Understanding Why Writers Write

Understanding Why Writers WriteWhat is literary analysis? It is the study of the artistic structure of a novel, but it can also be considered the study of how one character's motives, emotions, and fears relate to the actions of the rest of the characters.For example, in a literary analysis of The Glass Key by Richard Price, the psychological motivation of Clary Fray to locate her missing brother is met by a love interest (Colin Farrell), a father (Rory Kinnear), a mysterious and hidden past (Archie Shafe), a loveless home life (Abby Winger), and a hidden past with a mysterious secret (Dylan McDermott). What emerges is a complex mystery that shows that there are truths within secrets. By combining plot, characterization, and psychological analysis, authors can reveal characters' motivations, dreams, fears, and deeper emotions in The Glass Key.Novels written for the stage or screen can also benefit from literary analysis. Of course, directors do not always choose to include this in th eir scripts, and in some cases writers feel this becomes superfluous to the storytelling and stylistic intentions of the author. But by using literary analysis as a tool, many authors have revealed their influences to a more analytical audience.Novels often reflect the times in which they were written; for example, George Eliot wrote fiction set in the Victorian era because that was the time in which she lived. In creating a story set in the present, the writer can rely on some of the same techniques to produce a richer narrative. Literary analysis suggests that George Eliot's work illustrates how the emotions of today can inform the characters of the past. Likewise, a playwright will create a play based on a script; but by using an analysis tool, a playwright can discover which character has more focus, makes decisions differently, or grows emotionally from the script.The analysis may not reveal what motivates every character in a novel, but a great writer will use it to its fulles t potential to determine the tone of a piece. An analysis tool may provide a series of literary connections that create a more structured story.With a new reading, writers and editors may have a greater appreciation for how an author wants to be perceived by others. Writers and literary analysis should not be thought of as separate fields; the two are related and often complement each other. Through literary analysis, writers can examine the structure of a story and determine if a reader should focus on a specific scene or the entire novel, or a combination of the two.Many writers today are discovering how much of a challenge it is to read and edit a novel for publication. Authors should seek out an analytical tool that can help them see where their characters are falling short, and help them focus their writing on those aspects.Writer's, theater critics, and book reviewers should all consider literary analysis when they begin to read novels for publication. Sometimes just understan ding where an author falls short can help improve their writing or the quality of their play.