Name of SE Hinton’s Writerly Technique: Using Sensory Details to Create an Image in the Reader’s Mind that Makes the Reader Forget About Negative Events that Happened in the Past
Explanation of Technique: The technique comes into play when the writer adds sensory details to his/her writing so that the reader can experience the same moment in their mind that the character is experiencing too. This moment is used to help the reader forget about the bad events that happened in the past.
What make this Technique so Genius: This technique brings the reader away from all of the bad thoughts or moments in the book that the characters are experiencing, so that the reader can focus on the image that the author is trying to present to the audience in an creative and whimsical way.
How can we Borrow SE Hinton’s Writerly Technique:
1. Have an impactful event happen that makes the character (and reader) feel sad or unhappy about what had just happened.
2. Have the character alone (or with another supporting character, or two) and have him/her (they) in a quiet, uninterrupted place where they can have the outstanding image
3. Then have a very special scene or memory come into the picture for the character to see or remember.
4. Have the character think or see that memory or moment for a long amount of time- enough to bring the reader away from the bad thoughts or moments that happened earlier on in the book.
Quote: “One morning I woke up earlier than usual. Johnny and I slept huddled together for warmth-Dally had been right when he said it would get cold where we were going. Being careful not to wake Johnny up, I went to sit on the steps and smoke a cigarette. The dawn was coming then. All the lower valley was covered with mist, and sometimes little pieces of it broke off and floated away in small clouds. The sky was lighter in the east, and the horizon was a thin golden line. The clouds changed from gray to pink, and the mist was touched with gold. There was a silent moment when everything held its breath, and the sun rose. It was beautiful” (76-77).
Explanation of Technique: The technique comes into play when the writer adds sensory details to his/her writing so that the reader can experience the same moment in their mind that the character is experiencing too. This moment is used to help the reader forget about the bad events that happened in the past.
What make this Technique so Genius: This technique brings the reader away from all of the bad thoughts or moments in the book that the characters are experiencing, so that the reader can focus on the image that the author is trying to present to the audience in an creative and whimsical way.
How can we Borrow SE Hinton’s Writerly Technique:
1. Have an impactful event happen that makes the character (and reader) feel sad or unhappy about what had just happened.
2. Have the character alone (or with another supporting character, or two) and have him/her (they) in a quiet, uninterrupted place where they can have the outstanding image
3. Then have a very special scene or memory come into the picture for the character to see or remember.
4. Have the character think or see that memory or moment for a long amount of time- enough to bring the reader away from the bad thoughts or moments that happened earlier on in the book.
Quote: “One morning I woke up earlier than usual. Johnny and I slept huddled together for warmth-Dally had been right when he said it would get cold where we were going. Being careful not to wake Johnny up, I went to sit on the steps and smoke a cigarette. The dawn was coming then. All the lower valley was covered with mist, and sometimes little pieces of it broke off and floated away in small clouds. The sky was lighter in the east, and the horizon was a thin golden line. The clouds changed from gray to pink, and the mist was touched with gold. There was a silent moment when everything held its breath, and the sun rose. It was beautiful” (76-77).