tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post3285134593730053283..comments2024-03-17T06:03:00.362-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Give it a Rest – Poetic Pauses in Your Writing Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-65890162095517304272013-12-03T11:20:33.376-05:002013-12-03T11:20:33.376-05:00Thanks for your thoughts, Carol! So many correspo...Thanks for your thoughts, Carol! So many corresponding dynamics between writing/visual art/music/etc. - yes to violet next to yellow! :0)<br />Robyn Hood Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07279289715664168026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-33856071464863761842013-11-16T14:21:56.238-05:002013-11-16T14:21:56.238-05:00Great points! I love the space, the rest idea. Som...Great points! I love the space, the rest idea. Sometimes it can even make the thrillery parts more exciting, by contrast--like placing black next to white in a painting or violet next to yellow. :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-57766341629159657362013-11-11T14:41:49.596-05:002013-11-11T14:41:49.596-05:00Michael, many thanks! Michael, many thanks! Robyn Hood Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07279289715664168026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-74049574014622156342013-11-10T14:03:56.099-05:002013-11-10T14:03:56.099-05:00Just wanted to say I love this post.
Just wanted to say I love this post. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00781198091230913109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31272328312776428012013-11-08T12:03:47.434-05:002013-11-08T12:03:47.434-05:00Me, too, Julie - thanks for sharing your thoughts!...Me, too, Julie - thanks for sharing your thoughts!Robyn Hood Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07279289715664168026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-77424641632876952442013-11-08T11:55:44.282-05:002013-11-08T11:55:44.282-05:00I actually appreciate white space, or rest, even w...I actually appreciate white space, or rest, even when reading an action-packed book. Right now I'm reading the final book of WOOL. So much action, so much danger. I like it when I'm pulled into the character's thoughts about such things as wiring a radio, and reflection about how they got there in the first place.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16707503245609486982013-11-07T11:51:31.488-05:002013-11-07T11:51:31.488-05:00Thank you, Iza! That anticipation is certainly an...Thank you, Iza! That anticipation is certainly an important point, keeping a story moving forward even while the reader gets to "rest" for a second.Robyn Hood Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07279289715664168026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-71907809248874933662013-11-06T19:53:50.703-05:002013-11-06T19:53:50.703-05:00Great advice, Robyn! Writing has much in common wi...Great advice, Robyn! Writing has much in common with music and visual art. A well placed rest can be very effective- giving the reader a bit of breathing room and also some anticipation of what's to come. izahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636521729428353612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-19770989474378064932013-11-06T17:21:32.873-05:002013-11-06T17:21:32.873-05:00Many thanks, Harry. Happy writing!Many thanks, Harry. Happy writing!Robyn Hood Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07279289715664168026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-8281171189481595172013-11-06T14:51:13.595-05:002013-11-06T14:51:13.595-05:00Very nice, thank you for the contribution.Very nice, thank you for the contribution.Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47036226382152886322013-11-06T11:47:12.704-05:002013-11-06T11:47:12.704-05:00Hi, Alicia -
That sounds like a fascinating and f...Hi, Alicia - <br />That sounds like a fascinating and fresh project. Thanks for sharing your very thoughtful comments on the different kinds of space - which we can certainly employ as tools! Best wishes for your novel.Robyn Hood Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07279289715664168026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-76215257132454440412013-11-06T11:30:57.791-05:002013-11-06T11:30:57.791-05:00You made me think. You are talking about space in ...You made me think. You are talking about space in space (physical space) - but there is also space in time (the space of change). You put space in the main narrative when you take a sidetrack for a little bit (backstory), or switch scenes and pov characters.<br /><br />I also like to include different kinds of writing in the same book. In the novel-in-progress, Pride's Children, this comes in the form of epigraphs in the beginnings of chapters. The format varies: from a faux New Yorker article, to poetry, to quotations from the Bible, to samples of one of the character's writing. They are not decoration or commentary on the main story; these differently-written pieces are part of the story - often, if you skip them, you will miss something important.<br /><br />But they are a space, a break in the main narrative, a hole in story time.<br /><br />I also find them incredibly soothing to write - and have had people ask 'Where did you get that quote?' when the answer is 'I made it up - it just looks like a real one in there with the ones that are actual quotes.'<br /><br />AliciaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47479449131495161942013-11-06T09:20:29.739-05:002013-11-06T09:20:29.739-05:00Hj, Rachel6 - Absolutely, "space" is oft...Hj, Rachel6 - Absolutely, "space" is often a key player in many kinds of poems - whether concrete ones or more subtly, as you suggest, with the play of line (and word) length. And waiting can certainly be full of tension - here's hoping you have calm breezes only today. Thanks for chiming in!<br /><br />Dori, thanks! Now if I can just get the pacing of my days right... ;0)Robyn Hood Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07279289715664168026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-8222714594831107982013-11-06T08:26:29.792-05:002013-11-06T08:26:29.792-05:00A great point that's often overlooked, Robyn. ...A great point that's often overlooked, Robyn. Definitely something to keep in mind when trying to get the pacing right.Dori K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09532377519276859604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64376192643491554842013-11-06T08:05:04.314-05:002013-11-06T08:05:04.314-05:00Spaces can also be excellent in blank verse poetry...Spaces can also be excellent in blank verse poetry, whether you form the words into an outline of an object or creature or whether you use the short lines to emphasize a phrase against longer lines. <br /> <br />Sometimes a pause can be scarier than outright action. Witness waiting for a windstorm!Rachel6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15138745237488029817noreply@blogger.com