tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post4534216139111501284..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Be My Guest: Linda YezakDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-40169067416038722192011-10-02T17:38:39.826-06:002011-10-02T17:38:39.826-06:00A good reminder. We would react to those things if...A good reminder. We would react to those things if they happened to us, so it's important to remember to have our characters react to them when we're writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78446927461849179912011-09-27T13:35:26.018-06:002011-09-27T13:35:26.018-06:00Linda, thank you for being my guest poster this we...Linda, thank you for being my guest poster this week! Excellent article!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91824773792307610272011-09-27T03:56:41.278-06:002011-09-27T03:56:41.278-06:00"The reaction should be as different as the c..."The reaction should be as different as the characters, and it's a way to distinguish them - to give them unique voice."<br /><br />Yes, ma'am! I agree 100%.<br /><br />I've enjoyed my visit to your site. Thank you all for having me, and thanks to Heidi for inviting me.Linda Yezakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16359372692625786864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71704256315890944992011-09-26T20:42:47.454-06:002011-09-26T20:42:47.454-06:00That reminds me of something I want to write about...That reminds me of something I want to write about. The reaction should be as different as the characters, and it's a way to distinguish them - to give them unique voice. I'm reminded of a book I recently read in which the heroine reacted with a certain swear word, and later in the book, the villain used the same swear word, which was unusual enough to be pretty unbelievable. These two characters had never met, so I'm guessing the author used that expression and plopped it on two characters without really considering if either would say that. Pulled me right out of the story though. :D Whoever said this writing stuff was easy? Not me. Thanks for visiting us, Linda. I hope we can tempt you into stopping by again.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25453304381171303342011-09-26T18:49:31.325-06:002011-09-26T18:49:31.325-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.seo companyhttp://webpromoexpert.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55866754508087662542011-09-26T15:52:14.947-06:002011-09-26T15:52:14.947-06:00Oh, no kidding, Jodie! Reversing the action and re...Oh, no kidding, Jodie! Reversing the action and reaction is a common mistake, and one I was guilty of early in my writing career. Okay, one of *many* I was guilty of. (Confession time!)Linda Yezakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16359372692625786864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80023142424667342172011-09-26T15:30:59.631-06:002011-09-26T15:30:59.631-06:00Excellent points, Linda! Another related writing m...Excellent points, Linda! Another related writing mishap I often see in editing fiction is when the writer writes the reaction before the action, the effect before the cause, as in "She yelled when she dropped the pot on her toe." Give the action, then the reaction, the cause, then the effect. This is especially important in longer sentences, where the reader has to read on to find out what caused it, then skip back to reread the reaction. Subconsciously (or consciously) annoying to the reader.<br />Thanks again for a great post! Actions cry out for reactions, and the reactions enrich the scene.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-34867535647672141672011-09-26T13:09:56.810-06:002011-09-26T13:09:56.810-06:00Nona--"complete and utter rewrite"? That...Nona--"complete and utter rewrite"? That sounds ominous. Shudder!Linda Yezakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16359372692625786864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-40598572838208725132011-09-26T13:02:47.468-06:002011-09-26T13:02:47.468-06:00Such an important reminder, especially as I am in ...Such an important reminder, especially as I am in the midst of a complete and utter rewrite.... Thanks, Linda!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12509230761700506291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9721609719830803322011-09-26T12:35:28.627-06:002011-09-26T12:35:28.627-06:00"Exceptions might be if you're using that..."Exceptions might be if you're using that action for emphasis, or maybe if the author already has made it clear what the reaction will be."<br /><br />I agree to a certain extent, especially if the author made the intent clear so it doesn't look like an oversight or leave the reader hanging.<br /><br />Thanks for your comment, Morgan.Linda Yezakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16359372692625786864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-14101293670168919872011-09-26T11:59:26.903-06:002011-09-26T11:59:26.903-06:00Very true. It's important to follow up with a ...Very true. It's important to follow up with a reaction to the action, instead of leaving the reader wondering. Exceptions might be if you're using that action for emphasis, or maybe if the author already has made it clear what the reaction will be.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://www.morganmandel.com<br />http://morganmandel.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-60807626370032764162011-09-26T10:47:00.252-06:002011-09-26T10:47:00.252-06:00Exactly, Kathryn. Characterization opportunities c...Exactly, Kathryn. Characterization opportunities come in small packages and are scattered throughout the story. Writers ought to take advantage of them. Adding a twist, as you suggested, is the best way to do that.Linda Yezakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16359372692625786864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-34275756844131381172011-09-26T09:34:20.138-06:002011-09-26T09:34:20.138-06:00Thanks for your guest post, Linda! I especially li...Thanks for your guest post, Linda! I especially like that you called the lack of reaction a "missed opportunity." So true! The writer may think the reaction is too obvious to devote space to--if you whack a character on the shins, he'll no doubt register pain, so why spend word count on it, right? But by skimming over the presumed reaction the writer might have missed out on a really neat moment for a surprising reaction. What if she whacked him on the shins--and he kissed her? That might be a scene worth some more exploration!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-29520547032426503072011-09-26T07:43:02.379-06:002011-09-26T07:43:02.379-06:00You're welcome, Maryann. I hope this post prov...You're welcome, Maryann. I hope this post proves helpful!Linda Yezakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16359372692625786864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-27377337071237150932011-09-26T07:39:38.922-06:002011-09-26T07:39:38.922-06:00Thanks for the great reminder of how important it ...Thanks for the great reminder of how important it is to remember the reaction. So often we overlook that.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.com