Friday 10 June 2011

Plotting with Polonius

In Hamlet, Polonius suggests tso his son Laertes that he should, "by indirection find direction out." In other words, it can be helpful to take a lateral approach to something, that by going the long way round you will eventually arrive at the heart of the matter. It's advice you could well apply to creative writing, as it can be a  helpful device when you are structuring your plot.

Think about the possibilities of your hero laying a false trail, either to ensnare another character, which will provide delicious opportunities for dramatic irony (where the reader knows more than the characters they are reading about) or, indeed, to trip up the reader themselves.

A little red herring for the weekend, perhaps...

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