tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post1027952100011395967..comments2024-03-28T06:59:34.982-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Style Blunders in FictionDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-31833611560063118822011-02-01T20:08:14.327-07:002011-02-01T20:08:14.327-07:00Great post, Jodie.
Show don't tell. Yes!
Thank...Great post, Jodie.<br />Show don't tell. Yes!<br />Thanks for adding appropriate examples on most every item of your list. They make the points stand-out clear.<br />I'll be printing up this post for my bulletin board.Emily Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-7611860756180424522011-01-29T10:32:20.280-07:002011-01-29T10:32:20.280-07:00Thanks for the 12 great points, Jodie. I'm in ...Thanks for the 12 great points, Jodie. I'm in 'story revision' mode<br />and these astute points are very timely for me.<br />I especially like Numbers 3, 4 & 9.<br />Thanks.D.F. Barrettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35402156888642061442011-01-14T09:30:11.955-07:002011-01-14T09:30:11.955-07:00This is such a wonderful post.
It's one of th...This is such a wonderful post. <br />It's one of those things that, as you read, you find yourself saying "Well of course!", but that doesn't stop you from making all of these mistakes easily while writing.<br /><br />Thanks so much for your incite!Anonymoushttp://www.theresmorewherethatcamefrom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35411097779053411202011-01-11T14:00:14.095-07:002011-01-11T14:00:14.095-07:00Hey, thanks a lot, Lynette! Glad to be of assistan...Hey, thanks a lot, Lynette! Glad to be of assistance!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59230166991546467352011-01-10T14:39:07.148-07:002011-01-10T14:39:07.148-07:00P.S. I tweeted your post, too, to share with more ...P.S. I tweeted your post, too, to share with more writers.Lynette Bentonhttp://lynettebentonwriting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-23438647753925757682011-01-10T14:37:44.660-07:002011-01-10T14:37:44.660-07:00I'm editing a client's first novel. I coul...I'm editing a client's first novel. I could have just sent her your post, "Style Blunders in Fiction," instead.<br /><br />On second thought, I'll send it to her anyway.<br /><br />Thank you for this superb post!Lynette Bentonhttp://lynettebentonwriting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37751312214198092192011-01-10T11:35:39.479-07:002011-01-10T11:35:39.479-07:00Thanks, Diane and Frank. Good point, Frank - let t...Thanks, Diane and Frank. Good point, Frank - let the characters reveal the story and how they're feeling, rather than having the author tell the reader about it/them.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42311993521652170532011-01-10T10:23:22.520-07:002011-01-10T10:23:22.520-07:00Frank Forchione said...
These tips are so helpful....Frank Forchione said...<br />These tips are so helpful. Especially remebering to "show" and "not tell". Let the characters tell you the story, not the reader.Frank Forchionenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87431179736709640772011-01-09T19:24:38.486-07:002011-01-09T19:24:38.486-07:00What a great and generous list, Jodie. Thank you f...What a great and generous list, Jodie. Thank you for all you do for the craft.<br /><br />Peace and continued good things for you. <br /><br />Sincerely,<br />DianeD.M. SOLIShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13753807150268735755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-3233837913544978462011-01-09T15:09:41.256-07:002011-01-09T15:09:41.256-07:00Hi Heidi,
I'd go with whichever word makes th...Hi Heidi,<br /><br />I'd go with whichever word makes the story most vivid and compelling, and brings the scene to life for the readers.<br /><br />And definitely stay away from pretentious, fancy-schmancy, over-the-top words, as mentioned in point #12.<br /><br />Keep on writing, all of you!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-19923858567924537832011-01-09T14:23:05.035-07:002011-01-09T14:23:05.035-07:00Good points, but I'd be careful with #3. "...Good points, but I'd be careful with #3. "Ran" has its place just as "said" has its place. Replacing <i>all</i> the colourless verbs can change the tone of a piece entirely, or even make it feel like the writer is trying too hard to add thesaurus words -- after all, there's a difference between reading casually while eating Wheaties, and poring over a book while consuming shredded wheat cereal.