How to turn off the movie in your mind
On writing books as books and not as films, the magic of the rule of three, red flags that signal immersion-breaking roadblocks in your writing, and the simplicity of a simple period.
Writers who pride themselves on their “cinematic storytelling” often position themselves as observers rather than storytellers. They meticulously describe expressions and gestures while neglecting the rich interiority that makes prose unique.
But novels aren't storyboards waiting for adaptation.
The visual storytelling style has been absorbed so deeply t…