Sightseeing is no fun if
you can’t see anything because of the darkness or the dust in your eyes.
A significant part of our
time in South Africa was spent on safari riding in an open-air Land Rover (the
first photo) while bouncing along dirt tracks (the second photo). That was fine during the morning game drives
but became a problem for me during the evening ones.
I almost always wear
sunglasses while outside. They aren’t just for the sun, though. I wear
contacts, and the sunglasses keep the dust out of my eyes. As anyone who wears
contacts knows, getting grit under a lens is not only uncomfortable but can
also result in losing the contact.
When the sun went down during
the evening game drives, I couldn’t see the animals (or much of anything else)
through my dark lenses. Eventually I learned my lesson and took out my contacts
when it got too dark, but it took at least one evening game drive before I
realized I needed to take my prescription glasses along.
So when I got home, I
ordered a pair of Transitions sunglasses. Hopefully I’ll have better luck
seeing the next time it’s both dark and windy out.
My sunglass issues remind
me of those authors who use double meanings or try to bury literary,
historical, or other lesser-known references in their work. (Yes, I know the
analogy is a stretch.) But unless you are aiming for a highly-educated audience,
allusions that some readers will miss can work if—and only if—the surface story
is interesting without them. If my enjoyment depends on specialized knowledge
or Mensa-level thinking, I won’t read that author again.
If you want to infuse
your manuscripts with allusions that show how smart you are, make sure the
story works on an everyday level as well.
Because reading is no fun
if you can’t see the road ahead.
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