tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post2056523100112375348..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Do or Do Not. There is No Try: Clarifying What Your Characters DoJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22518476305000952942021-07-19T15:26:41.151-04:002021-07-19T15:26:41.151-04:00Hehe. Seemed is a tough one. It's a judgement ...Hehe. Seemed is a tough one. It's a judgement word, so it's very helpful to show POV, but it's also used poorly the same as try. I did a post on that as well, so I'll have to dust that one off, too :) Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6761126428661591392021-07-18T11:02:05.897-04:002021-07-18T11:02:05.897-04:00I try not to have my characters (oh dear! There it...I try not to have my characters (oh dear! There it is again.) try to do things. Dong a search is a good idea.<br />Another vague thing which I find many authors use is ' seemed'. The book I'm reading at the moment has a lot of things that seem to happen.V.M.Sanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02587346074785148671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-15103827241562499232021-07-18T10:55:16.651-04:002021-07-18T10:55:16.651-04:00Sarah, I totally agree. The 'and' implies ...Sarah, I totally agree. The 'and' implies success, in which case, try is not needed.V.M.Sanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02587346074785148671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52297155452785336672012-03-22T16:58:12.347-04:002012-03-22T16:58:12.347-04:00Beth, they're good red flag phrases as well. T...Beth, they're good red flag phrases as well. They often show up in scenes where we're not 100% sure what's going on, and ones that could use a little tweaking.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-11881724438748248362012-03-20T22:59:08.529-04:002012-03-20T22:59:08.529-04:00I love seeing this issue addressed. Yes, tried to ...I love seeing this issue addressed. Yes, <i>tried to</i> sneaks into a lot of manuscripts. I'm with you--when the character succeeds, the phrasing is almost always stronger without <i>tried.</i> If <i>try</i> is a legitimate action for your characters, write <i>try to</i> rather than <i>try and.</i> <br /><br />Phrases that need work---He wanted to try and swim the ocean; she said he'd better try and find a more expensive ring; I knew I had to try and race home before the storm.<br /><br />This is a great tip for writers. Thanks for sharing it.Bethhttp://theeditorsblog.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-17100296150325646642012-03-16T13:31:57.684-04:002012-03-16T13:31:57.684-04:00This is interesting. I've never thought about ...This is interesting. I've never thought about this.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09962862566388212238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-50433530941971076172012-03-13T08:07:16.017-04:002012-03-13T08:07:16.017-04:00Pete, thanks! It's on mine now, too.
Taurean,...Pete, thanks! It's on mine now, too.<br /><br />Taurean, no worries. I was speaking purely from the usage in a novel standpoint, not a judgement call :)<br /><br />JT Webster, they sneak in there, don't they? And thanks!<br /><br />Traci, it's a good one to put on those "things to double check" lists.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-74840187420144624152012-03-13T07:20:49.808-04:002012-03-13T07:20:49.808-04:00I've used it more often than not, so, yeah, ha...I've used it more often than not, so, yeah, have to watch this one. Usually catch in edit stage.Traci Kenworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336373871521363649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-56332687777983781632012-03-13T02:07:07.804-04:002012-03-13T02:07:07.804-04:00Mmmm .... I didn't think I had a problem with ...Mmmm .... I didn't think I had a problem with this, until I did a word search on my latest WIP! <br />Thanks for your wonderful posts, Janice. They are always so relevant and you have such a knack for explaining things. :)J.T. Websterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18042422842347246547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-63172198800635019052012-03-12T22:18:32.148-04:002012-03-12T22:18:32.148-04:00Okay, that's what I thought. Sorry I got carri...Okay, that's what I thought. Sorry I got carried away. That phrase is one of my "Hulk Triggers" so I sometimes forget myself whenever I read it.Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-46413588481257297912012-03-12T15:54:32.129-04:002012-03-12T15:54:32.129-04:00Great post. I'll add that to my first draft re...Great post. I'll add that to my first draft revision checklistPete Abelahttp://blog.peteabela.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-65593322002496879962012-03-12T14:22:32.619-04:002012-03-12T14:22:32.619-04:00Natalie, hehe, sounds good!
