tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post3400497298419371123..comments2024-03-28T01:44:27.279-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Expressing Thought-Reactions in FictionDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26938201901028276482012-06-29T22:34:05.816-06:002012-06-29T22:34:05.816-06:00Great post. I've been struggling with this ver...Great post. I've been struggling with this very issue in my WIP, and this was so helpful. Thank you.Diane Turnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-46087636419244926612012-05-20T08:44:51.551-06:002012-05-20T08:44:51.551-06:00Thanks for stopping by, D.F. Glad to be of help! Y...Thanks for stopping by, D.F. Glad to be of help! Yes, I think italics are perfect for short reactions, but not so good for long thoughts. Whether you choose to express longer thoughts in first-person or third-person, I think regular font is best. Good luck on your rewriting!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58755620865672979632012-05-20T08:27:53.031-06:002012-05-20T08:27:53.031-06:00Great post, Jodie.
I like the use of sudden strong...Great post, Jodie.<br />I like the use of sudden strong emotional reactions, rather than long-winded reactions in italics. Sparingly, of course. <br />Thanks for clarifying the expression of thought-reactions in fiction. It's a topic that hits-home with me as I do some necessary rewriting.D.F. Barrettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66219143308216981592012-05-18T20:28:27.866-06:002012-05-18T20:28:27.866-06:00Thanks, Kathryn! :-)Thanks, Kathryn! :-)Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43355621177109465662012-05-18T19:12:01.369-06:002012-05-18T19:12:01.369-06:00Comprehensive summary, Jodie! Here's one of my...Comprehensive summary, Jodie! Here's one of my pet peeves: characters who mutter/murmer/talk to themselves. One line is okay, I guess, but when it happens regularly I think the character is schizo. I would much rather my clients master the expression of inner thoughts as you've outlined here!Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-18352466543534697692012-05-17T09:14:53.191-06:002012-05-17T09:14:53.191-06:00Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Elspeth, Mo...Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Elspeth, Morgan and Barbara! I'm always glad to hear when my articles are helpful to writers. We all benefit when the books come out!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-79980226971554526892012-05-17T09:13:00.088-06:002012-05-17T09:13:00.088-06:00These are fantastic pointers... probably the most ...These are fantastic pointers... probably the most difficult for me and yet, the most crucial to the story. Thanks!!Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023751664082363749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78869042755179520822012-05-16T20:13:22.147-06:002012-05-16T20:13:22.147-06:00I prefer direct thoughts, when possible. They get ...I prefer direct thoughts, when possible. They get the reader into the character's head easier.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78514746784173581382012-05-16T16:56:21.434-06:002012-05-16T16:56:21.434-06:00Great post, Jodie!Great post, Jodie!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71181507769412451912012-05-16T16:43:09.447-06:002012-05-16T16:43:09.447-06:00Thanks, Linda. Here's how I do the longer, em ...Thanks, Linda. Here's how I do the longer, em dash: Ctrl + Alt + - (minus sign, top right on numbers keyboard). And for the "medium-sized" en dash: Ctrl + Alt + - (minus sign on numbers keyboard).Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37204560036392129402012-05-16T16:39:53.530-06:002012-05-16T16:39:53.530-06:00Thanks, Maryann, LJ and Joanne!
Joanne, I can...Thanks, Maryann, LJ and Joanne! <br /><br />Joanne, I can't wait to work again with you on your next novel!<br /><br />LJ - ditto! :-)Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-40500672780380662152012-05-16T16:38:12.906-06:002012-05-16T16:38:12.906-06:00What a great post, Jodie! This is an area that can...What a great post, Jodie! This is an area that can be troubling for writers, particular newbies.<br /><br />Dani, you are so right that every word in a story needs to have a purpose, and that purpose is to move the story forward.<br /><br />Terry, a hypen is a short "dash," an en dash is a medium dash, and an em dash is a long dash. You can see the difference in Word by doing this: Hold down the alt key and type 0150 on the numeric key pad. You will get the en dash. But if you hold down the alt key and type 0151 on the numeric key pad, you will get the longer em dash. Be sure to use the numeric key pad; otherwise the codes won't work.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62328715405454756662012-05-16T16:35:09.952-06:002012-05-16T16:35:09.952-06:00Thanks, Jodie! I just cut a "he thought to hi...Thanks, Jodie! I just cut a "he thought to himself." Less work for you on my next book!JoanneLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06772348007100677239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-21750506869929782452012-05-16T16:00:29.531-06:002012-05-16T16:00:29.531-06:00I learn something every time I read your posts, Jo...I learn something every time I read your posts, Jodie. Very well articulated.L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26340720157061768492012-05-16T14:54:43.962-06:002012-05-16T14:54:43.962-06:00Really enjoyed the post and all the comments.
