trompe l'oeil: short commentary and a few questions
I utilize a lot of allusions when I write. Even in my so-called real life writing I do this, and Trompe L’oeil is no exception. Allusions are a quick, often effective way to invoke an image or emotion in a reader’s mind without losing the tone or having to spread explanations over several paragraphs. But, it’s a risk...
As a writer, you’re banking on your audience’s ability to recognize the allusion, and if not, to be able to take it in context and go with it.
Also, while there are times I pour on the exposition, generally, I try to hold back. For example, instead of saying, “Morgan clenched his hand into a fist. He was upset. He didn’t want Reid going into the train alone.” I tend to let the action stand on its own, sticking with just, “Morgan clenched his hand into a fist.”
Both these tendencies have the potential result of confusing the audience, or leaving things unclear. So, given that I'm bound to confuse some readers anyway, I feel I may have confused more than the average with Trompe L’oeil, part 20. Add to that the degenerative perspective I'm writing from and it kinda... maybe... seems a little like it might have trickled into a void of mixed response.
There are a few sections I’ve considered subtly shinning to neater clarification, but I want to get a little feedback from the audience before I assume where the confusion might have been coming from.
And rather than just shove the next chapter at you and risk confusing you even more, consider this the amnesty thread.
If you were confused during the last chapter...
Where were you confused?
Big or small, what points seemed unclear?
Was there anything that just didn’t work for you?
Keep in mind, there are things you are supposed to be confused about. Case in point, I got a private message a while back, around chapter 12 or so, where the person said, “Your writing is a little confusing - did Reid see Gideon or not?” And, well, yeah, you were supposed to be confused about that at the time, so... that may play a factor here. There are elements of Reid's perspective that are meant to be confusing as well... such as whether or not the light is really flickering. There are, however, things you shouldn't be confused about, and I'd like to know if I'm near the mark. Savvy?