Friday 1 April 2011

When something apt becomes something old

A couple of years ago, when I was starting out as a writer, I was inspired by many things - one of them being music. I used to put down in my notebook pieces I had heard and liked. On the Radio one day I was struck by Spiegel Im Spiegel by Arvon Pert. I imagined it playing in intense emotional scenes I was begining to think about writing. If you know this piece you'll understand it is apt for such high emotion; at once poignant and moving(it was used in the documentary series on Auschwitz a few years ago)But the piece now actualy has begun to irritate me as its been used for this very such purpose so many times in films and TV dramas - the day before yesterday I heard it in Hattie - the excellent drama on BBC4 about Hattie Jakes and last night it was used also in Women in Love(not so excellent,this drama came across more like a Catherine Cookson romp to me!)To get back to my point - Spiegel Im Spiegel IS indeed a beatiful piece of music entirely apt for high emotional scenes BUT it has become so overused - now when I watch new drama I am hanging on the edge of my seat expecting this music to come -its actually become something 'old'. I guess this analogy fits writing too in that one might write a scene of high emotion beautifully well but because its style is not unique, the reader will have 'heard it before' , it actually doesnt jump off the page anymore. This is the challenge for writers who want to get noticed and - hopefuly published. Not only must they demonstrate that they can tell a good story well but also are they able to say something often said, in a different way.

This cold that has kept me grounded all week(no tango!but lots of television watching)I hope is now on the wane. I did this weeks tutorial with Emma via telephone(we were supposed to meet face to face at our usual venue in The Welcome Centre Cafe). This having a writing mentor - an experienced writer who sees almost everything I write and critiques it - is helping me tremendously. Had very good feedback,encouraging, a couple of things that need a little more work but most is good. We discussed the forthcomming Writers Progress Retreat at Circle of Misse that she is leading and I will be attending - in just a couple of weeks. I've decided to use this time to work on the end section of my novel.
Bren Gosling

5 comments:

  1. I hate that, too, when something that newly represents something well is used and overused until it becomes a tired cliche. "Ride of the Valkyries" was like that in Apocalypse Now, but now it's been overused; as has been "Thus Sprach Zarathustra" in 2001: A Space Odyssey, used ingeniously in that film, but used so often it now represents something that is not huge or important, but disappointingly wants to be. And it's overused for that purpose, too!

    Hope you feel better! Good luck with your writing!

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  2. Thanks Steven. I am feeling much better now.Been tangoing(yesterday) but no new writing as have been sorting out bills and mail accrued whilst I was away for 3 months and also general work business.
    Hope your writing too is progressing well. Keep me posted!
    regards
    Bren Gosling

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  3. I have Spiegel in Spiegel on compilations but needed to go back and listen to it to familiarise myself with it -- oh yes -- it IS very familiar.

    Vaughan Williams is often used in a similar way -- particularly the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.

    I've also got into some modern music that is often used for soundtracks on TV -- the xx are used on SO many things, ditto Air and their Femme d'Argent.

    On an unrelated theme but perhaps of interest is an article on the Guardian website today about writers and social media: http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2011/apr/14/edinburgh-sara-sheridan-digital-rights

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  4. Hi Mike..I think the article you may be refering to is the one Ive read and copied to my lastest post becuase its so very poignant.
    Bren Gosling

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  5. Talking of things of interest. I remember you like Dickens and wouldn't mind using his writing as inspiration in some ways I found this event in a writing magazine: http://www.rochesterdickensfestival.org.uk/

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