tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post2673833675044002886..comments2024-03-17T06:03:00.362-04:00Comments on Fiction University: The Power of Small Problems: Elevate Your Plot with Little ConflictsJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31311864988300714122023-05-23T08:37:42.823-04:002023-05-23T08:37:42.823-04:00Thanks! I like to start with looking at the inhere...Thanks! I like to start with looking at the inherent conflict in the world/setting and pull from there. There's usually a lot of areas where things are just harder or difficult there.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-23348163186147321932023-05-08T11:05:44.789-04:002023-05-08T11:05:44.789-04:00What a great post. I don't think I have any mi...What a great post. I don't think I have any minor problems in my current WIP. I must think of some for him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26257695095284948792015-07-01T21:38:27.454-04:002015-07-01T21:38:27.454-04:00Nice! I'm revising a novel to add more conflic...Nice! I'm revising a novel to add more conflict now, and this was an excellent source of tips on how to do this.Cathleen Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03488714093444030351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6968693699502730232012-03-14T16:57:16.947-04:002012-03-14T16:57:16.947-04:00Today is definitely my lucky day. I have come upo...Today is definitely my lucky day. I have come upon some of the best best best posts today. This is among them. ANother one that I will be printing and keeping in a file for future reference. Thanks a ton.<br />Now...off to add in a sinus infection and aching teeth!Khaalidahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00148190341832128084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-79843172449549429092012-03-03T15:01:21.244-05:002012-03-03T15:01:21.244-05:00Janice...
Thank you for agreeing to speak with me...Janice...<br /><br />Thank you for agreeing to speak with me. For some reason my computer is not working well with the outlook program. Can you email me and I'll email you back?<br /><br />marti<br />martiink2009@gmail.commarti parhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16619874032864736750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-28643828738639858332012-03-02T19:02:43.875-05:002012-03-02T19:02:43.875-05:00hmm... lots of things seem to go up in flame...hmm... lots of things seem to go up in flame...capnghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02205668674939201493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-19433832363959083812012-03-02T10:39:41.800-05:002012-03-02T10:39:41.800-05:00Sure Marti. I'm no expert or anything, but fee...Sure Marti. I'm no expert or anything, but feel free.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66319306297630010172012-03-02T10:26:41.989-05:002012-03-02T10:26:41.989-05:00Great post once again Janice. Gonna file this one ...Great post once again Janice. Gonna file this one away. On a different/more personal note I would like to ask you a few questions about your migraines. Can I email you?marti parhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16619874032864736750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-74611030121488362492012-03-02T07:52:18.169-05:002012-03-02T07:52:18.169-05:00This is a great post. Thanks for the food for tho...This is a great post. Thanks for the food for thought. :)Lisa Shaferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08141316010311729143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-12674499903894205912012-03-02T07:33:54.103-05:002012-03-02T07:33:54.103-05:00CO, no worries :) Maybe after this you'll find...CO, no worries :) Maybe after this you'll find some to make your novel even better.<br /><br />Chris, sounds good to me. That's a lot to handle, which is bound to make the core conflict even tougher. <br /><br />Janice, interesting, thanks. I'll have to pay attention on my next one and see what I ate right before. Caffeine is one of my triggers for sure. And the quality of light for some reason. Love the corn dog comment :) <br /><br />Elizabeth D, if I lose a day I just pick back up the next day. I used to try to double up, but found that just made it harder. Too much pressure to get it all done, then I'd get less done than usual. I use weekly goals, because they're more flexible. I aim for three chapters a week (about 7500 words for me), over the five-day work week (Saturdays are for the blog, Sundays I take off). There's no average time to write anything really, just your time. Some folks can write 100K in a month, others take two years. So whatever your process is is your process, and don't worry about what others do. (it just makes you feel like you're failing when you're really not) <br /><br />It can be stressful to keep up with it all :) But when it gets crazy, I just prioritize. For example, I had a conference this past weekend, so I didn't get my blog posts for the week done. So I just ran older posts and updated them for this week. It's stuff new readers haven't seen, and I don't get behind trying to play catch up.<br /><br />I also try VERY hard (and I learned this the hard way) to set a doable schedule that doesn't overwhelm me, and then stick with it. For three years I tried to hard to do too much and me and my work suffered for it. It's important to find a way to fit writing into your life so you still have a life to enjoy. If it's ALL about the writing ALL the time you get burned out too fast.<br /><br />Traci, exactly. And I love when that tiny problem turns out to be the lynchpin to disaster. <br /><br />Lauren, they are indeed. A lot of plotting is about thinking outside the box. We often focus on getting from A to Z, but there are all kinds of places we can veer off to.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-60249168881623376672012-03-01T16:26:08.693-05:002012-03-01T16:26:08.693-05:00Nice! Really cool idea there. I can't help thi...Nice! Really cool idea there. I can't help thinking these are also really good ways to spice up a dull scene, or throw a twist into a plot you're having trouble with.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11304333283822231479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-8901214386414195162012-03-01T16:19:58.291-05:002012-03-01T16:19:58.291-05:00Small problems lead to big catastrophes but you...Small problems lead to big catastrophes but you're right a problem for problem's sake just doesn't fit the belt.Traci Kenworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336373871521363649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-69408346366657927192012-03-01T16:13:25.484-05:002012-03-01T16:13:25.484-05:00A little off subject but I know how debilitating m...A little off subject but I know how debilitating migraines can be; I have a friend who suffers from them. It makes me wonder how you keep up, Janice. If you lose a day of writing do you double it the next? Do you have a daily word count to stick to? How long should the average middle grade/YA book take to write? I suppose you get better at portioning out research,writing and editing chunks. I'd be interested in how you keep up with all your obligations and deadlines. Or is it just too stressful to think about?!Elizabeth Dunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-975596807491998252012-03-01T13:47:45.437-05:002012-03-01T13:47:45.437-05:00My protag sprained her ankle. It's hard to sn...My protag sprained her ankle. It's hard to sneak around with crutches.<br /><br />My boys suffered from migraines until their doctor suggested I cut nitrates from their diets. It worked. Nitrates are found in processed meats like lunch meats and hot dogs. My oldest son thinks the loss of corn dogs in his life is a bigger problem than migraines. It's all about perspective.Janice Sperryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00178805752960449557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-71838377837913024652012-03-01T10:43:13.231-05:002012-03-01T10:43:13.231-05:00My protag has small problems like doing repairs on...My protag has small problems like doing repairs on his father's farm, trying to find a renter for their farmland, making time for his job while he now must commute an hour+ each way, take care of his father's dog, and go to a neighbors funeral only hours after his father's barn burned dow. <br /><br />How'm I doin'? :-)<br /><br />ChrisChiTraderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08156118145545539641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-53314304742902458312012-03-01T07:45:09.572-05:002012-03-01T07:45:09.572-05:00Ooo! Small problems! Too bad I don't really ha...Ooo! Small problems! Too bad I don't really have any examples.chihuahuazerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677672177353350936noreply@blogger.com