tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post1663750563701049390..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: How Do You Know When to Use What?Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-55502497042858227422010-06-09T06:41:07.843-04:002010-06-09T06:41:07.843-04:00Kudos, Mick. It's not always easy to rip apart...Kudos, Mick. It's not always easy to rip apart a draft like that. I'm doing a bit of that now with Shifter 3, and I always get excited when I see the story tightening and getting better as I rip.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78222653841854292332010-06-08T16:56:38.021-04:002010-06-08T16:56:38.021-04:00When I started my novel-in-progress, I rewrote my ...When I started my novel-in-progress, I rewrote my two 'trigger' scenes (the ones that spawned the story for me) in multiple ways, varying the tense and POV until something felt right. But I had to study scene A and scene B and start figuring out what my story was before anything did. The POVs actually worked better inverse to what I'd expected.<br /><br />I figure that no matter how many hints you leave, some readers will still be surprised at the big reveal, so why not fret over what it's 'supposed' to be?<br /><br />I love Ms. Pike's answer!Carradeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431561739001270522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39468471099509134992010-06-07T02:54:46.122-04:002010-06-07T02:54:46.122-04:00You're 100% on the ball with this post. The st...You're 100% on the ball with this post. The story ultimately dictates what makes it to the final draft. I'm editing my debut novel now. Over the past six months, I've deleted entire characters, changed character genders, used parts from deleted characters in other characters, changed the beginning, changed the ending, changed the working title twice, word count went from 110,000 - 80,000. Moved three chapters from the middle to the second book of the series etc.Micknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-79243235152830996772010-06-05T07:43:13.810-04:002010-06-05T07:43:13.810-04:00Juliette makes a good point, in that it isn't ...Juliette makes a good point, in that it isn't always an "either or" situation. Both are valid tools in the writer's toolbox and if using both makes the story better, use both. That would make a good post actually!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-58855114925316869132010-06-05T01:17:35.507-04:002010-06-05T01:17:35.507-04:00Excellent post. I think a lot of is instinct. And ...Excellent post. I think a lot of is instinct. And if you don't have that instinct, by the end, after some hard work, it becomes instinct. <br /><br />But sometimes I think we need someone to give us that extra push, sometimes we're too close to the story to be objective enough to make the hard decisions. <br /><br />I do, however, agree wholeheartedly with your statement about how it's the story that matters.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-69760653988219430362010-06-04T17:29:57.318-04:002010-06-04T17:29:57.318-04:00Not an easy choice at all. I'm kind of using b...Not an easy choice at all. I'm kind of using both in my primary WIP. Some stuff is dramatic irony, but I'm still holding back a few hinted at secrets to have something to surprise the reader with at the end. With some luck and a whole lot of effort, I'll manage to pull it off successfully.Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04942272578488986874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-19195896407439479652010-06-04T12:43:52.629-04:002010-06-04T12:43:52.629-04:00I’m all for leaving clues of some kind. But leavin...I’m all for leaving clues of some kind. But leaving the clues is tough because you don’t want them into your face or too subtle that no one will ever know it was a clue to begin with. Then there is the question of how many clues do you leave.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81554144263091455422010-06-04T12:30:21.406-04:002010-06-04T12:30:21.406-04:00Thank you!Thank you!Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05189670000302710966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47738919482624534672010-06-04T11:01:04.787-04:002010-06-04T11:01:04.787-04:00This is probably the hardest thing, isn't it? ...This is probably the hardest thing, isn't it? Sometimes it just feels like we have to stumble around for a while until we find the right answers. By the way, I absolutely loved your posts on plot!Anna Staniszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316883819771607655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68932953833722697242010-06-04T10:16:06.105-04:002010-06-04T10:16:06.105-04:00I like to exploit both irony and surprise, usually...I like to exploit both irony and surprise, usually by having each character have a very clear, yet conflicting idea of what the answer is to some critical question. That way I can drop more hints about the real answer to the question, while keeping readers be distracted over the questions of "which character is right?" and "how will his/her convictions mess everyone up?" Usually, though, it will turn out that none of the characters knew the real answer.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52502704759372133582010-06-04T10:01:03.325-04:002010-06-04T10:01:03.325-04:00Eventually, (you hope) it becomes 'organic'...Eventually, (you hope) it becomes 'organic' so your gut knows what's right, or what works best. But you often have to try it several ways before you can decide.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47797726454318458292010-06-04T09:15:00.327-04:002010-06-04T09:15:00.327-04:00My CPs are awesome, so I count on them to let me k...My CPs are awesome, so I count on them to let me know is something isn't working. But yes, I'd love to have an editor with a purple pencil to guide me. :)kahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10789825860272178765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-65231586053827037942010-06-04T08:29:23.969-04:002010-06-04T08:29:23.969-04:00Great post. And sometimes I think it's just in...Great post. And sometimes I think it's just instinct. Have a great weekend.Buffy Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07033283884801658206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-50710742832729136142010-06-04T08:13:58.759-04:002010-06-04T08:13:58.759-04:00I loved Aprilynne's answer to the question. :D...I loved Aprilynne's answer to the question. :D<br /><br />Great post!Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-63455461239079044652010-06-04T07:45:22.302-04:002010-06-04T07:45:22.302-04:00Yes, you will indeed know what works best for your...Yes, you will indeed know what works best for your story. Try writing it one way first, then try writing it another way. Often the version that was easier or more fun to write is the one that works best & the one you should go with...Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152599507268946811noreply@blogger.com