E. B. White: Mask and Unveiling



Realizing new things about characters and the story as you
write it is like watching clouds part between a ray of sun. :)



 

"Writing is both mask and unveiling."

~E.B. White

    This quote even sounds awesome!
    And it's so cool because it's true. You know what I mean?
    As a writer, even when a basic plot's already been laid out, writing the first draft of a story is like embarking on an unknown adventure. Here's where the characters are headed, but what's the journey like? Who are the characters, really? How do they interact with the other characters? And do they actually do what they're "supposed to," as written in the plotline, or do they surprise us all and do something completely unplanned? These questions are some that we consider and find the answers to as we write down the story for the first time, as we grope around in the first go.
    Another way this quote can be looked at is the very fun writer role of masking and unmasking things in the story. Writing up characters in a way that doesn't hint what they'll do later. Foreshadowing events the reader will (hopefully!) be clueless to until the awesome unveiling moment occurs. It's basic criteria for mystery novels, but it can also be done in other stories. I for one find it really awesome do prepare those sort of surprises. Don't you agree?
    Do you like this quote?