album, that is),* is famous for its dramatic juxtapositions of loud and soft, long and short, fast and slow. Without dynamics, music can put an audience into a coma.
And so can writing!
Here are a few techniques that will make your writing more dynamic:
- Focus on one thing per sentence. Don’t cram multiple descriptions into a single sentence: “Gouty, aching Sir Reginald trundled down the circuitous, weed-choked footpath en route to the ancient, crumbling wreck that was once the proud stately mansion built by his great-grandfather the Duke of Frickenham.” Break it up, please!
“Gouty, aching Sir Reginal groaned as he set forth on the path. It was choked with weeds and toe-catching roots. But at the end—if he made it all the way—he would find the treasure he’d sought all these years: the unsurpassable mansion built by his great-grandfather, the Duke of Frickenham. The legendary estate would be his!” See? Easier to follow and more dynamic!
2. Watch out for redundant words. Grammatically incorrect? No. Coma-inducing? Yes!
“Dick Morehouse stopped at his house for more food. He’d stopped here before for food, so he knew more food could be found here. But where was the food in the house housed?” Most redundancies are more subtle than this, but if you look for them, like ants in the pantry, you’ll find them! Broadening your word choices adds colors to your palette!
3. Use a mixture of short and long. Nothing will lull your reader into a stupor faster than strings of sentences of the same length. But don’t be random about it, think character and situation:
“Jenny ran! Faster than she’d ever run before, faster than she’d ever thought possible. “Adrenalin? Good,” she thought, “because right now I need all the chemical superpower I can get!” Her feet burned as if they were on fire, but the alternative was unthinkable. Except that now she was thinking about it, about what the man with the butcher knife would do if he caught her, and as she did the fire vanished and her feet turned to turbines. Damn the pain! She was the Flash, she was Thor, she was Wonder Woman. She was Ripley facing the Alien. She was — on the edge of a cliff!”
Make it dynamic!
*Beethoven Meets Led Zeppelin:
Have you heard of or encountered Jacob Collier’s music? Full of harmonies, chords… Totally enchanting to listen to as a music lover. Sounds 16th century choral at times. He and Hans Zimmer collaborated on music for a movie as well. It would be interesting to think of a writers tip related to his music.
No, I don’t think I have, Morag. I’ll check him out!
Maybe you will like him.
Jacob Collier is the composer that makes others go, “WHA????”
He can take a Stevie Wonder song and twist it and turn it every which way and you become completely entranced. Then he takes a couple of notes and makes a whole song out of them.
He’s my favorite contemporary composer.
Mine too!
Great Post, especially loved and enjoyed the video.
Glad you enjoyed both, Willie!
Now that is dynamic music! 🙂
Indeed, Nancy!
Great tips! (And my guess is that Beethoven occasionally rolls over dynamically!)
;>) Nice double (or possible triple) entendre!
Great suggestions and beautiful video!!!
Wow, those cellos!
Good tips, Mitch. I always tend to create much too long sentences… not matter which language… lol
Did you notice that the Led Zepplin cellists’ bows were nearly bereft of hair?
Yes! I loved that detail.
Great tips! Essential, even.
Thanks, Russell!
Love the tips! Isn’t “Frickenham” the Olde English for “bacon”?
;>)
Great tips, Mitch!
Great article Mitch!
I’ve been looking for tips for writing for my Linux Blog.
Very helpful, thank you!
My pleasure, Cora!
That’s some very solid writing advice 👏🏼👏🏼
Great post.
Thank you, Narisa.
Love that video. I’m a fan of 2Cellos, and have never seen that one. Excellent segue! Also, great tips. I wonder if they ever found the food.
;>)
Thanks for sharing the great writing tips and the “dynamic” video!
My pleasure, Peggy!
Hi Mitch, any recommendations on how/where to find children’s books agents?
Hi Iman. Sorry, no, I’ve never looked into that. Maybe try googling “Agents seeking children’s books.”
Will do. Thank you!
Best writing…..write your heart out, on experiences,on true love, on the faith in god or not, do not lie to yourself when you write, do not pass judgements, let your thoughts flow like the river flows to meet the sea
Great!
So glad it’s of use to you!
great
Thank you.