tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post6244164932287577382..comments2024-03-17T06:03:00.362-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Under Development: Writing That First NovelJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-70232851694099248252020-04-06T11:28:40.959-04:002020-04-06T11:28:40.959-04:00Ooo subtle, I like that. Ooo subtle, I like that. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-34872286660307418602020-04-05T09:47:55.613-04:002020-04-05T09:47:55.613-04:00Long-winded speakers sometimes actually seem to sp...Long-winded speakers sometimes actually seem to speak in semicolons. It might be a way of indicating that someone is a long-winded bore.Hendrik Boomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664840145177541236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-18305311813709103772016-03-04T08:58:07.394-05:002016-03-04T08:58:07.394-05:00I leave lots of (add detail) or (research) in my f...I leave lots of (add detail) or (research) in my first drafts. Good tip!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-32064817914104505742016-03-04T08:56:53.447-05:002016-03-04T08:56:53.447-05:00Glad it's been helpful.
You might find some g...Glad it's been helpful.<br /><br />You might find some good English-speaking beta readers to help you there. Then you can relax, write as you feel like it, and know that they'll help you catch and fix any issues.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-55920019119788396322016-03-04T08:55:04.875-05:002016-03-04T08:55:04.875-05:00Use them in the narrative, not in dialogue is what...Use them in the narrative, not in dialogue is what I've always done (and been told). But if you don't like them, nothing says you have to use them.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64059465377496877212016-02-20T08:29:11.217-05:002016-02-20T08:29:11.217-05:00All good reminders. I'm now in the 5th (I thin...All good reminders. I'm now in the 5th (I think?) draft of my first novel. Am just now getting to sink into beautiful language. I wish I'd read this post when I first began--would have saved me some pain in trying to get it perfect the first time through. I'd add: Leave BLANKS when you don't know details and keep writing. You might end up deleting that scene and wasted time finding out the make of the car, material for her dress, etc. Carol Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444182118975929045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-19037979542039813332016-02-19T13:43:29.135-05:002016-02-19T13:43:29.135-05:00My biggest concern is that English is not my nativ...My biggest concern is that English is not my native language, which makes me very insecure about my writing. I love the story I am working on, but whenever I am actually writing it down, I feel like I'll never be good enough.<br /><br />I love your blog though! It has really improved my understanding of story structure.Carolinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-75637230606109530622016-02-19T13:19:20.165-05:002016-02-19T13:19:20.165-05:00Janice; how do you feel about semicolons? I get ...Janice; how do you feel about semicolons? I get mixed advice, some say never use them as it stops a sentence, others say they're fine. I've taken to eliminating them. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02787259249720031535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-79884735472064120712016-02-19T10:28:47.665-05:002016-02-19T10:28:47.665-05:00For a first draft it doesn't matter. Write it ...For a first draft it doesn't matter. Write it as messy as you want. But if your goal is to one day publish or be a professional writer, those are skills you will have to develop. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-46707146049591572912016-02-19T08:59:12.122-05:002016-02-19T08:59:12.122-05:00I'm totally agree with your tips, but grammar ...I'm totally agree with your tips, but grammar makes me bored and slows my fantasy down (Sophiehttps://www.solarmovie.ph/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-23942879903682107592013-09-18T09:48:22.065-04:002013-09-18T09:48:22.065-04:00William, most welcome :) Glad I could help. Good l...William, most welcome :) Glad I could help. Good luck with your writing!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48225690450799507782013-09-17T07:09:01.797-04:002013-09-17T07:09:01.797-04:00I just finished my first novel. I can honestly say...I just finished my first novel. I can honestly say that what I have read here is true. I was a commercial script writer and yes ,yes, yes! It's just as you say. My scripts got better with time to the point that I could juggle quite a few at a time. I think one key is to finish what you start and thank the writer Gods I did. I have some experience,but,what I really needed was your good advice! Thank youAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04887586161240120306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16437317016640317462011-07-02T08:34:18.622-04:002011-07-02T08:34:18.622-04:00I don't because it's just my process. But ...I don't because it's just my process. But I might have to keep an eye out for a good scene to "save" at each step/layer of my writing. It might be a fun post to see what I do and how I layer in everything.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20376189153834695332011-07-01T15:46:48.317-04:002011-07-01T15:46:48.317-04:00Janice,
