The comments about navel-gazing on so many threads started to make me wonder. What does this mean? If I gaze at my navel I expect that I'm bored to death. Hence, a navel -gazing novel is just boring.
Nope. That's not it.
Omphaloskepsis: literally, to gaze at one's navel as an aid to contemplative meditation.
Wikipedia: From the Greek: omphalos (navel) + skepsis (act of looking, examination), it refers to excessive introspection, self-absorption, or concentration on a single issue. the Greek: omphalos (navel) + skepsis (act of looking, examination), excessive introspection, self-absorption, or concentration on a single issue.
Also just plain egotistical.
I guess books that we call-out as written to make the writer feel or look self-important at the expense of the story, or books that cling to a central plot-line without divergence even when the story calls for it, are omphaloskeptic. (Is that a word?).
How do we write literary fiction when the plot necessarily happens beneath the surface, yet remain free of navel-love?
Also, what are our favorite, or not so favorite, navel-gazing books? Anyone?
I'm ducking behind my fire-shield for asking that last question.
Nope. That's not it.
Omphaloskepsis: literally, to gaze at one's navel as an aid to contemplative meditation.
Wikipedia: From the Greek: omphalos (navel) + skepsis (act of looking, examination), it refers to excessive introspection, self-absorption, or concentration on a single issue. the Greek: omphalos (navel) + skepsis (act of looking, examination), excessive introspection, self-absorption, or concentration on a single issue.
Also just plain egotistical.
I guess books that we call-out as written to make the writer feel or look self-important at the expense of the story, or books that cling to a central plot-line without divergence even when the story calls for it, are omphaloskeptic. (Is that a word?).
How do we write literary fiction when the plot necessarily happens beneath the surface, yet remain free of navel-love?
Also, what are our favorite, or not so favorite, navel-gazing books? Anyone?
I'm ducking behind my fire-shield for asking that last question.
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