tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post8589947798801014950..comments2024-01-02T06:39:28.476-06:00Comments on erica and christy-two moms. two teachers. two writers. one blog.: Twofer Tuesday: PLOT and thickening it up with action while thinning out the crapolaerica and christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-25825803809970201362011-02-23T15:27:03.559-06:002011-02-23T15:27:03.559-06:00Sigh... I have such a hard time with dialog. (Well...Sigh... I have such a hard time with dialog. (Well, everything else, too, but one moan at a time.) I write a lot of it because I need practise, and I try to make it sound like real-life conversation (which means they can't sound like me, because I'm a weirdo), and then I have to cut 3/4ths of it out because one doesn't write everything down that one would say in actual life. <br /><br />All that to say, Good luck!Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862479925124552922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-26515675265442124722011-02-23T08:02:57.465-06:002011-02-23T08:02:57.465-06:00I just spewed milk over my computer screen after r...I just spewed milk over my computer screen after reading Matt's comment. ;)<br /><br />Can't wait to read your post on the dialogue and narrative dilemma (hint hint). I'm stuck on that, too. :PStinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-89978034423144815602011-02-22T20:22:29.951-06:002011-02-22T20:22:29.951-06:00I love this line: Story is, but plot does - That&#...I love this line: Story is, but plot does - That's awesome!!!<br /><br />I tend to write from the pov of 2 characters (male & female leads - everything I write has some romance in it!) so the chapters happen when I change pov. The female chapters tend to be longer ... hmmm :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-29728119555659483382011-02-22T18:03:33.909-06:002011-02-22T18:03:33.909-06:0070K! No wonder you've got holes. Help me out h...70K! No wonder you've got holes. Help me out here. Isn't there a chance that would change the whole plot?<br />I try to stop a chapter in a way that won't stop the reader.<br />Very good post.Mary@GigglesandGunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350818228268801008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-26230983893693849972011-02-22T15:11:24.728-06:002011-02-22T15:11:24.728-06:00Did you seriously cut 70K from your draft?Did you seriously cut 70K from your draft?Alicia Gregoirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06660125614529633284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-50191569606353972212011-02-22T15:00:26.579-06:002011-02-22T15:00:26.579-06:00Hi Christy. I'm enjoying your writerly posts (...Hi Christy. I'm enjoying your writerly posts (just caught up on a couple of weeks!). You've certainly cut your WIP drastically! There's no easy edit is there? Good luck with that! I need to get to it more.<br /><br />Last Pub Party this week. Hope you can pay a visit. New post up later today.<br /><br />Denise:)Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-74440241637757348552011-02-22T11:45:19.420-06:002011-02-22T11:45:19.420-06:00Chapter endings is something I'm working hard ...Chapter endings is something I'm working hard on right now because I know I need to improve there. I'm trying to make the end of the chapter leave a question, leave the reader wanting to know something.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-53099097743633356612011-02-22T11:05:20.853-06:002011-02-22T11:05:20.853-06:00I'm with Matt - what plot, what action? I writ...I'm with Matt - what plot, what action? I write contemporary romance, darn it, it's about the characters... *sigh*<br /><br />Yeah, I started noticing all my chapters ended with my mc going to bed and reflecting on how great her life was turning out to be...gah!! Now I do have a few cliffhangers and such to try to get you to turn the page, but they definitely aren't the same length - as short as 5 pages and as long as 17 or so. <br />ericaerica and christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-5136942702389966402011-02-22T10:08:55.394-06:002011-02-22T10:08:55.394-06:00Excellent post, Christy.
First, let me congratula...Excellent post, Christy.<br /><br />First, let me congratulate on the wonderful and insightful job you are doing on your editing....<br /><br />You've made some very valid point on plot, and I made MANY of the same mistakes you did on your novel with my first novel.<br /><br />As for chapter endings, I try to leave with some sort of cliff hanger, but you can't always do that. In my opinion, if the majority of endings are cliff you're good. An occasional tied-up-in-a-bow chapter can be fine. You have to put the book down sometime. Right?<br /><br />My chapter lengths vary, but usually between two or three pages of each other. I might have one longer one here and there if there's lots of action.<br /><br />I hope this is helpful. Good luck on the rest of your edit.<br /><br />MichaelMichael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-89229831700936871012011-02-22T09:05:04.471-06:002011-02-22T09:05:04.471-06:00Ooo...I really needed this post. I drowning in plo...Ooo...I really needed this post. I drowning in plot worries with my WIP at the moment. Thank you for all the excellent advice!Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-39507686975942171632011-02-22T08:34:16.081-06:002011-02-22T08:34:16.081-06:00Oh, plot. Sigh. Well, I can comment about chapte...Oh, plot. Sigh. Well, I can comment about chapter endings - I always try to end with a little bit of a cliffhanger, something to make a reader want to turn the page.<br /><br />Good luck working through your plot!Vicki Tremperhttp://www.vbtremper.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-58602337689307615912011-02-22T07:05:30.614-06:002011-02-22T07:05:30.614-06:00Wait. You're saying something has to actually ...Wait. You're saying something has to actually happen in my novel? Crap. I'm screwed.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804696485095159380.post-32977798348183461712011-02-22T05:24:03.993-06:002011-02-22T05:24:03.993-06:00Oooh you've been thinking about a lot.
I lov...Oooh you've been thinking about a lot. <br /><br />I love dialogue. It tends to sneak into my story without me thinking about it. Still... I find that dialogue pops up to:<br />1) give a show of character<br />2) drop in bits of information that would take pages and pages of backstory narration otherwise. This has to be done carefully though. <br /><br />Quirks-wise, my entire characters clash with each other, leading to huge issues later on. ^_^<br /><br />I write my chapters like that too. In fact, I write by scene. Some scenes will take up entire chapters. Others won't. But right now, I'm more worried about getting the story down. <br /><br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.com