"The Spirit of Loughmoe Abbey" by Megan Wynne Plot Gwen is supposed to be home-schooled but her mum's mental health problems mean she isn't receiving any schooling. When it is clear that her mum needs hospital treatment to recover, Gwen is sent to an unusual boarding school where students are helped to communicate with spirits. While there, she is confronted with an unsettling truth about her past. Review I read this book in a day, so that is always a good sign! I really enjoyed the mix of normal and supernatural that happens in the book, and how it weaves together so seamlessly. There is an air of mystery around the staff at the school, in particular the principal, which I would love to be developed. I found Gwen thoroughly annoying at first. She had every trait I dislike in "home-schooled" children - I was home-schooled myself and get annoyed when people equate home-schooling to no-schooling or random trips to educational establishments. Maths is important...
Writing Personifications
Most of us talk to people not inanimate objects, or else (in
the case of people like me) we talk to both.
But sometimes inanimate objects are central to a story’s plot. For example, if you’re writing a mystery or
crime novel, your characters want to maintain a certain air of unknown. They will probably become known for the coat
they wear, or the car they drive. As
authors we can throw our readers a hint by personifying these inanimate objects.
When I think of the power behind a good use of
personification, I always think of the parable of the blind men and the
elephant. It’s our human approach which
makes us see things in a certain way – within the confines of our own
understanding.
Metaphors are central to writing this way. Don’t say:
the car had wing mirrors like ears, ready to hear its master’s voice
Instead go for:
the car’s wing mirrors were ears, ready to hear its master’s voice
the car had wing mirrors like ears, ready to hear its master’s voice
Instead go for:
the car’s wing mirrors were ears, ready to hear its master’s voice
Here are a few things about personification:
- That reminds me... Most things remind us of someone, even if it’s a totally obscure link. This is when our minds start to imagine seeing people in things.
- But... personifications don’t have to be linked to real people or characters. Often when we see a face in something, or imagine an object having a mood, it’s not a link to a real person so much as a characteristic.
- The ultimate Red Herring! Your character’s preconceived ideas based on these personifications can throw readers way off the scent. They’re a great tool in thrillers, mysteries and crime novels.
Comments
Post a Comment