tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post2484354610319494362..comments2024-03-28T06:59:34.982-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Cut It Out!Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67753458026468725852009-05-13T18:02:00.000-06:002009-05-13T18:02:00.000-06:00I like to keep a story moving. I have 11 murders i...I like to keep a story moving. I have 11 murders in my first novel Breakthrough. Lots of stuff happening. But I think its a good idea to slow down and allow the reader to catch their breath. <br /><br />For example, one day the protagonist Chase is walking along Dana Point Harbor drinking a cup of coffee and looking at the clever and imaginative names people name their boats. He's also watching the sun set.<br /><br />Too much action is not a good thing unless balanced with character buildup and a smattering here and there of the boring stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-48348668063807962492009-05-07T06:11:00.000-06:002009-05-07T06:11:00.000-06:00Excellent advice. Thank you :)Excellent advice. Thank you :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-69031967819283417962009-05-06T19:27:00.000-06:002009-05-06T19:27:00.000-06:00I kind of agree with Lisa. A bit of boredom helps ...I kind of agree with Lisa. A bit of boredom helps us relate to the character, and it works like open areas in a painting - gives us a place to rest for a moment. You just can't let it go on too long or you'll beyond resting to fast asleep!<br /><br />Good post, Hel. And now I'm going to go sign in and wade through word verification again, because I can't get rid of it. Rest of you have this issue too?<br /><br />Dani<br />http://blogbooktours.blogspot.comDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-69629694131641472472009-05-06T16:50:00.000-06:002009-05-06T16:50:00.000-06:00I knew it! The really smart people read this blog....I knew it! The really smart people read this blog. And, luckily, they share their smarts. Thanks.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-73051904592134667762009-05-06T14:56:00.000-06:002009-05-06T14:56:00.000-06:00On the flip side, proper pacing requires some "mun...On the flip side, proper pacing requires some "mundane moments." A problem I see frequently in submissions I receive are tales that race from one roadblock to the next, as though the author is so afraid to bore the reader that they rush full bore into the telling. Done this way, one never gets to truly settle into the world and know the character. It loses rhythm and richness.<br /><br />Understanding how and when to use "mundanes" to structure a story is a tough concept to explain. A well done example is Stephen King's DARK TOWER series. It's a huge saga with plenty of "downtime" where the questing characters sit around a campfire, eat, or perform mundane tasks. Yet each moment serves the story, either adjusting the pace, revealing the character, or advancing the plot. <br /><br />So don't be too hard on mundane moments--just learn to use them to proper advantage. Stories canl be enhanced, rather than bogged down by it. <br /><br />--Lisa<br />http://authorlisalogan.blogspot.comLisa Loganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18259624498661417075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-75500825356027216842009-05-06T14:15:00.000-06:002009-05-06T14:15:00.000-06:00Good advice, Helen. I recently had an editor tell ...Good advice, Helen. I recently had an editor tell me that I should show my character getting out of his car and walking to the door. I had not put that in the story as I thought it was one of those boring moments you mentioned here. I also figured the readers would be smart enough to know that he exited the car prior to getting to the front door. There was also a natural pause in the narrative there as he had been thinking about what he was going to say when the door opened.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-75791999005444193142009-05-06T13:41:00.000-06:002009-05-06T13:41:00.000-06:00Excellent advice Helen. As a reader I don't want t...Excellent advice Helen. As a reader I don't want to read about what I do in my "real" life. I want my fantasy time to be much more exciting!Judy Croome | @judy_croomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17455755011354905278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84206847337817142902009-05-06T13:39:00.000-06:002009-05-06T13:39:00.000-06:00Some smart instructions here. Methinks I might sti...Some smart instructions here. Methinks I might still be guilty of some of this. :( I'm working on one of my manuscripts tonight - gonna check & see how many times Detective Snoop picks up the phone and says, "Hello." (smile)<br /><br />Good post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-3449716825906255742009-05-06T10:00:00.000-06:002009-05-06T10:00:00.000-06:00There are times when the mundane can be important....There are times when the mundane can be important. While paying the bills, a wife finds a questionable charge by the husband. While taking out the trash, a guy is shot or witnesses something happening. On the other hand, if it's just filler, cut it.<br /><br />Thank you Kwana, Star, Jane and Jesaka for stopping by and sharing your own advice.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-76531765874410657472009-05-06T09:07:00.000-06:002009-05-06T09:07:00.000-06:00Your posts are always packed with excellent advice...Your posts are always packed with excellent advice, Helen! I especially love your example of paying your bills - not being able to pay the bills is potential for a good story. Otherwise, not so much.Jesaka Longhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17612967905894512123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43731712773030429892009-05-06T08:28:00.000-06:002009-05-06T08:28:00.000-06:00Good advice, though at times, it is easier said th...Good advice, though at times, it is easier said than done. I very seldom use the 'trimmings' which is a good sign that the scene needed to go away. However, I agree it is a good idea to keep them.<br /><br />Jane Kennedy Sutton<br />http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84727286546038863752009-05-06T08:27:00.000-06:002009-05-06T08:27:00.000-06:00I like your posts Helen. They always seem to make...I like your posts Helen. They always seem to make perfect sense. Thanks for this one. I will certainly remember it when I write my next story.<br />Blessings, StarStella Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699491230987143490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-21497374886568340442009-05-06T08:05:00.000-06:002009-05-06T08:05:00.000-06:00It does hurt. The good news is you can save all yo...It does hurt. The good news is you can save all your trimmings in a file. You never know when you might need to pull something out of the file, rework it and use it.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-32070879721614850532009-05-06T07:56:00.000-06:002009-05-06T07:56:00.000-06:00It's brutal but must be done. Thanks.It's brutal but must be done. Thanks.Kwanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06428954660974395117noreply@blogger.com