Great idea do you have one you've don...Janice, <br />Great idea do you have one you've done to share. It's a good idea. Color brings out creativity.<br />SashaA Mom's Choicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04457208636628567188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-70321921549898352612011-07-01T06:30:58.847-04:002011-07-01T06:30:58.847-04:00A Mom's Choice: It's more like a coloring ...A Mom's Choice: It's more like a coloring book. I like to get my basic structure down so I know the overall arc of my story (even if some later events are pretty vague). Then once I have that "outline" of the story, I color it in and flesh it out. So it's like taking a flat black and white line drawing and turning it into a full color illustration. Can you tell I went to art school? (grin)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-4889865550779767832011-06-30T17:29:49.051-04:002011-06-30T17:29:49.051-04:00Great Post, Been digging around a bit. What's ...Great Post, Been digging around a bit. What's color within the lines" mean? Is it a way you color cordinate you're writing?A Mom's Choicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04457208636628567188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-23611919884242056252011-03-01T08:21:01.342-05:002011-03-01T08:21:01.342-05:00Monica: I love AW! Been a member for years. I'...Monica: I love AW! Been a member for years. I've been a bit absent the last few months due to deadlines and life craziness, but starting to get back to my regular check ins.It's a wonderful site for writers. And thanks so much!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-427900398170899522011-03-01T05:46:19.638-05:002011-03-01T05:46:19.638-05:00I love love love how you made reference to us AW p...I love love love how you made reference to us AW people! In fact, it was from AW that I got access to your wonderful blog! I can't tell you enough how much I'm appreciating your expertise and how hungrily my eyes are reading your advice. (My hublet is on threat of death if he tries to close my window when I have your blog up since I'm referring to it so often now that I have access to it!)<br /><br />Now that I'm reading all of this I'm going to go back and revamp what I've written and see what I can do to make my writing better than it has ever been. You are an absolute Godsend!Monica-Marie Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11545096366362556372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66131911352721960372010-04-05T17:42:09.657-04:002010-04-05T17:42:09.657-04:00JEM, I have three posts on transitions:
http://st...JEM, I have three posts on transitions:<br /><br />http://storyflip.blogspot.com/2010/01/passing-through.html<br /><br />http://storyflip.blogspot.com/2009/09/re-write-wednesday-next.html<br /><br />http://storyflip.blogspot.com/2009/04/getting-from-here-to-there.html<br /><br />If they don't help, let me know and I'll do something more specific :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16013800927118427002010-04-05T13:02:41.220-04:002010-04-05T13:02:41.220-04:00This is an awesome post, thanks for the detailed n...This is an awesome post, thanks for the detailed notes. Do you have any good advice on seamless transitioning from scene to scene, especially when you're trying to bridge a significant time gap (more than a day)?JEMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04043891292719086478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22889663715629890262010-04-03T17:18:37.022-04:002010-04-03T17:18:37.022-04:00I really appreciate this post! It's pinpointin...I really appreciate this post! It's pinpointing exactly where I am right now, and I'm learning a lot from this. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-43090008233139314322010-04-03T07:48:45.434-04:002010-04-03T07:48:45.434-04:00From the number of new writers asking questions on...From the number of new writers asking questions on the Absolute Write forums, I think they're out there Googling what they want to know. :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-10845758377506864802010-04-02T16:46:29.287-04:002010-04-02T16:46:29.287-04:00Great advice. You are so right that reading and wr...Great advice. You are so right that reading and writing a lot teaches us so much. And yes, everything needs revision many times.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-84384304066761911372010-04-02T16:44:35.653-04:002010-04-02T16:44:35.653-04:00Great post! Great points! I'm certainly taking...Great post! Great points! I'm certainly taking notes!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-57821656956321573982010-04-02T13:27:51.927-04:002010-04-02T13:27:51.927-04:00Great post. Now if only newer writers knew to loo...Great post. Now if only newer writers knew to look for this sort of thing. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com