Earlier this week, I read YOU by Charles Benoit. Uh...holy crap, amazing book. Amazing. I am so not over how amazing it was. It's so simple and cuts to the chase. Oh yeah, it's in SECOND PERSON! I know, like whoa. Have I mentioned how amazing it is? I loved the second person because you're in the book. You are right there, in the middle of it all. There's no setting the scene and no 'I did this and I did that'. Reading YOU has lead me to experiment with second person. I am kind of knocking off Benoit at this point. It's in the name of research, however, and not for profit. If I write a full on book, it'll be purely my own, but studying the way Benoit captures his audience should be made into a college course.
The experimenting has allowed my creative side to tell my internal editor to "shut the hell up!" And it's felt good. If you're unfamiliar with, or afraid of a tense start using that tense and see why you don't care for it. Maybe you'll discover a fresh new way of using it that will catapult you into a writing frenzy like second-person has done for me.
Also, I am collabing on a project with one of my CP's. It's starting to pick up steam and I am uber-excited about it.
I have a few more ministories in the wings. As long as people like them, I'll continue to post them. Thanks for you shiny support, guys.
More old music faves:
That's awesome, Jon! I love hearing that excitement and energy in your post - hold onto that! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am so intrigued by this book - I've heard nothing but good things. I'll definitely have to check it out, even though I must admit I'm skeptical about an entire book being written in first person, but I'm ready to be wowed!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to have to cave in and read it. Usually I have trouble reading books with so much good press....my cynical side thinks they can't possibly live up. But this idea is just so different...I can't even wrap my mind around it so I guess I'll have to read it!
ReplyDeleteShelley
I've heard of the book, but you're the first person to mention it's written in second person. Now I'm going to have to read it.
ReplyDeleteI *tried* writing in second person already. I got as far as writing 2 chapters and gave up. It was HARD -- and for the story I was attempting to write, it didn't make sense anyway.
Other than CON-fidence by Todd Strasser, which is MG, I'm not aware of any second person novels. This one has just moved up my TBR list.
SHUT THE HELL UP, JON'S INTERNAL EDITOR!
ReplyDeleteI love when you let yourself be creative Jon!! WAY to go!!
Experimenting is one of the best ways to grow - major congrats!
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about the book. I'll have to read it. Glad to hear your writing is going well.
ReplyDeleteHey Jonathon - Writing in 2nd person is another big no no for writers - mainly because it's so hard to do right. I think this author proved it's a matter of technique. Look forward to reading this one!
ReplyDeleteYay, J!! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by this book also, and I'm glad you're feeling inspired. Lately, I've been writing more in third person, but it feels forced and unnatural, and I'll probably go back to writing in first person :) Have a great week and happy writing.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading it, J. :D I love experimenting with different writing techniques. I'll need to read YOU, too. If it's not good, I'm totally sending you hate mail.
ReplyDeleteI'm *shiny* YAY!
ReplyDeleteAnd second person? I've never, ever, heard of that before! But of course now, I'm going to have to go research it myself!
So cool to get a raving review like that--thanks Jon!