tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post4083474208906258129..comments2024-03-28T18:40:05.789-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Navigating the LabyrinthJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-47926992526455982072012-10-31T13:31:23.038-04:002012-10-31T13:31:23.038-04:00Alyx, with so many poised to launch into NaNoWriMo...Alyx, with so many poised to launch into NaNoWriMo I think your post is a very timely one. I've heard so much advice going back and forth lately that I've wondered when people were having time to just put pen to paper, or fingers to keys, on fiction instead of speculations. Thanks for the reminder: you have to have a product before you can revise with a hope toward publication.Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-9393174903835731182012-10-31T11:53:28.201-04:002012-10-31T11:53:28.201-04:00First off you have to write what feels right for y...First off you have to write what feels right for you, but it's also important to follow the rules of good writing as well as a little restraint. For instance the use of body language? Yes, but I've read work that used way too much body language. Description? Yes, but again restraint is needed.<br />As for careful outlining vs letting it flow from the pen, it's not an absolute rule. It depends on what works best for the writer.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-58557778986948238662012-10-31T09:31:35.563-04:002012-10-31T09:31:35.563-04:00Great blog. I think rules/structure are very impor...Great blog. I think rules/structure are very important for new writers. But with experience, give yourself permission to break them. It works best if this is a conscious decision rather than cluelessness on the part of the author!carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985823239660829148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-82402191951335531572012-10-31T08:54:59.083-04:002012-10-31T08:54:59.083-04:00I think there are a few rules that are actually ru...I think there are a few rules that are actually rules such as formating, spelling and grammar, unless, of course, you can write dialect as well as Mark Twain. EB and JIm make good points.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-44748163571315435622012-10-31T07:12:05.728-04:002012-10-31T07:12:05.728-04:00If you can tell a marvelous story that sucks the r...If you can tell a marvelous story that sucks the reader in, most readers will forgive a bit of verbosity, affection for adverbs and the occasional, "he exclaimed."<br /><br />For the rest of us authors, it makes sense to pay attention to the current writing trends because they came about for a reason. In the age of Twitter and GoogleEarth, the rambling descriptions of 19th century writers are no longer interesting.<br /><br />If individuals want that kind of detail they use the internet to get it and the rest don't care and won't read it.<br /><br />It is crucial when listening to advice to understand its basis. Take for example the "no adverb rule." It took me some time before I understood that whenever I used an adverb it was because I had employed a flaccid verb that needed a crutch. Almost always I could replace the combination with a strong, active verb and improve the sentence.<br /><br />While I agree writing, writing,. writing is critical, and rules are only guidelines, I do suspect that only by understanding and being able to follow the "rules" can an author successfully violate them.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-57468293847126719152012-10-31T06:50:58.299-04:002012-10-31T06:50:58.299-04:00You also have to consider trends, Alyx. Those who ...You also have to consider trends, Alyx. Those who are closer to the game than we are know what is selling. Trends effect those sales. One year, editors will throw every ms. out that has a prologue. Another year, anything with vampires sells. No one should write based on what is current now, but then to turn a blind eye to it would be counterproductive. <br /><br />I think your bottom line is the correct one--write,but also think about the critiques you get very carefully. I've learned so much from my critique partners that I would never have learned on my own. Learning craft is part reading and part writing to put into practice what you've learned through critique partners and through classes.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.com