The Gamut
Working through the writing process at every level
The basic premise of this blog is the Story Gamut: an ordering of story elements into eight groups, from the most detailed to the most broad.
In creating these groupings, I have not dispensed with the story elements we’re all familiar with from books on writing, such as plot, character development, and writing style. Instead, I’ve subordinated the traditional headings to new headings based on the level of detail at which they same most crucial. The Gamut is certainly not fully defined yet, but as I work on it, and interact with readers like you, I intend to use it to:
- sort out which tools I will need for which types of writing
- identify my weak points
- concentrate my attention (and time) more effectively on addressing weaknesses and developing strengths
I hope you find the Gamut similarly helpful.
The Eight Levels in the Gamut
For fuller descriptions of each category, click the link on the category title.
Naming, word choice, and what I call resonances and discordances.
Short metaphor (not the larger analogies that can sometimes take the whole book to flush out), oxymoron, turns of phrase, and poetry and rhyme.
Grammar and accents and dialect.
Dialog, exposition, scene and situation, paragraph length.
Character, POV, and enders.
Loaded guns, reversals, the rationing of information, and cliffhangers.
Common plot elements, the story arc, and keeping focus (making sure all the parts of the story are working together).
Refreshing one’s characters, the story map, and worldbuilding.