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11865524260060421873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-82767260826952480002011-01-09T12:17:22.437-07:002011-01-09T12:17:22.437-07:00Great job Jodie. All important points...Great job Jodie. All important points...Henyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14218132405687448085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-3066055328533263612011-01-08T22:09:02.424-07:002011-01-08T22:09:02.424-07:00Just a note that the comment deleted was just a du...Just a note that the comment deleted was just a duplicate, but with a typo, so we still have the comment posted. Thanks for pointing that out, Michael!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-29458972823750351242011-01-08T21:53:23.653-07:002011-01-08T21:53:23.653-07:00This is all very good advice. These are the fundam...This is all very good advice. These are the fundamentals and foundations of an enjoyable book.Definitely going to put it into use on my next editing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18143643121637418388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10276445438450128022011-01-08T21:28:12.832-07:002011-01-08T21:28:12.832-07:00Thanks for all your positive comments, everyone. I...Thanks for all your positive comments, everyone. I think if I can help writers get their books noticed by agents and published, we all benefit!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-1501702916920006422011-01-08T17:48:48.693-07:002011-01-08T17:48:48.693-07:00All great advice!
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmand...All great advice!<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://morganmandel.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-38145722345335517972011-01-08T16:09:07.392-07:002011-01-08T16:09:07.392-07:00I agree. This is a great post and a lot of informa...I agree. This is a great post and a lot of information compressed into a small space. I'm guilty of several of these errors.<br /><br />I'm just glad that #6 dealt with adjectives and not adverbs.<br /><br />Excellent info that should be printed out and reviewed from time to time.Michaelhttp://www.wildheartbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35869722165360870422011-01-08T16:08:08.227-07:002011-01-08T16:08:08.227-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Michaelhttp://www.wildheartbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-52755039640930336702011-01-08T14:07:46.004-07:002011-01-08T14:07:46.004-07:00Excellent--the basics we should all tape above our...Excellent--the basics we should all tape above our computers!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63109592935744806072011-01-08T13:35:59.924-07:002011-01-08T13:35:59.924-07:00Great post, Jodie.
I'm going to save this the ...Great post, Jodie.<br />I'm going to save this the archaic way and print it out for the bulletin board that is on the wall near my computer. Thanks.<br /> Emily Wright.Emily Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2347909704230037962011-01-08T12:49:18.891-07:002011-01-08T12:49:18.891-07:00Good post! I keep a whole list of items that I nee...Good post! I keep a whole list of items that I need to search for in final edits (like my favorite overused word, "back"), so I use Word's Find function to track them down.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66363651403275939712011-01-08T12:13:20.935-07:002011-01-08T12:13:20.935-07:00Great information, Jodie, and I agree that each po...Great information, Jodie, and I agree that each point could have been a separate post -- well, some of them for sure. That way you could have explained both sides of the point you were making as Melissa suggested. <br /><br />On the other hand, it is great to have this all in one place for future reference. Thanks.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-44004468470014104322011-01-08T10:52:47.902-07:002011-01-08T10:52:47.902-07:00Great post. I agree that each one of these points...Great post. I agree that each one of these points could be it's own post.<br /><br />http://www.ManOfLaBook.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-48333333683103503792011-01-08T10:51:37.752-07:002011-01-08T10:51:37.752-07:00Great post. One more word to add to the wishy-wash...Great post. One more word to add to the wishy-washy list: just. I have a bad habit of slipping that one in. I just thought I'd mention it. ;-)Annettehttp://www.annettefix.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42940908669906054052011-01-08T09:53:51.689-07:002011-01-08T09:53:51.689-07:00Thanks for your comments, Kathryn, Melissa, Girl F...Thanks for your comments, Kathryn, Melissa, Girl Friday and Ginger.<br /><br />Melissa, you make a very good point about at times needing 'ing verbs, to show an action that is going on while something else is happening. An example off the top of my head would be, "As he was searching the office, the phone rang."Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.com