Be...Really enjoyed the post and all the comments. <br /><br />Beverly, I'm so glad that Jodie pointed out one of the most important elements of story - reaction. In a class I took eons ago, the instructor kept repeating, "All drama is action and reaction." We were working on stage plays, but that advice works for all forms of story telling.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11223143010265485092012-05-16T14:49:23.670-06:002012-05-16T14:49:23.670-06:00Thanks for stopping by over here and commenting, B...Thanks for stopping by over here and commenting, Beverly! I'm glad I'm helping you deepen your characters and make them more accessible to the readers.<br /><br />And thanks for your comment, Heidi.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71247715482767373132012-05-16T14:42:57.158-06:002012-05-16T14:42:57.158-06:00This is great. I had a tough time figuring out how...This is great. I had a tough time figuring out how to show thought when I first started writing. Once you get the "hang of it" it's pretty simple!Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12617803911008684082012-05-16T14:41:32.668-06:002012-05-16T14:41:32.668-06:00This post comes at the perfect time for me. I'...This post comes at the perfect time for me. I'm rewriting scenes, bringing the characters to life. It has been an amazing process, working with Jodie as my editor. Each time I find a comment in the margin asking me to have the character react to what he just saw or heard, it seems to deepen the character in a way that allows a glimpse into his mind. It's much more moving and powerful than describing what he/she was thinking and opens the relationship to the reader. <br />Lots of great examples in the post!Beverly Purdyhttp://beverly.purdy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51575642194018223252012-05-16T13:01:56.828-06:002012-05-16T13:01:56.828-06:00Wow! Thanks, Leigh! So well said!Wow! Thanks, Leigh! So well said!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42824642913923856002012-05-16T12:43:57.807-06:002012-05-16T12:43:57.807-06:00Jodie commented: "it's all about deeper c...Jodie commented: "it's all about deeper characterization and engaging your readers more and faster,"<br /><br />Exactly. I couldn't sleep last night. I tried reading several different novels, but none of them engaged me. I finally realized this was because none of them gave me a character to climb inside, someone I could experience the story through. The best writers write from an emotional viewpoint. Action happens, conflicts are won and lost, but it is the inner dialogue that captures and pulls the reader along because it is visceral. And the closer a reader can come to BEING the character, the better. Writers accomplish this by cutting out the layers of separation between the reader and the character, just as Jodie has explained so well.Leigh D. Mullerhttp://writersroadhouse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-65615611835692973472012-05-16T12:00:45.713-06:002012-05-16T12:00:45.713-06:00Thanks, Terry. Larry, I definitely don't advis...Thanks, Terry. Larry, I definitely don't advise my writers to use italics for lengthy thoughts, just the short, quick ones, as reading italics can seem intrusive or hard on the eyes. But italics is perfect for a short, strong, visceral thought, as it also adds some emphasis - a little spice. <br /><br />And to me a long paragraph of thoughts or inner dialogue would seem unnatural no matter how you write it, in a new paragraph with a dash or not. Lengthy thoughts can also be kind of tedious, like an info dump. Interaction is always more interesting, with thoughts sprinkled in here and there in reaction to what's going on, rather than long passages of narration or one person speaking, or lengthy inner thoughts.<br /><br />And remember, as I said at the beginning, this post is about thought-reactions, rather than narrative reflection.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8706927175286262472012-05-16T11:52:49.428-06:002012-05-16T11:52:49.428-06:00Thank you Jodie ~ as a writer, and as a peer edito...Thank you Jodie ~ as a writer, and as a peer editor/proofreader, I find this information very helpful. <br /><br />Larry - Regarding the long paragraph of thoughts or inner dialog being entered as a separate paragraph preceded by an "em-dash": can you tell me what the em-dash is?<br /><br />I find dialog the most difficult passage to proofread for another author, as I have to stop and think of whether it is the character making the error, or the author himself....Quilters' Quartershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09164862226942626710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-14548281676043774902012-05-16T11:34:43.098-06:002012-05-16T11:34:43.098-06:00Worst inner dialogue ever: In. Your. Dreams. This ...Worst inner dialogue ever: In. Your. Dreams. This sort of chat is just superfluous. We should already be feeling this way about a character or situation if the dialogue and action is moving well. Right? That's what I'm talking about. No part of the writing should be superfluous, and actually, quite a few really good writers do this. Maybe for word count? I dunno!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-47931763932489544332012-05-16T10:32:42.327-06:002012-05-16T10:32:42.327-06:00No, I haven't noticed that, Dani. If italicize...No, I haven't noticed that, Dani. If italicized thoughts or any thoughts seem like they're coming from the author, it's just plain bad writing. Thought-reactions need to be organic to the character, fit with his personality, character, and backstory, and be a logical, believable reaction to what's happening around him.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-67005937469493726422012-05-16T10:27:35.697-06:002012-05-16T10:27:35.697-06:00But it's important to keep one thing in mind -...But it's important to keep one thing in mind - that inner reaction has to move the story or give meaning to the situation or character. I've seen far too many manuscripts that have italicized comments for no apparent reason, except the author had to inject himself into the dialogue. Haven't you noticed this?Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.com