British Comedy Guide

The Merits and Problems of a Perceptive Writer

Ok, this is just me musing on my own life but I've always found that I had a certain skill to writing, which all stems from my perception of detail (not necessarily within by punctuation and grammar) on the human condition. I mean just the other day I could tell an old friend I hadn't spoken to in about a year had a new girlfriend just from the way he said hello (not that impressive perhaps). It's great for writing three-dimensional characters and character development because you get very good at reading people, but sometimes the things you see aren't great for your own sense of self. I guess what I wanted to ask is does anyone else find this? Focussing trying to become a better writer forces you to observe more, and thus see the sides of human nature perhaps you'd rather avoid? Does that make sense, or does it just sound like nonsense?

Do you mean are most decent writers a bit peculiar in the head?
I'd say yes

Quote: AJGO @ March 7 2012, 1:05 PM GMT

Do you mean are most decent writers a bit peculiar in the head?
I'd say yes

No, more that you notice little bits of body language, or inflections in what someone says and take them as big personal slights, which other people would have missed.

It's kind of like a wannabe comedian grooming over every laugh they get, the intensity, the reasoning behind it, analysing every little part of people reactions to try and develop better jokes and improve their own delivery.

Though your probably right about the head thing.

Yes sounds more like the head thing than to do with writing! Procrastination is the thief of copy. Just write some shit as they say across the pond.

The key is just to write in as superficial way as possible, then you never have to notice anything.

Come on Matthew enough with the WHO knocking. It will be back soon!

Quote: Marc P @ March 7 2012, 1:16 PM GMT

Come on Matthew enough with the WHO knocking. It will be back soon!

Unimpressed

Best way I can describe it is, or rather the last try I'll give, is I read a long time a go if you want to be a great writer you have to be a people watcher (I believe in some states it's called stalker). But I took that to mean understanding people, their little idiosyncrasies, their body language and behaviour. I have a generally overanalytical mind so took it to mean understanding the reasons for these idiosyncrasies, what is unsaid behind the body language. Problem I've kind of got stuck in this way of thinking so I pretty much overanalyse most conversations I have. And when you do that certain events, lines get under your skin and then you start looking for the hidden meaning. I was just wandering if anyone gets this, or maybe it's purely one of my idiosyncrasies. As I said I'm in thoughtful mood today so thought I'd put the question out to the group.

DBM you're describing the symptons of some sort of paranoia/anxiety related mental illness.

Are you ok?

I don't think you can 'force' yourself to be more observant all the time, it's either part of your make up or not. I don't read any books on writing, not that I don't believe they are helpful and I may well do in the future, and I don't mind reading books written by writers about themselves...er, biography's I think they are called ;).. but I just think reading about 'how to write' will complicate things, and I like to keep things simple if possible.

Quote: sootyj @ March 7 2012, 1:26 PM GMT

DBM you're describing the symptons of some sort of paranoia/anxiety related mental illness.

Are you ok?

Ummmm.... :$ I thought I was. I don't think it's that bad, certainly not a mental illness (I have a sister whose essentially a psychiatrist so I should know). I have a very high EI so that may explain some it...

No seriously I'm fine, I just assumed this was a natural state for writers and comedians. It's not paranoia and anxiety, well maybe a little... but it's more of a question of do other people find this when they write. I like to think of it more as a Sherlock Holmes type insight. I have more of a history in prose, which I guess is more applicable, but I was just curious to find out do other people over analyse because of trying to think in a certain way. Kind of like if you study programming of maths you develop a more logical way of thinking, I was really after do people find by writing do they develop more of an analytical way of thinking?

And thus does become a little bit of a burden...

As a writer DBM you should probably concentrate more on the Universal than the particular. That's what story telling is about in essence. You seem to be attempting to do it the other way round.

Which particular Universe should we concentrate on Marc? Smarmy

Quote: Marc P @ March 7 2012, 1:39 PM GMT

As a writer DBM you should probably concentrate more on the Universal than the particular. That's what story telling is about in essence. You seem to be attempting to do it the other way round.

Sorry Marc but I disagree, take Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany, a brilliant writer but he couldn't have written such a believable character as Holly Golightly without basing on actual people, and understanding these people then developing such an indepth, rounded and broken person. At least that's what I got from it, I think focusing on the universal gives you an overview, whereas the devil is in the detail, and the detail is those complex little quirks of the human condition. But then you may be right and it's something for me to consider.

Quote: DeathbyMonkey @ March 7 2012, 1:37 PM GMT

Ummmm.... :$ I thought I was. I don't think it's that bad, certainly not a mental illness (I have a sister whose essentially a psychiatrist so I should know). I have a very high EI so that may explain some it...

No seriously I'm fine, I just assumed this was a natural state for writers and comedians. It's not paranoia and anxiety, well maybe a little... but it's more of a question of do other people find this when they write. I like to think of it more as a Sherlock Holmes type insight. I have more of a history in prose, which I guess is more applicable, but I was just curious to find out do other people over analyse because of trying to think in a certain way. Kind of like if you study programming of maths you develop a more logical way of thinking, I was really after do people find by writing do they develop more of an analytical way of thinking?

And thus does become a little bit of a burden...

You do know EI is absolute bollocks?

But believing you have the ability to read peoples inner thoughts and emotions, that's not a healthy thought pattern usually.

Quote: Marc P @ March 7 2012, 1:39 PM GMT

As a writer DBM you should probably concentrate more on the Universal than the particular. That's what story telling is about in essence. You seem to be attempting to do it the other way round.

I kinda agree and MarcP's spent longer in the Amazon charts than a Brazilian pop starlette.

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