Charmaine, I found a ...Natalie, hehe, sounds good!<br /><br />Charmaine, I found a few myself. It's probably not a huge issue for most people, but they do slip in there.<br /><br />Rebecca, can always do a search and see if you use it or not. :)<br /><br />Susan, ooo good group. I catch myself doing it in first drafts all the time. It just rolls off the fingers.<br /><br />SA Larsen, most welcome! It never hurts to brush up on what we "know" we know. <br /><br />Lin, add it to the first draft checklist :)<br /><br />Sarah, glad you mentioned that! That's one to watch out for for sure.<br /><br />Chicory, so many little snags are :)<br /><br />Taurean, I never said it was absolute, just that it's a word that often doesn't say what we want it to say. If you're trying to get published, that shows a struggle/pursuit, and is perfectly valid use of it. But if you use tried to when it's clear they either did or didn't, it can cut to tighten the prose.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25720191449437287872012-03-12T14:08:25.565-04:002012-03-12T14:08:25.565-04:00Okay, I'm really not a Star Wars hater, but le...Okay, I'm really not a Star Wars hater, but let's just say Yoda and I don't have the best history in the philosophy department...That line in particular certainly doesn't help.<br /><br />Seriously though, I do have problems with this regard.<br /><br />On the one hand, while there some things we do that are either done or not done, like walking the dog, or making the bed, or writing your WIP opposed to a new blog entry, etc.<br /><br />There are still some things I haven't concretely done, but doesn't mean I'm putting it off, for example-<br /><br />I haven't hooked agents with my last novel. That doesn't mean all the sleepless nights and tear-filled food binges crafting better query letters was wasted. <br /><br />I did something besides feel sorry for myself. But I did SOMETHING that will help me in the long run, right?<br /><br />So yeah, as a writer trying to break into publishing, I struggle with this logic, but I'd like to think I'm not a walking contradiction, because I'm making the effort, even if I can yet say I have an agent, or I published a book, or that I can edit or rewrite a book in less than a year.<br /><br />I'm still WORKING towards those things. In my opinion that's better than just submitting to doubt which I'm guilty of sometimes.<br /><br />If I'm reading this wrong, I apologize, but as I said, Yoda and I have a touchy history.Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-5175356989048780612012-03-12T13:57:15.381-04:002012-03-12T13:57:15.381-04:00This is a sneaky one.This is a sneaky one.Chicoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16504144663440678542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-85067542525390578752012-03-12T13:28:32.747-04:002012-03-12T13:28:32.747-04:00I will love you forever for using "try to&quo...I will love you forever for using "try to" instead of the infuriating and incorrect "try and" which I see everywhere.sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03818420999930644450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-74439604577753564242012-03-12T12:03:12.764-04:002012-03-12T12:03:12.764-04:00I'm so guilty of this.I'm so guilty of this.LinWashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13041832821260168483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20184394584203667552012-03-12T09:54:12.120-04:002012-03-12T09:54:12.120-04:00The questions you've given for any writer to a...The questions you've given for any writer to ask him/herself seems obvious, but often forgotten. Thank you for listing them!S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-46244122551141818072012-03-12T08:59:50.871-04:002012-03-12T08:59:50.871-04:00This is something that sneaks through in my first ...This is something that sneaks through in my first draft from time to time, but before letting my writer's group "have at it," I get rid of every instance because they'll nail me for sure! (I love my writer's group.)Susan Rosson Spainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17575604915416547970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26377977911811789832012-03-12T07:44:08.401-04:002012-03-12T07:44:08.401-04:00I'm not sure I use tried much, but now it'...I'm not sure I use tried much, but now it's been brought to my attention, I will definitely "try" not too, or at least consider it a lot more.Rebecca Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10194524230109997420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42786526389405683332012-03-12T07:36:39.305-04:002012-03-12T07:36:39.305-04:00I didn't think I used tried much, but now I...I didn't think I used tried much, but now I'm trying to remember... and failing! I'll have to watch for this - excellent advice!<br /><a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com.au" rel="nofollow">WaggingTales</a>Charmaine Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-87189359343336335132012-03-12T07:24:53.529-04:002012-03-12T07:24:53.529-04:00I don't use tried that much. I do have my char...I don't use tried that much. I do have my characters try and fail. I think they have to. But I try (ha!) to show it, not tell it. I'll have to watch out for unclear trying of my characters though.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com