How to Write a Vignette

[Guest Rumpelstiltskin]

How to Write a Vignette

 

Hey, lovelies! I've been getting a few questions regarding vignettes in response to my character vignette challenge, so I thought a guide might be in order.

I. Definitions and Guidelines:

• What is a vignette?
  • Not to be confused with vintage (or anything to do with old people) or vinaigrette (although that did lead to an epic discussion on 'Thyme Lords'), a vignette is meant to capture a single moment (like a snapshot). 
    • Brevity, brevity, brevity!
• How to wield a vignette:
• • A vignette is meant to be concise when dealing with detail, though expected word count varies depending on who you're asking. Some people claim that a vignette should be shorter than 500 words, while others claim that it should shorter than 800 words or even 2,000 words. (So, if you're ever writing a vignette for something or someone, be sure to clarify what their expected wordcount is.
  • Due to its overall brevity, vignettes tend to stray away from the conventional ideas of plot and story arc. Instead, a vignette has purpose in exposing whatever element the writer is meant to convey (character, mood, setting, etc.) 
  • It is meant to bring your readers in that moment (try writing using the senses to help connect readers in further).
    • Vignettes tend to lean on that old 'show, don't tell' policy, where instead of saying "Sirius was cold," you might try, "The icy wind caused the flesh of Sirius' arm to raise as goosebumps formed" or something to that effect. (Disclaimer: examples I come up with on a whim might not be 'good writing'  ).

II. A Bit More Guidance:

• Vignettes usually pack a powerful punch in just a few words (a big picture in a small passage).
• They are the perfect time to experiment with writing techniques and voice.
  • Play with verb tense or mood, or anything else you've been meaning to try.
• Have you ever written or read a short one-shot that was a 'missing moment' from a larger story? That was probably an example of a vignette. Vignettes can also be stand-alone moments that don't tie into a larger piece.
  • Urgency by FireOpal is a good example of a vignette I've recently read as is XOXO by Dojh167 
• Ever seen the movie  Love Actually ? That is an example of multiple vignettes pieced together to tell a story (and it does an excellent job in doing so). (This is an example interwoven series of vignettes.)

***III. Vignettes in Harry Potter:

• If you're still confused by what a vignette is, try to think of it in terms of those individual memories from the Pensieve. Snape's Worst Memory, Karkaroff's Trial, and the Princes Tale all have excellent examples of vignettes (or multiple flashes of vignettes, especially in the Prince's Tale).

So, hopefully, this cleared up any confusion!  Thanks for reading!

[sibilant]

Adding on to this! 

Vignettes are generally described as “impressionistic”, which if you’ve studied art, should seem like a familiar term. One of my English teachers described a vignette as a painting in words, with a focus on a central theme. The main goal is always always always to evoke some sort of emotion or a mood. 

I had to write some vignettes for a class last year, so I have some stylistic tips. There’s not really one POV that works better than another, it sort of depends on your own preference. I prefer third person POV, but it’s up to you. The best vignettes I’ve read have also utilized a good mix of fragments and longer sentences, which can also manipulate the flow of the story—good for establishing mood. Remember, your goal is to create some sort of mood or evoke emotion in the reader. 

Another interesting factor about vignettes is that they’re sort of like memoirs, stylistically, but you don’t really have to have resolved any of the conflicts you’re trying to speak about. Instead, a vignette allows you to use vivid imagery to recreate that conflict—great for character studies  

[Guest Rumpelstiltskin]

I love the stylistic capabilities of vignettes, especially given that they do stray from that typical plot-structure where you are free to present the vignette without the conflict-resolution. It definitely allows for a more freedom for experimentation and strengthens the focus on that one element the writer is trying to utilize/convey/establish. I especially love your input on the mixture of fragments with longer sentences in order to manipulate the story's flow.

[Stella Blue]

22 hours ago, forever_dreaming said:

One of my English teachers described a vignette as a painting in words, with a focus on a central theme. The main goal is always always always to evoke some sort of emotion or a mood. 

Ok, so reading this I just realized that one of my older stories is in fact a vignette and I had no idea  This description you've provided is perfect though - like, it's much more of art than traditional 'writing', if that makes sense, with an immersive focus on one thing. Thanks for the explanations!

[mydearfoxy]

If anyone feels in need of more examples, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros is a novel composed of vignettes. It's lovely and pretty easy to find.